BendPak HDS-14LSX 14,000 lb Four-Post Alignment Lift

The parts of a four-post lift that decide how long it lasts are the ones nobody photographs: the roller axles, the sheaves and the cable. On the HDS-14LSX those are all a size up. Roller axles are a rugged 1.75 in., the dual-hub cable sheaves are 10.5 in. in diameter and ride on 2.25 in. sheave axles, and heavy-duty 1/2 in. aircraft cable runs through each column. Lifting cable does not usually fail by being overloaded; it fails by fatigue, from being bent tightly around a small sheave a few thousand times. Specifying a large sheave and a fat axle is an unglamorous decision that shows up ten years later, and it is the honest reason to choose this rack over a cheaper one with the same capacity plate.

Capacity is 14,000 lbs. (6,350 kg), 7,000 lbs. (3,175 kg) per axle, on runways extended 30 in. beyond BendPak's standard-length model so that long-wheelbase trucks, crew cabs and limousines fit on the rack rather than over the end of it.

Will It Fit?

Length first. Overall length is 272 in. (6,908 mm) with ramps, 243 in. (6,172 mm) without, and the columns stand 92 in. (2,337 mm) tall — so this rack usually needs the bay depth planned around it rather than fitted into what is left over. Overall width is 130 in. (3,302 mm), with 120 in. (3,048 mm) between the columns and 98 in. (2,489 mm) of drive-thru clearance.

Working heights: minimum runway height 7.5 in. (191 mm), maximum rise 70 in. (1,778 mm) under the runway, and 77.5 in. (1,969 mm) to the top of the runway. That 70 in. figure is the one to check against your own height — it is what determines whether you stand up under a vehicle or stoop through the job. Runways are 20 in. (508 mm) wide and adjust from 34.5 in. (876 mm) to 41.5 in. (1,054 mm) apart, putting the outside edges at 77.5 in. (1,969 mm) or 84.5 in. (2,146 mm).

A runway length we will not pick a side on. The manufacturer's description of this lift quotes 229 in. runways. The specification block on the same page lists the length of runways as 227.5 in. (5,778 mm). We are not going to average them or choose the flattering one — if the runway length is load-bearing for your bay layout or your alignment equipment, ask us and we will confirm it against the current factory drawing before you order.

Power is 220 VAC, 60 Hz, single phase, with the power unit rated at 45 dB. The concrete and the electrical supply are the customer's responsibility: the slab must carry a freestanding four-post rack plus 14,000 lbs. of vehicle, and the circuit needs to be in before installation day. Both are specified in BendPak's installation manual, linked from this page.

Base plates, locks and the second line of defence

Each column stands on a 10 in. x 12 in. base plate — large enough to spread load into the slab, small enough not to eat the walking space between bays. Whether a given installation may be run freestanding is a question for your installer and your local requirements, not for a product page.

There are 15 locking positions in each column, spaced every 4 in. (102 mm), enclosed inside the columns so the pinch points are covered. The locks engage continuously as the runways rise, all four together, and the ladders are adjustable so the runways can be levelled against a floor that slopes — a genuinely common problem in older shops and one that ruins alignment work if it is not corrected. A pneumatic push-button releases them on the way down, and an independent slack-cable latch system sits behind the primary locks, ready to catch and stabilise the platforms if a cable ever develops slack.

Set up for alignment work, and for everything else

Mid to long-style approach ramps reduce the drive-on angle that catches a low car's front lip, and carry built-in rear wheel chocks. Cables, sheaves, air lines and the cylinder run inside the structure. The runways take a rail kit and a matte finish that hides tyre scuffing.

Rolling bridge jacks are the accessory that changes what this rack can do. Rated at 7,000 lbs. each, they raise the vehicle by its frame while it sits on the runways, so wheels and brakes can be serviced without moving it to a second lift — the practical way a four-post pays for itself in a general shop. Drive-thru ramps and drip trays are also offered.

Perfect For

• Commercial shops expanding into alignment without giving up a general-service bay to do it.
• Truck and fleet work where wheelbases run long and capacity has to cover a loaded three-quarter tonne.
• Tyre and suspension specialists who need bridge jacks and a rack in one footprint.
• Serious home and collection garages with the bay depth for it — 272 in. is a real commitment.

What's in the Box

• Four-post structure with 10 in. x 12 in. base plates
• Runways with rail kit and matte finish
• Mid to long-style approach ramps with built-in rear wheel chocks
• Electric/hydraulic power unit with customisable mounting position
• Single hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath the runway
• Enclosed cables, sheaves and multi-position safety locks with pneumatic push-button release
• Independent backup slack-cable safety latches

Optional: 7,000 lbs. rolling bridge jacks, drive-thru ramps and drip trays.

Specifications

Capacity is also a function of wheelbase, and BendPak publishes the derating: the full rating needs a 170 in. (4,318 mm) wheelbase, falling to 145 in. (3,683 mm) at 75%, 120 in. (3,048 mm) at 50% and 95 in. (2,413 mm) at 25%. Short vehicles concentrate their load; read that table before assuming a compact is trivially within rating.

Certification, stated honestly

Two claims appear in BendPak's feature list and both are worth understanding rather than collecting. It is stated to be CE approved and certified, meeting or exceeding European Standard EN-1493 — a declaration made against European directives, not the same document as a North American third-party lift safety listing. It is also stated to be ETL approved, a product safety testing mark, again distinct from a lift-specific North American listing. If your insurer or local code names a particular listing, send us the wording and we will check it against BendPak's documentation before you buy.

Shipping and delivery

Freight to the lower 48 states, free of charge. At 2,740 lbs. crated it needs unloading — forklift, dock or a booked rigger — and terminal pickup is a legitimate, often cheaper choice if you have none of those. Residential delivery is available and carries a fee. Warehouse pickup can be arranged; the BendPak locations are listed further down this page — call us to set it up.

Inspect the shipment before you sign. Damage noted on the bill of lading with the driver present is a claim; damage found after a clean signature usually is not. Take photographs at the truck.

Warranty

BendPak covers its whole range with one warranty document rather than a per-model term, so we will send the current copy rather than quote a figure this page cannot support. Keep your installation and service records, and do not disassemble a component you intend to claim on — that is the most common reason a good claim gets refused.