4 Post Lifts

This category holds 82 listings from seven manufacturers: Challenger Lifts (29 models), BendPak (27), AMGO Hydraulics (16), JMC Equipment (4), Tuxedo (4), Hofmann (1) and iDEAL (1). Eighty of them are four-post lifts; the other two are the BendPak PL6000DC shared-column two-post parking lift and its PL6000DC-ADD-ON platform and column set, both special order. Among the four-post lifts, rated capacities run from 7,000 lb on the Challenger CL4P7, the AMGO 407-P and the BendPak HD-7P, HD-7W and HD-7PXW up to 60,000 lb on the Challenger 44060 and 44060X; the two PL6000DC listings sit below that at 6,000 lb per platform. A 9,000 lb four-post car lift storing a second vehicle in a home garage has almost nothing in common with a 60,000 lb chain-driven lift under a transit bus.

A four-post lift carries the vehicle on its own tires, on two runways, instead of lifting it by the frame. That makes it the standard choice for storage, for wheel alignment, and for any service where you want the suspension loaded, and it means runway length, drive-thru clearance and rise height matter more here than on a two-post lift.

The five kinds of four-post lift in this category

Storage and parking lifts, 7,000 to 9,000 lb

Thirty-two of the four-post lifts here are rated 7,000 to 9,000 lb, where the real differences are width and height, not capacity. BendPak alone splits 9,000 lb into narrow (HD-9ST, HD-9STX), standard (HD-9, HD-9XW), extra-wide (HD-9EWT at 117 in.) and super-wide (HD-9SW and HD-9SWX at 202 in., HD-9SW-E at 249.60 in.) frames: the HD-9XW gives 86.65 in. of drive-thru clearance at 110.25 in. overall width, the HD-9EWT 93.25 in. at 117 in. Two listings do not match their own names. The HD-9XL is a standard-width 110.25 in. frame, the same width as the HD-9 and HD-9XW, and its own copy calls it a "standard-width platform"; what actually sets it apart is its 182.25 in. runways against 158.25 in. on the HD-9. The HD-9SW-E is named "Extra Wide" while its specifications and copy are super-wide. The Challenger CL4P9X and CL4P9W share a 9,000 lb rating and an 85.5 in. rise, but the CL4P9W is 127.25 in. wide against 112.25 in. and needs a 14 ft x 22 ft bay instead of 11 ft x 22 ft.

The JMC Equipment and Tuxedo storage lifts are the same machine under two labels; the JMC8K-DX spec sheet lists the model as "JMC8K-DX / FP8k-DX." Both publish 207-5/16 in. overall length with ramp, 103-1/2 in. overall width, 86 in. overall height, 165-1/2 in. runways at 18-5/8 in. wide, 10 lock positions and a 115V 20 A power unit. The 8,000 lb XLT versions, the JMC8K-DX-XLT and FP8K-DX-XLT, stretch to 222-1/2 in. overall length, 94 in. overall height and 12 lock positions. The 9,000 lb XLT versions, the JMC9K-DX-XLT and FP9K-DX-XLT, go further: 239 in. long, 123 in. wide, 97 in. tall, with 188-1/2 in. runways at 20 in. wide and 11 lock positions.

Tall-rise storage, boat and display lifts

Three models exist to gain serious height. The BendPak HD-7500PBX and HD-7PXW both reach a 140 in. maximum rise, the HD-7PXW on 158 in. columns with 188 in. runways and 30 lock positions. The HD-973P is a tri-level parking lift with a 7,000 lb upper platform rising to 139.5 in. and a 9,000 lb lower platform rising to 70 in.

Boat and vehicle storage is a separate case. The BendPak HD-7500BLX and HD-75BXT are 7,500 lb vehicle and boat storage lifts with an 82 in. maximum rise, 108.5 in. of drive-through width and 81 in. of drive-through height; the HD-75BXT carries 206.25 in. runways against 182.25 in. on the BLX. That 82 in. rise is standard for the range, matching the HD-7P, HD-7W and HD-9STX.

Two listings here are not four-post lifts, and their names say so: the BendPak PL6000DC is a shared-column two-post parking lift rated 6,000 lb per platform, special order, and the PL6000DC-ADD-ON is its shared-column add-on kit, one column, one platform and one power unit, not a complete lift.

General service lifts, 12,000 to 18,000 lb

Twenty-nine lifts fall between 12,000 and 18,000 lb, the working shop range: the AMGO PRO-12, PRO-14 and PRO-18 families, the BendPak HDS-14, HDS-14XT, HDSO-14P, HDS-18E and HDS18EA, Challenger's 4P14 pair, flat-deck 4115 series and four AR4115 alignment packages, and the 18,000 lb 44018, 44018E, 4018XFX and 4018XFX PKG, plus the iDEAL FP14KC-X and Hofmann FPA18210.

