What does the number in a liftgate model mean?

Almost universally it is the rated lift capacity in hundreds of pounds: 44 = 4,400 lbs, 33 = 3,300 lbs, 25 = 2,500 lbs, 16 = 1,600 lbs.

What is a Tuk-A-Way liftgate?

Tuk-A-Way is Maxon's brand name for tuck-under style gates that fold and stow beneath the truck body, leaving the rear doors and dock access clear. The GPT and TE families are the most common.

How do I identify a liftgate with no data plate?

Match the gate style (tuck-under, rail/column, cantilever, slider), platform size, and pump box layout against manufacturer catalogs, or use a liftgate model decoder to test candidate model numbers.

Liftgate Model Numbers Explained: Maxon, Anthony, Palfinger, Watco

How to identify a liftgate from its model number — what codes like GPTLR-44 and TE-25 encode about series, style, and lift capacity — and where to find the ID plate.

Where to find the model number

Liftgate identification plates are typically riveted to the main frame of the gate — on the mounting frame near the pump box, on the underside of the platform, or inside the pump/motor cover. The plate lists the model, serial number, and capacity. If the plate is painted over or missing, the model can often be identified from the gate style and dimensions.

How model numbers are structured

Most liftgate manufacturers use a family prefix that identifies the gate style (tuck-under, rail, cantilever, column) followed by a number encoding capacity in hundreds of pounds:

Example	Brand	Meaning
GPTLR-44	Maxon	GPT series Tuk-A-Way (tuck-under), long platform, 4,400 lbs capacity
TE-25	Maxon	TE series Tuk-A-Way (tuck-under), 2,500 lbs capacity
ETU-20-44	Anthony	Express TuckUnder series, 2,000 lbs capacity
ILK 18	Palfinger	ILK series, 1,800 lbs capacity
WDV-35	Watco	WDV wing-down van series, 3,500 lbs capacity

Why the exact model matters for parts

Cylinders, pumps, switches, and platform hardware are family- and capacity-specific — a 4,400 lb GPTLR uses different cylinders than a 3,300 lb GPTLR-33 even though the platforms look similar. Quoting the exact model plus serial gets you the correct parts breakdown the first time.

Note that punctuation matters when searching: gates are catalogued with hyphens (GPTLR-44), and searching without the hyphen or with spaces may fail to match.

Frequently asked questions

What does the number in a liftgate model mean?: Almost universally it is the rated lift capacity in hundreds of pounds: 44 = 4,400 lbs, 33 = 3,300 lbs, 25 = 2,500 lbs, 16 = 1,600 lbs.
What is a Tuk-A-Way liftgate?: Tuk-A-Way is Maxon's brand name for tuck-under style gates that fold and stow beneath the truck body, leaving the rear doors and dock access clear. The GPT and TE families are the most common.
How do I identify a liftgate with no data plate?: Match the gate style (tuck-under, rail/column, cantilever, slider), platform size, and pump box layout against manufacturer catalogs, or use a liftgate model decoder to test candidate model numbers.