Mid Rise Lifts

The four kinds of mid-rise lift in this category

All 16 raise a car into a similar band, but they engage it differently, and that decides which jobs each can do.

Portable frame-engaging lifts

Adjustable arms or pads reach the manufacturer's lifting points and leave all four wheels hanging free, which is what makes these useful for tire, wheel and brake work. The BendPak MD-6XP moves on a portable motor cart that doubles as a tow handle, and its listing states truck adapters are included at no charge. The Challenger Lifts MR6 mounts its motor on a tow dolly, is described by Challenger as usable indoors or outdoors, and comes standard with short and tall auxiliary adapters plus sliding and rotating arms with rubber pads. The AMGO MR06 uses sliding radius arms with a mechanical self-locking design and includes height extension adapters and pads. The Tuxedo MR6K-48X pairs extended adjustable arms with a dolly-mounted power unit and a single-point lock release.

Open-center scissor platforms

BendPak's MDS-6 family uses two narrow 19 in. platforms with an open center, so the underbody stays reachable while the car sits on four cushioned rubber contact blocks. Each platform carries four solid steel scissor frame support bars, with a dual master cylinder and dual equalizing cylinders holding the 6,000 lb. load level. Four are listed, differing in length, in how they sit in the floor and in how high they go: the MDS-6LP is surface mount with a 67 in. platform and 44.5 in. of rise, the MDS-6LPF is that lift built flush to the floor, the MDS-6EXT stretches the platform to 78.75 in. for longer wheelbases but reaches only 36.75 in., and the MDS-6EXTF is the extended version in flush mount.: the MDS-6LP is surface mount with a 67 in. platform, the MDS-6LPF is that lift built flush to the floor, the MDS-6EXT stretches the platform to 78.75 in. for longer wheelbases, and the MDS-6EXTF is the extended version in flush mount. Both flush-mount models are listed without ramps or covers. Measure the floor: the MDS-6LP runs 102.5 in. with ramps only and up to 150.25 in. with ramps and extensions, the MDS-6EXT 114.25 in. and up to 162 in.

Runway and wheel-engaging scissor lifts

Here the car drives on and stays on its tires, which suits quick service, body work and anything where the wheels should stay loaded. The AMGO MRL09 uses a two-stage drive-in ramp for low-clearance vehicles, runway length adjustable from 61-3/8 in. to 77-1/8 in., and installs surface or flush mount. The AMGO MRP06 has strengthened ramps that flip up and serve as extended platform. The Tuxedo MR6.5K-38 has load-bearing flip-up runway extensions with 33-1/4 in. between runways. The Nussbaum Sprinter 7 uses hot-dip galvanized anti-slip platforms with drive-on ramps that lock one-handed, and its platform length adjusts from 55 in. to 79 in.

Pad and platform lifts

The L1200P is the portable one, and the L1200 and L1200S are installed lifts; the VLH01 publishes no installation method, so ask us to confirm it. The Herkules L1200 and L1200P share a 44 in. by 67 in. platform and arms that swing and slide to the manufacturer's recommended lifting points, raising the vehicle by the frame. The L1200 is a fixed installation, surface mounted or recessed; the L1200P is that lift on a dolly handle with wheels, shipping with eight rubber blocks and six solid-steel safety stops. The L1200S is the outlier: an 80 in. by 151 in. platform with four removable ramps that lock upward to secure the wheels, lifting by the tires or the suspension rather than the frame. The VLH01 Boss Lifts Tandem is a straight vertical hydraulic lift on two platforms, listed at 19 in. by 54 in. each in its spec table (the paragraph says 19.25 in. by 53.5 in.; the table is the more reliable figure).

Capacity: 5,000 lb. to 9,000 lb.

Eleven of the 16 models are rated at 6,000 lb., the working standard for cars, vans and light-duty trucks. The other five spread out around it: the Herkules L1200S at 5,000 lb., the Tuxedo MR6.5K-38 at 6,500 lb., the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 at 7,000 lb., the Herkules VLH01 at 8,000 lb., and the AMGO MRL09 topping the category at 9,000 lb. (4,000 kg). Size against the heaviest vehicle you intend to lift, not the average one. Three of the eleven 6,000 lb. listings state a vehicle range — the BendPak MD-6XP (cars and light-duty trucks), the Challenger MR6 (compact passenger cars to light trucks) and the Tuxedo MR6K-48X (cars, vans and light trucks); the other eight name no vehicle range at all, so ask us before you size one. Only the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 states a heavier range on its page, listing everything from mini cars and low-slung sports cars to off-road vehicles and heavy SUVs; the Herkules VLH01 names no vehicle types at all on its listing, and the AMGO MRL09 mentions only low-clearance cars and ultra-low-chassis vehicles without stating a weight class. Tell us the heaviest vehicle you intend to lift and we will confirm the model against the manufacturer's manual.