Open front versus closed front changes daily work. The Challenger 4115EFO and 4115XFO are open-front; the 4115EFX and 4115XFX are closed-front, with an enclosed front column and crossbeam. The BendPak HDSO-14P is open-front, and the lift is not symmetrical: 143.25 in. overall width with columns up to 103.25 in. tall at the front, against 130 in. overall width and columns up to 92 in. tall at the rear. Width between columns is 123 in. at the front and 120 in. at the rear.

On Challenger's 4P14 and 4115 lines the E and X suffixes mean standard and extended length. On the 440xx heavy line the base model carries no suffix, E means extended and X means XL extended, so the same letter does not mean the same thing across the two lines. The 4P14EFX takes a 182.5 in. maximum wheelbase in 245.75 in. of overall length; the 4P14XFX takes 210 in. in 273.25 in. Same capacity, same 78 in. rise, roughly 28 in. more floor.

Alignment lifts and alignment rack packages

Only a subset can do wheel alignment. AMGO builds the PRO-12A, PRO-12ASX, PRO-14A and PRO-18A with integrated slip plates and adjustable turnplate pockets; the turnplates themselves are sold separately, listed as part 40101 on the PRO-12A, PRO-12ASX and PRO-18A. The PRO-14A listing does not name a turnplate part number, so ask before you order. BendPak's HDS18EA does include turnplates and slip plates, and publishes an 83 in. minimum and 138 in. maximum four-wheel alignment window with a 211 in. maximum for two-wheel work. Hofmann's FPA18210 is an 18,000 lb alignment lift at 152 in. overall width, though its listing does not itemize turn plates or slip plates.

Challenger's four AR4115 packages bundle the alignment hardware, but the published contents differ between listings and should be confirmed on the individual page before ordering. The feature text on all four lists two RJ7.5 rolling jacks, an internal air line kit, flush-mount stainless steel turn plates, rear slip plates, turn plate bridges, work steps and wheel stops. The itemized lists do not all agree: the AR4115XAO's own list is shorter, naming two 7.5 jacks, two stainless turntables, one air line kit and two work steps, and the AR4115EAX's names 9,000 lb rolling jacks where its own accessory table lists the RJ7.5 at 7,500 lb. Ask us to confirm the exact bill of materials for the model you want. The E versions handle a 167.75 in. maximum two-wheel alignment, the X versions 195.25 in.; both cover a 68 in. to 158 in. four-wheel range.

Heavy-duty truck and transit lifts, 27,000 to 60,000 lb

Nineteen lifts sit at 27,000 lb and above: BendPak's HDS-27 and HDS-40 pairs, AMGO's PRO-30 and PRO-40 families, and Challenger's chain-driven 44030, 44040 and 44050 series in standard, extended (E) and XL extended (X) lengths, plus the 60,000 lb 44060 and its XL extended 44060X, described by the manufacturer for heavy commercial truck and transit vehicles.

Two things surprise buyers here. On BendPak's heavy-duty line the rise goes down, not up: the 27,000 lb HDS-27 rises 61.25 in. and the 40,000 lb HDS-40 rises 60 in., where the 9,000 lb HD-9XW rises 82.165 in. Challenger's chain-driven lifts do not follow that pattern, with 73 in. of rise on the 60,000 lb 44060. And the runways get far wider: 22 in. on the HDS-27, 28 in. on the HDS-40, 32 in. on the Challenger 44040 through 44060.

Capacity, rise, wheelbase and floor space

Capacity alone will not tell you whether a lift fits. Three other numbers do.

• Minimum wheelbase, not maximum. BendPak rates capacity against wheelbase: the HD-9XW carries its full 9,000 lb only at a 135 in. wheelbase or longer, dropping to 75 percent at 115 in.; the HDS-27 needs 185 in. for its full 27,000 lb. Challenger and iDEAL publish the opposite figure, a maximum wheelbase: 141.5 in. on the CL4P7, 179 in. on the CL4P9X, 182-1/2 in. on the iDEAL FP14KC-X, up to 430 in. on the Challenger 44060X.
• Drive-thru clearance. This is the usable opening, always narrower than the gap between the posts: the HD-9XW publishes 86.65 in. of drive-thru clearance against 100.25 in. between posts. Among the models that publish it, it runs from 76.5 in. on the narrow BendPak HD-7P and HD-9STX to 129-7/8 in. on the AMGO PRO-40 and PRO-40E, with the AMGO 407-P at 77 in., the PRO-12SX at 104-3/16 in. and the BendPak HDS-18E, HDS-27 and HDS-40 all at 109 in. Challenger does not publish this figure at all; it publishes inside-column width instead, 125.5 in. on the 4115 series, 132-1/2 in. on the 44030 and up to 144 in. on the 44040 through 44060.
• Runway height at rest. How low the deck sits decides whether a low-clearance car can drive on: 4-15/16 in. on the AMGO 407-P, 4.75 in. on the BendPak HD-9EWT and HD-9XW, 7.5 in. on the HDS-14, 9.5 in. on the HDS-27 and HDS-40, 10-7/16 in. on the AMGO PRO-30. Several BendPak models offer longer approach ramps for low-clearance vehicles.

