JMC Automotive Equipment lists 164 items in this category from 13 manufacturers: 163 vehicle lifts plus one inground completion kit, the Challenger EV12CK. By brand, Challenger Lifts (71 listings), BendPak (29), Mahle (11), JMC Equipment (10), Nussbaum (10), Tuxedo (9), iDEAL (8), AMGO Hydraulics (8), Autostacker (2), Omer Lifts (2), APEX (2), Hofmann (1) and Herkules (1). The catalog runs from a 2,200 lb iDEAL powersports bench up to the Challenger 44060, a four-post rated at 60,000 lb for heavy commercial trucks, and includes mobile column sets that reach 152,000 lb when eight Mahle CML-9W columns work together.
All of it is new equipment sold outright. Fifteen of the 164 listings are currently marked as not purchasable online -- among them the Nussbaum Jumbo 9, UNI LIFT 9 and UNI LIFT 9 A, the BendPak OctaFlex 12DPS, the Omer Bipark and the Challenger LE12-3S -- so call before you plan a bay around one of those. What follows answers the question that decides the purchase: which vehicle lift fits your bay, your power supply, and the vehicles you service.
The eight types of vehicle lift in this category
By the type named on the product page, 73 listings are two-post lifts and 40 are four-post. Sixteen are mobile column units, 10 are scissor, nine mid-rise, eight alignment, six parking and two single post. The counts overlap where a model is both -- the Nussbaum UNI LIFT 9 A is a scissor lift and an alignment rack, the BendPak HDS18EA is a four-post and an alignment lift, and the AMGO 408-HP is a four-post and a parking lift. The type decides what you can reach and how much floor you give up.
Two-post lifts
The default for general service. The wheels hang free, so brakes, suspension, exhaust and driveline work are open. The split inside this group matters more than the brand:
- Clearfloor lifts run the equalization over an overhead beam. Nothing crosses the bay floor, but you need the ceiling. The Challenger CL10AV3 requires a 12 ft ceiling and lists an overall height of 11 ft 2 in. or 11 ft 8 in., 11 ft 11 in. with the cylinder extended.
- Floorplate lifts move the equalization into a low plate you drive over, which drops the height requirement sharply. The Challenger CLFP9 is 9,000 lb with an overall height of 120.875 in. and a listed ceiling requirement of 10 ft 2 in. AMGO's BP-9 is a 9,000 lb baseplate lift with an overall height of 108 in.
- Symmetric, asymmetric and both. Symmetric centers the vehicle between the columns; asymmetric rotates them so the doors clear. The Challenger SA10 installs either way at 10,000 lb, but the drive-thru changes with the choice: 92.75 in. or 98.75 in. symmetric, 88.5 in. or 94.5 in. asymmetric. Versymmetric models such as the CL10AV3 and VLE10 do both in one bay.
- Short-rise two-post lifts trade height for clearance. The BendPak 12AP-SRT holds the full 12,000 lb but tops out at 43 in. of rise across 8 lock positions spaced every 3.75 in.
Four-post lifts
Drive-on runways carry the vehicle by its tires. Easier to spot, better for storage, and the only practical base for a wheel alignment rack. The tradeoff: wheels stay loaded, so suspension work needs a rolling jack. Watch the wheelbase limits: the Challenger CL4P9S takes 155 in., the taller CL4P9X 179 in., and the 44018E stretches to 230 in.
Scissor and mid-rise lifts
These give back floor space when the lift is down. The Challenger DX77 double scissor is 7,700 lb with a 74.5 in. rise and a lowered height of 4.5 in.; the flush-mount DX77R rises 70 in. instead. Mid-rise units such as the BendPak MD-6XP (6,000 lb, 47 in. max lifting height, 4.75 in. lowered) or the Challenger MR6 (6,000 lb, 52.75 in. rise, 40 in. wide) suit tires, brakes and body work rather than under-car service.
Mobile column lifts
Free-standing columns that lift by the wheels, rated per column and deployed in even numbers. Challenger's CLHM-140 carries 14,000 lb per column and the CLHM-190 carries 19,000 lb; both stand 88.5 in. tall and reach 157.125 in. at full rise. The lighter CLMM-5000 is rated 5,000 lb per column. Mahle's CML-7 is 14,000 lb per column, sold as singles or in sets of 4, 6 and 8 (56,000, 84,000 and 112,000 lb).
Single post, parking and alignment
AMGO's SL-7 and portable SML-7 are 7,000 lb single-post lifts, both 109 7/16 in. tall overall. Parking lifts stack vehicles rather than service them: the Autostacker A6S holds 6,000 lb and parks at five lock heights, from 52.5 in. of under clearance on the lowest to 81.25 in. on the highest, and the BendPak HD-973P-G is a tri-level design whose upper platform is rated 7,000 lb and lower platform 9,000 lb.