Rise, drive-over height and low ceilings

Maximum rise runs from 32 in. on the Herkules VLH01 to 52.75 in. on the Challenger MR6. The Tuxedo MR6K-48X reaches 48-1/2 in., listed at 54 in. with adapters; the AMGO MRL09 reaches up to 47-1/4 in.; the BendPak MD-6XP reaches up to 47 in., with lock positions at 22 in., 33.25 in. and 42 in. On the BendPak MDS-6 models the top figures are reached with lift blocks, not by the lift alone: the MDS-6LP reaches 44.5 in. with no blocks, 46 in. with the 1.5 in. medium blocks and 47.5 in. with the 2.9 in. tall blocks. The listings state four cushioned-rubber contact blocks come standard but do not say which lift blocks ship with the lift, so confirm that before you plan around the taller figure. Published lifting times run from 30 seconds on the MRL09 through 35 seconds on the four BendPak MDS-6 models, 40 seconds on both Tuxedos and 45 seconds on the MD-6XP and MR6, up to the 56 seconds listed in the AMGO MR06 spec table; the MRP06 lifting time field is ambiguous.

Drive-over clearance decides whether a low car gets on at all. The lowest figures belong to the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 (4 in. drive-on height), the Tuxedo MR6.5K-38 (4 in. minimum pad height), the AMGO MRP06 (4-1/8 in.) and the Herkules L1200S (4.173 in.). The highest are the BendPak MDS-6EXT and MDS-6EXTF at 5.25 in. lowered, the AMGO MRL09 at 5-1/2 in., the Challenger MR6 at 5.5 in., and the Tuxedo MR6K-48X at a 7 in. minimum pad height. That is why the MRL09 adds a two-stage ramp with a 2-3/4 in. first-stage height. On the arm-style lifts read the pad figure, not the collapsed height: the MR6 lists a 5.5 in. collapsed table but an 8.625 in. minimum pad height.

Power, air and space requirements

Electrical supply splits most of this category in two, and it is the most common reason a lift arrives and cannot be commissioned. Running on standard 110V or 115V single phase: the BendPak MD-6XP (110V, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 HP), the Challenger MR6 (115V, 60 Hz, 1 Ph, 1 HP), both Tuxedo models (115V, 20 amp, 1 PH) and the AMGO MR06 (110V, 1.0 HP). The AMGO MRP06 is listed for either 110V at 1.0 HP or 220V at 2.0 HP. Requiring higher-voltage single phase: all four BendPak MDS-6 models (208-230 VAC, 60 Hz, 1 Ph), the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 (208/230 V, 1 phase, 2.0 hp) and the AMGO MRL09 (220V/60 Hz, 2.0 HP, with 24V safety voltage control). The four Herkules models (L1200, L1200P, L1200S and VLH01) publish no electrical specification on their product pages; confirm the supply with us before you plan the bay.

Compressed air is a separate check. The four BendPak MDS-6 models release their safety locks with stainless-steel pneumatic cylinders and require a minimum 50 psi, 10 CFM air source at the time of installation. The Tuxedo MR6.5K-38 lists an air supply of 90 to 125 PSI. The three Herkules L1200-series lifts include a foot controller with 12 feet of air hose; the VLH01 uses a hand controller. The Sprinter 7 needs no external compressed air connection, and the AMGO MR06 and MRP06 use mechanical locks with manual release.

For bay size, only the Challenger MR6 publishes a recommendation: a minimum bay of 10 ft. by 22 ft. For the rest, work from the listed overall dimensions. The AMGO MRL09 is 157-1/16 in. long including ramps and 76-3/4 in. wide; the Tuxedo MR6K-48X is 96-1/2 in. long with overall width adjustable from 39-5/8 in. to 62 in. Concrete thickness, anchor patterns and ceiling clearance are not published on these listings, so consult the model's installation manual before anchoring.