Challenger publishes a minimum recommended bay size on many models, the fastest sanity check: 10 ft x 20 ft for the CL4P7, 11 ft x 22 ft for the CL4P9X, 12 ft x 24 ft for the 4P14EFX, 14 ft x 26 ft for the 4115XFX.

What your building has to provide

Ceiling height. Take the lift's overall or column height, then add the tallest vehicle you will raise. The lowest structures are the JMC8K-B, JMC8K-DX, FP8K-B and FP8K-DX at 86 in. and the BendPak HD-9 and HD-9XL at 88 in.; the 8,000 lb XLT versions of those JMC and Tuxedo lifts stand 94 in. and the 9,000 lb XLTs 97 in. Shop lifts sit near 90 to 103 in.: HDS-14 92 in., HDS-27 and HDS-40 91.25 in., Challenger 44018 102.5 in. The HD-7PXW is another matter, standing on 158 in. columns.

Electrical. Three tiers. Single-phase 110V/115V runs the AMGO parking lifts (1.0 HP, 110V/60Hz) and the JMC and Tuxedo storage lifts (115V - 20 Amp - 1PH). Single-phase 208-230V runs most shop lifts: 2 HP on the BendPak HD-9, HDS-14, HDS-27 and HDS-40 and on the Challenger 4115 and 4P14 series, 3 HP at 30 A on the Challenger 44018 and 44030 families, 2.0 HP at 220V on the AMGO PRO series. Three-phase 230-460V is required only at the top: 10 HP drawing 28 to 14 A on the Challenger 44040 family, and 15 HP on the 44050 and 44060. Challenger publishes 42 to 21 A for the 44060 on its own listing, while the 44050 listing states 30 A, so confirm against the model's spec sheet before sizing the service.

Compressed air. Air-released locks and air-operated rolling jacks need a supply line. Challenger's 4115 series, 4P14 series and AR4115 packages call for 90-120 psi, as does the Hofmann FPA18210. The BendPak HD-7500BLX, HD-75BXT and HD-7500PBX list 3 to 25 cfm at 50 to 150 psi maximum. Every Challenger 440xx model, 44018 through 44060, releases its locks with a single-point air actuated system, as do the AMGO PRO series (air-driven lock release), the BendPak HD and HDS four-posts (push-button pneumatic safety release) and the iDEAL FP14KC-X (single point pneumatic lock release). Only the AMGO parking lifts, the JMC and Tuxedo storage lifts and Challenger's CL4P series need no air for the locks; the CL4P listings state "Air not required for operation."

Floor and anchoring. Challenger states that anchoring is not required to maintain ALI/ETL certification on the CL4P7, CL4P9S, CL4P9X and CL4P9W. Concrete thickness and PSI are not published in these listings, so confirm against the model's installation manual before you pour or drill.

Certifications

Certification claims differ by brand and model; read them literally. Challenger states ALI/ETL certified on the four CL4P models, the 4P14 pair, the four 4115 models and the four AR4115 packages, and ALI certified on the 4018XFX and the 4018XFX PKG. BendPak states ALI certified on the HDS-14XT and the HDS18EA, ETL approved on the HD-9ST, HD-9, HD-9STX, HD-9XL, HD-9XW and HDS-14, and CE approved to EN-1493 on nine of its 27 listings here. Hofmann states the FPA18210 is certified under the Automotive Lift Institute's ETL Certification Program. AMGO's listings say an "ETL certified power unit comes as standard," which covers the power unit, not the complete lift.

Comparison: 10 models across the range

A dash means the figure is not published on that model's spec sheet. Note: the BendPak HD-9 and HD-9ST listings carry a specification block that contradicts the rest of the page. The HD-9 listing opens its table with "Lifting Capacity | 6000 lb" against the 9,000 lb rating in its own product name; on the HD-9ST the entire table belongs to a different machine, showing 6,000 lb capacity, a 47 in. maximum lifting height, 76 in. length, 1.5 HP at 110V and a 912 lb shipping weight, none of which fit the 9,000 lb four-post lift described in the same listing or the 2 HP, 208-230V, 1,842 lb HD-9STX beside it. We treat the product name as authoritative and recommend confirming capacity and electrical requirements before ordering either one.