Alignment models add rear slip plates and turnplate cutouts, but what ships in the box differs. The Challenger AR4115EAX comes as a package with two 9,000 lb rolling jacks, an internal air line kit, rear slip plates, multi-position work-steps and automatic wheel stops; its page is inconsistent on one item -- the listing note says flush-mount stainless turning radius gauges, the feature list says flush-mount stainless turn plates and turn plate bridges -- so confirm that line before you order. The Nussbaum UNI LIFT 9 A builds in the rear slip plates and turntable cutouts on a 185 in. runway with a 9.75 in. low height; its turnplates are sold separately.
Capacity, and what the number really covers
Capacity ratings assume the load is distributed across all lifting points. Most manufacturers also publish a per-arm or per-axle limit, and that is the number that constrains an odd load. The BendPak 10AP is 10,000 lb total but 5,000 lb per axle and 2,500 lb per lift arm. The 20AP is 20,000 lb total and 5,000 lb per arm. The Challenger CL16-3S is 16,000 lb with a maximum of 4,000 lb per arm, and the DX77 scissor is 7,700 lb with a 3,850 lb ceiling per platform.
On four-post lifts, wheelbase is the constraint, but the two brands publish it from opposite ends. Challenger publishes a maximum wheelbase the runways will take -- 155 in. on the CL4P9S, 179 in. on the CL4P9X, 182.5 in. on the 4P14EFX, 310 in. on the 44060 -- with no derating table. BendPak publishes a minimum wheelbase at rated capacity and derates below it: the HDS-14XT carries its full 14,000 lb only with a wheelbase of 160 in. or longer, dropping to 75 percent at 140 in., 50 percent at 115 in. and 25 percent at 95 in., and the HDS-18E needs 185 in. for its full 18,000 lb. Check which number your model publishes.
Ceiling height, floor space and bay size
This is where most orders go wrong. Measure first.
- Under 11 ft of ceiling: floorplate designs. The Challenger CLFP9 lists 10 ft 2 in.
- 12 ft: the standard clearfloor band. Challenger's CL10AV3, SA10 and CL10A-XP9 all list 12 ft; the VLE10 lists 12 ft standard and 14 ft in its extended-height configuration.
- 14 ft and up: taller and heavier two-post lifts. The Challenger CL12A lists a 14 ft 3 in. minimum, the CL12A-1 15 ft 3 in. and the CL12A-2 16 ft 3 in. The CL16-3S lists 13 ft 8 in., 14 ft 2 in. or 14 ft 8 in., matching its 162 in., 168 in. and 174 in. overall height options, and the extended CL16-2-3S lists 15 ft 8 in. to 16 ft 8 in.
Challenger publishes a minimum recommended bay size on several models, the cleanest way to check floor space: 10 ft x 22 ft for the MR6 mid-rise, 11 ft x 22 ft for the CL4P9S and CL4P9X, 14 ft x 22 ft for the wider CL4P9W, 12 ft x 24 ft for the 4P14EFX, and 14 ft x 26 ft for the 4115XFX and AR4115XAX alignment rack. Heavy four-post lifts need another order of space: the 44060 is 36 ft long and 17 ft 1.25 in. wide, and the 44040E runs 41 ft long.
Drive-thru clearance is the gap your vehicle passes through between the columns, and it is not the same number as the width between the columns: the JMC9KACX lists 96 in. of drive-thru against 113.625 in. between columns, and the AMGO OH-12S lists 109 3/4 in. of drive-thru against 123 1/2 in. between columns. Across this category drive-thru runs from 88.15 in. on the Omer RED-10 in its narrow setting, 88.5 in. on the Challenger SA10 installed asymmetric and 90 in. on the CL10A-XP9, up to 116.25 in. on the Challenger CL16-3S at its widest column setting, with the CL12A at 115.5 in. Where a model offers narrow and wide settings the difference is real: the BendPak 10AP gives 92 in. narrow and 102 in. wide, and the CL10AV3 gives 100, 106 or 112 in. depending on the setting you order.
Concrete thickness is not published in these listings; confirm it against the model's installation manual before you pour or drill. Anchoring is published in a few cases: the Challenger CL4P9S, CL4P9X and CL4P9W state that anchoring is not required to maintain their ALI/ETL certification, and the APEX AL9LC and AL10C include a 10-piece set of concrete wedge anchors.
Power and air
Voltage decides whether an electrician is part of the project.