Certifications

These are not equivalent. The Challenger Lifts MR6 is listed as ALI/ETL certified, referring to the lift itself. The AMGO MRL09 and MRP06 each declare an ETL certified power unit, which certifies that component and says nothing about the complete lift. The remaining models declare no certification on their product pages. If ALI certification is required by your insurance carrier or your jurisdiction, ask us to confirm the current status of the specific model before ordering. Several BendPak models also carry a California Proposition 65 warning.

Model comparison

Three listed models are left off as close variants: the BendPak MDS-6LPF and MDS-6EXTF (flush-mount versions of the MDS-6LP and MDS-6EXT) and the Herkules L1200P (portable L1200).

Frequently asked questions

Can I move a mid-rise lift between bays?

Eight of the 16 are built to be moved: the BendPak MD-6XP (motor cart doubles as tow handle), Challenger MR6 (motor on a tow dolly), Herkules L1200P (dolly handle and wheels, one-person maneuvering), AMGO MR06 (power unit stand and telescoping dolly combo) and MRP06 (patented power unit stand, moved by one person), Tuxedo MR6K-48X (dolly-mounted power unit) and MR6.5K-38 (wheel kit and tow bar), and the Nussbaum Sprinter 7, listed as fully mobile with no compressed-air connection required, though its spec table calls for a 208/230 V single-phase supply. The four BendPak MDS-6 models, the Herkules L1200 and L1200S, and the AMGO MRL09 are installed lifts. The Herkules VLH01 publishes no installation method or portability feature; ask us to confirm it.

Can it lift the car by the wheels instead of the frame?

Yes, on the runway models. The Herkules L1200S lifts by the tires or the suspension on an 80 in. by 151 in. platform, and the AMGO MRL09 and MRP06, the Tuxedo MR6.5K-38 and the Nussbaum Sprinter 7 are drive-on designs. The arm-style lifts (BendPak MD-6XP, Challenger MR6, AMGO MR06, Tuxedo MR6K-48X, Herkules L1200 and L1200P) engage the frame or the manufacturer's lifting points and leave the wheels free, which is what you want for tire and brake work. The four BendPak MDS-6 models sit under the vehicle on four cushioned-rubber contact blocks, engaging the frame while leaving the center of the underbody open, and the Herkules VLH01 raises the vehicle on two 19 in. by 54 in. platforms.

Where do the listings disagree with themselves?

Several, and we quote the spec table in each.

• The AMGO MR06 table lists a 56-second lifting time while its feature list claims 26 seconds.
• Nussbaum lists the Sprinter 7 at 39 in. of lifting height while its paragraph mentions 40 in.
• The AMGO MRP06 lifting time field reads "68s 26s", so ask us to confirm it.
• The Herkules VLH01 paragraph gives two platforms of 19.25 in. by 53.5 in. while its table lists 19 in. by 54 in.
• The Tuxedo MR6K-48X paragraph calls the power unit platform-mounted; its feature list calls it dolly-mounted.
• The BendPak MDS-6EXTF says its solid-steel safety lock bars engage automatically during descent, while the MDS-6LP, MDS-6LPF and MDS-6EXT all say during ascent.
• The Herkules L1200S feature list says raised height up to 36 in.; its table says 35.798 in.

Which models ship free, and what happens at delivery?

Six are flagged for free shipping in our catalog: the BendPak MD-6XP, MDS-6LP, MDS-6LPF, MDS-6EXT and MDS-6EXTF, and the Challenger Lifts MR6. The two Tuxedo models carry a published freight charge instead, $515 per unit for the MR6K-48X and $545 per unit for the MR6.5K-38, both to the contiguous 48 states; Alaska, Hawaii and remote or limited-access locations are excluded and may cost more. BendPak's listings state that unloading at your location is the buyer's responsibility, and the MD-6XP ships LTL with a liftgate offload requirement. BendPak and Tuxedo both collect California sales tax.

What is not published, and how do I confirm it?

Concrete thickness, anchor patterns, ceiling clearance and full vehicle compatibility lists are not on these product pages. Those numbers live in each model's installation and operation manual, linked on most listings here. All 16 listings show the same availability line, "Call us up for details!", so confirm lead time with us as well. Tell us the heaviest vehicle you plan to lift, your ceiling height, your floor area and the electrical service in the bay, and we will confirm which of these 16 models fits.