The maximum weight limit of a quality tail lift will vary depending on the type of vehicle it is fitted to. A tail lift fitted to an LCV such as a Luton van is generally capable of lifting up to 500 kg whereas a tail lift fitted to an HGV lorry is capable of holding up to 4000 kg.
It should be noted that the added weight of a tail lift reduces the available payload capacity of the vehicle it is fitted to. The differences in lifting capacity are traded off by the actual weight of the lift itself.
In lamens terms, this simply means that it would be pointless fitting a heavy-duty tail lift weighing well in excess of 300 kg to a vehicle with an already painfully low payload capacity such as a Luton van.
Tail Lifts And Weight Limitations
So, how much weight can a tail lift take if a tail lift could take weight? In this article, I’ll be referring mostly to the top 3 manufacturers or installation specialists on the market.
- Palfinger (Manufacturer)
- Ingimex (Installation/Supplier)
- DEL (Manufacturer)
See below our handy table of the most common tail lifts and their lifting capabilities.
| COMPANY | MODEL | LIFT TYPE | LIFT CAPACITY | DEADWEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palfinger | MBB C 500 VAN | Cantilever | 500 kg | 154 kg |
| Palfinger | MBB C 750 L | Cantilever | 750 kg | 199 kg |
| Palfinger | MBB C 1000 L | Cantilever | 1000 kg | 282 kg |
| Palfinger | MBB C 2000 L | Cantilever | 2000 kg | 517 kg |
| Palfinger | MBB C 3000 S | Cantilever | 3000 kg | 720 kg |
| DEL | DEL DL500G | Cantilever | 500 kg | 140 kg |
| DEL | DEL FC500 | Cantilever | 500 kg | 195 kg |
| DEL | DEL DO1000 | Dump-Over | 1000 kg | 265 kg |
| DEL | DEL TL1000 | Cantilever | 1000 kg | 260 kg |
| DEL | DEL DA1500G | Tuck-Under | 1500 kg | 360 kg |
Choosing The Best Lifting Platform For Your Vehicle
Choosing the correct tail lift for your van or truck is basically a trade-off between how much it can hold and how heavy it is as a unit.
Tail lifts, such as those commonly fitted to Luton vans, are made to be as light as they can possibly be without compromising on quality or safety. They are capable of lifting a 500 kg load and themselves, normally weigh in at between 120 kg and 155 kg.
With the available payload for light commercial vehicles ranging between a miserable 1,000 kg (Volkswagen Crafter Luton) and 1,212 kg (Renault Master Luton), a larger tail lift with a deadweight of almost 200 kg, capable of taking loads up to 750 kg, just doesn’t make sense for that type of vehicle.
Tail Lift With Highest Lifting Capacity For A Luton Van
That said, Palfinger produces a top-quality lift capable of lifting up to 750 kg for a Luton box van. The trade-off, of course, is that it has a deadweight of 171 kg. This is a fair chunk of payload to sacrifice from this vehicle type, especially if you’re in the moving business and regularly load your van to capacity.
And then it begs the question too, do you really need a lift that can take up to 750 kg? Although we DO NOT recommend it, the lighter MBB C 500 VAN cantilever tail lift has a load capacity of 500 kg (optional 600 kg version available) and companies like Palfinger, and in particular, Ingimex, test their units to 2.1 times their recommended load limit for around 10,000 hours without any breakage.
You can do what you like with that information 😁
Payload Before And After Removing A Tail Lift From Your Van
Removing a tail lift from your vehicle absolutely will increase the payload of your van, or truck – whatever. But by how much?
Have a look below at the most popular Luton vans in the UK and see how much payload you’ll gain in real terms.
*Information is hard to find on the exact weight of each tail lift fitted to each make and model of van. With that in mind, we’ll assume on the side of caution that each respective unit is among the lightest available at 140 kg.
| MAKE/MODEL | TAIL LIFT WEIGHT | PAYLOAD BEFORE REMOVAL | PAYLOAD AFTER REMOVAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen Relay | 140 kg | 1,080 kg | 1,220 kg |
| Ford Transit | 140 kg | 1,016 kg | 1,156 kg |
| Iveco Daily | 140 kg | 1,120 kg | 1,260 kg |
| LDV V80 | 140 kg | 1,125 kg | 1,265 kg |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 140 kg | 1.000 kg | 1,140 kg |
| Nissan NV400 | N/A (Low Loader) | N/A | N/A |
| Renault Master | N/A (Low Loader) | N/A | N/A |
| Vauxhall Movano | N/A (Low Loader) | N/A | N/A |
| Volkswagen Crafter | 140 kg | 1.000 kg | 1,140 kg |
More payload = better. Always better. But the real question is, do you really need a tail lift at all? Only you know the answer to this, so depending on how you use your van and what you haul, the option is always there to gain a respectable amount of extra loading capacity.
The Trade-Off | Weight Vs Lifting Power
With a deadweight of 154 kg, however, an MBB C 500 VAN tail lift is heavier than other 500 kg units such as those installed by Ingimex. A 750 kg tail lift is, by far, more sensibly suited to a 7.5-tonne lorry such as a DAF LF45 which boasts a payload of around 2,700 kg and can be driven on a normal car licence.
With such a whopping payload to sing and dance about, the extra weight would go generally unnoticed so, if you had a DAF LF45, why wouldn’t you just opt for a 1000 kg unit and be done with it?
The Best Tail Lift For A Luton Van?
Well, the best tail lift for an LCV (light commercial vehicle) such as a Luton van or a 7.5-tonne lorry isn’t actually a tail lift at all. We, as a moving company, have opted to get rid of the 145 kg tail lifts altogether and replace them with 20 kg aluminium ramps. And, they’re amazing.
However, if it’s a tail lift you need and you simply must have one, then you can’t go wrong with a DEL DL500G. It is among the lightest of the top quality 500 kg bunch and doesn’t skimp on safety or durability.
Try Googling for “tail lift companies near me” to find a reputable installation company. Let them know what you want and see what they can do for you.