Accessories that change how the lift works

Rolling jacks are the most common add-on and they are model-specific. BendPak names the 4,500 lb RJ-45 on the HD-7P, HD-7W, HD-9, HD-9ST, HD-9STX, HD-9XL and HD-9XW, and the 7,000 lb RJ-7 on the HDS-14 and HDSO-14P; it is not listed on the HD-7PXW, HD-9EWT, HD-9SW, HD-9SWX, HD-9SW-E or HD-973P. Challenger lists the RJ3.5 for the CL4P7 only, the RJ4.5 for CL4P9 models only, the 7,500 lb RJ7.5 on the 4115 series, and the SAJ15 and SAJ18 at 15,000 and 18,000 lb on the 44030. AMGO lists the J6H (manual) and J6A (pneumatic) at 6,000 lb on the PRO-12 family, the RJ-8A at 8,000 lb and RJ-10A at 10,000 lb on the PRO-14 and PRO-18 families, and the RJ-10A and RJ-20A at 10,000 and 20,000 lb on the PRO-30 family. On Challenger's 44018, 44018E and 44030X, running rolling jacks means fixing the runway spacing, 33-15/16 in. to 41-11/16 in. on the 44018, instead of leaving it adjustable. Drive-thru ramp kits let you drive off the back instead of reversing, and the part number changes with the line: 40707 (36 in. louvered) and 40707L (48 in. low-profile) on the 4115 and AR4115, 10266 and 10266L on the 4P14, 44RK18 (39 in. pivoting) on the 44018, 44RK30 and 44RKE30 (36 in. and 72 in. pivoting) on the 44030, and 44RK40 (96 in. fixed) on the 44040 through 44060.

Questions buyers ask

Will a four-post lift fit in a residential garage?

Several are built for it. The 86 in. JMC and Tuxedo 8,000 lb Deluxe units state they fit in most residential garages; the 94 in. 8,000 lb XLT versions and the 97 in. 9,000 lb XLTs state they fit larger residential garages. The Challenger CL4P7 calls for a 10 ft x 20 ft minimum bay. Measure your ceiling, then add the vehicle height on top of the runway height.

What is the difference between a parking lift and a service lift?

Parking lifts such as the AMGO 407-P, 408-P and 408-HP are built to stack vehicles: manual single-point lock release, foldable drive-in ramps and support for back-to-back installation to save floor space. The 408-HP is the 408-P with 14 in. of additional lift height. Service-rated lifts add adjustable runway spacing, rolling jack rails, air-released locks and, on alignment models, turnplate pockets and slip plates.

Can I do wheel alignments on any four-post lift?

No. Alignment needs turnplate pockets or cut-outs and rear slip plates. The ready-to-align models are the AMGO PRO-12A, PRO-12ASX, PRO-14A and PRO-18A ("Integrated slip plates and adjustable turnplate pockets"), the BendPak HDS18EA ("Includes turnplates and slip plates.") and Challenger's AR4115 packages. The Hofmann FPA18210 is sold as an alignment lift, but its listing does not itemize turn plates or slip plates, so ask before you order. Two more can be converted: the Challenger 4115 series takes an optional alignment kit with rolling jacks, an internal airline system and stainless steel turn plates, and the iDEAL FP14KC-X a bolt-on runway alignment kit (FP14KCK-ALIGNKIT). Challenger also builds AR alignment versions of the 44018 and 44030 lines, whose runways include cut-outs for turn plates, with the turn plates not included; those AR versions are not among the models listed on this page, so ask us if you need one.

How does a lift this size arrive, and what do I need to unload it?

Most BendPak listings that publish a shipping method call for a flatbed with a forklift to offload, the HD-9, HDS-14, HDS-27 and HDS-40 among them. The HD-9ST listing says LTL with a liftgate, and 14 of the 27 BendPak listings state no method at all, so confirm the method for your model and have the equipment on site. Every BendPak listing does state that unloading the freight at your location is the buyer's responsibility. Shipping weights: 1,616 lb for the HD-9, 2,606 lb for the HDS-14, 6,109 lb for the HDS-27, 6,748 lb for the HDS-40. AMGO's gross weights run from 1,435 lb on the 407-P to 9,306 lb on the PRO-40E. The 56 BendPak and Challenger Lifts models here are flagged for free shipping on their product pages; the AMGO, JMC Equipment, Tuxedo, Hofmann and iDEAL models are not, so confirm freight on those before you order.

JMC Automotive Equipment sells new equipment only. Tell us the vehicles you service, your ceiling height, your bay dimensions and the power at the wall, and we will narrow these 80 lifts to the two or three that fit.