- 110V/115V single phase covers the light end: the BendPak MD-6XP (1.5 HP), Challenger MR6 (1 HP), AMGO SL-7 and LR06 (1 HP), the iDEAL powersports lifts (110V, 18 A) and the JMC8K-DX and Tuxedo FP8K-DX storage lifts (115V, 20 A). The Challenger CL4P9 series runs 1 HP/2 HP on 115V or 230V, rising in 120 or 60 seconds respectively.
- 208V-230V single phase is the shop standard. Challenger's CL10AV3, CLFP9, SA10 and the 4115 series use a 2 HP unit at 208v-230v, 60 Hz, 1 Ph; the LE12 lists the same 2 HP unit at 208v-230v. Most BendPak lifts list 220 VAC, 60 Hz, 1 Phase, though the MDS mid-rise scissors list 208-230 VAC at 60 Hz and the 12APF, 10AP-SRT and 12AP-SRT list 208-230 or 208-240 VAC at 50/60 Hz. JMC, Tuxedo and iDEAL two-post lifts list 220V on a 20 A circuit. The BendPak 12AP-SRT is the outlier at 5 HP and 23 A.
- Three phase appears on the heaviest four-post lifts: 10 HP at 230-460v on the 44040E, and 15 HP at 230-460v on the 44050 and 44060.
Some lifts also need shop air for the lock release. Challenger lists 90-120 psi on the 4P14EFX and 4P14XFX, the 4115 and AR4115 families, the CL16-3S and CL16-2-3S and the DX77, and its heavy four-post 44000 series (44018E through 44060X) uses a single-point air-actuated lock release. Hofmann lists 90-120 PSI on the FPA18210. The Autostacker A6S and A6W note that an air supply of at least 30 psi / 3 CFM may be required to disengage the safety locks, and that providing, installing and maintaining it is the end user's responsibility. Nussbaum goes the other way: the Jumbo 9 requires no compressed air at all, and the portable Sprinter 7 needs no external compressed air connection either -- though its spec table still lists a 208/230V single-phase, 2.0 hp power supply.
Certification
Eighty-one of the 164 listings state ALI or ALI/ETL certification. Forty-four Challenger models carry an "ALI/ETL Certified: Yes" row in their spec table, including the CL10AV3 and CL10A-XP9 families, SA10, LE12, E15, the CL4P9 series, the 4115 and AR4115 racks and the CLHM columns. The CL12A family and the SRM10 use a different row, "ALI Certified: Yes," and the MR6 states it in the description. Fifteen BendPak two- and four-post models state "ALI Certified" in their feature list, as do the Challenger 4018XFX, the Hofmann FPA18210, all 11 Mahle CML listings, the iDEAL TP10KAC-DX and TP12KSC-DX and the Omer RED-10.
Read two claims narrowly: four AMGO listings (408-HP, SL-7, SML-7 and MRL09) certify only the power unit -- "ETL certified power unit" -- not the lift, and the BendPak HDSO-14P and HDS-18E cite CE and EN 1493 rather than ALI.
Two more cautions. The Challenger CLFP9 table shows a dash rather than "Yes" in its ALI/ETL row, so certification does not carry across a brand. And where a description covers a whole family, the model name and spec table win: the 44060 page opens by describing "40,000 lb. to 60,000 lb." lifts, but that model is 60,000 lb, and the CL16-3S sits in a table listing 20,000 lb variants it is not.
Comparison of representative models
| Model | Type | Capacity | Rise / max lifting height | Space note | Power |
|---|
| Challenger CLFP9 | Two-post floorplate | 9,000 lb | 78.125 in. | Ceiling 10 ft 2 in.; drive-thru 98.187 in. | 2 HP, 208v-230v, 1 Ph |
| Challenger CL10AV3 | Two-post clearfloor | 10,000 lb | 74.125 in. | Ceiling 12 ft; drive-thru 100-112 in. | 2 HP, 208v-230v, 1 Ph |
| Challenger E15 | Two-post symmetric | 15,000 lb | 77.75 in. | Ceiling 175 or 199 in.; drive-thru 109.375 in. | 2 HP, 208v-230v |
| BendPak 20AP | Two-post clearfloor | 20,000 lb | 76.5 in. max rise | Overall height 169 in.; drive-thru 107.75 in. | 220 VAC, 60 Hz, 1 Ph |
| Challenger CL4P9X | Four-post | 9,000 lb | 85.5 in. | Bay 11 ft x 22 ft; wheelbase up to 179 in. | 1 HP/2 HP, 115v/230v |
| Challenger 4P14EFX | Four-post closed front | 14,000 lb | 78 in. | Bay 12 ft x 24 ft; wheelbase up to 182.5 in. | 2 HP, 208v-230v, 1 Ph |
| BendPak HDS-18E | Four-post | 18,000 lb | 61.25 in. max rise | Overall length 312.75 in.; 185 in. minimum wheelbase at rated capacity | 220 VAC, 60 Hz, 1 Ph |
| Challenger 44060 | Four-post heavy duty | 60,000 lb | 73 in. | 36 ft long, 17 ft 1.25 in. wide; wheelbase up to 310 in. | 15 HP, 230-460v, 3 Ph |
| Challenger DX77 | Double scissor, surface | 7,700 lb | 74.5 in. | 83.25 in. x 82 in.; lowered 4.5 in. | 2 HP, 208/220v; air 90-120 psi |
| BendPak MD-6XP | Portable mid-rise | 6,000 lb | 47 in. | 76 in. long; lowered 4.75 in. | 1.5 HP, 110V, 1 Ph |
| Challenger CLHM-190 | Mobile column (per unit) | 19,000 lb per column | 69 in. with 4 or more units | Unit 88.5 in. tall, 44.25 in. wide | Sold per unit; 1,510 lb each |
Frequently asked questions
What ceiling height do I need for a car lift?
It depends on the design, not the capacity. Clearfloor two-post lifts here generally list 12 ft, such as the Challenger CL10AV3 and SA10. Floorplate models are the low-ceiling answer: the CLFP9 lists 10 ft 2 in. Taller lifts go the other way, with the CL12A-2 listing a 16 ft 3 in. minimum. Four-post and scissor lifts are limited by the vehicle plus the rise rather than an overhead beam, so the CL4P9X reaches 85.5 in. of runway height in an 11 ft x 22 ft bay.
Two-post or four-post for a home garage?
Four-post if the main job is storage or driving on and parking. The Challenger CL4P9S, CL4P9X and CL4P9W are built for home and light-duty service, run on 115V or 230V single phase, fit an 11 ft x 22 ft bay (14 ft x 22 ft for the wider CL4P9W), and state that anchoring is not required to maintain their ALI/ETL certification. The JMC8K-DX and Tuxedo FP8K-DX storage lifts run on a 115V, 20 A circuit with 70 in. of clearance under the track. Choose a two-post if wheels-free service is the point.
Can I run a lift on standard household power?
Some of them. The BendPak MD-6XP, Challenger MR6, AMGO SL-7 and LR06, the iDEAL powersports lifts and the JMC and Tuxedo 8,000 lb four-post storage lifts are all listed on 110V/115V single phase. Most shop two-post lifts are not: they list 208v-230v single phase, and the heaviest four-post models require three phase.
What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric?
Symmetric centers the vehicle between the columns and suits trucks and vans. Asymmetric rotates the columns so the vehicle sits rearward and the doors open clear of the posts. The Challenger SA10 installs either way, and its drive-thru clearance shifts with the decision. Versymmetric models such as the CL10AV3 and VLE10 handle both in the same bay, which matters when the work mix is not consistent.
How many mobile columns do I need?
They are sold and priced per unit and run in even sets. Challenger's CLHM and CLMM columns list a maximum lift height of 69 in. with four or more units, 32 in. with two in normal mode. Mahle publishes the same 32 in./69 in. split and sells the CML-7 and CML-9W in sets of 4, 6 and 8 -- which is how a 14,000 lb column becomes 112,000 lb.
Is delivery included?
115 of the 164 listings are flagged for free shipping on their product page -- the Challenger, BendPak, Mahle, Autostacker and APEX models. Those listings define free shipping as delivery to direct points within the 48 contiguous states, and 32 of them state that unloading the freight at your location is the buyer's responsibility; the BendPak MD-6XP, for example, ships LTL and lists a liftgate as an offload requirement. Plan for a forklift or a liftgate.
Of the 49 listings that are not flagged, 27 publish a flat freight charge on the product page itself -- from $360 per unit on the iDEAL TLX-7000 to $755 per unit on the JMC9K-DX-XLT and Tuxedo FP9K-DX-XLT, with the JMC9KACX at $545, the JMC8K-DX and Tuxedo FP8K-DX at $665 and the iDEAL TP12KSC-DX at $705 -- to any address in the contiguous 48 states; Alaska, Hawaii and remote or limited-access locations are excluded and may cost more, and orders of more than two units are quoted. The remaining 22 listings, the Nussbaum, AMGO, Omer, Hofmann and Herkules models, publish no freight figure. Check the individual product page, and call 800-562-4791 for a delivery estimate or for help matching a lift to your bay before you order.
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