PL-12000DPS: the triple-stack idea, sized for a garage with an ordinary roof

Every stacking parking lift asks the same question first, and it is not about weight. It is whether the structure will physically stand up in your building. The PL-12000DPS exists to answer that question yes more often: it is the standard-rise, short-runway version of the PL-12000, with a total height of 118.5" (3,009 mm) and runways of 159" (4,039 mm) rather than the taller, longer arrangement of its sibling. Same 12,000 lbs across the structure, same 6,000 lbs per platform, less building required.

The second thing worth knowing is how quickly it works. This model's specification records a lifting time of roughly 45 seconds. A stacker that takes a couple of minutes each way gets used once a season; one that cycles in well under a minute gets used on a Tuesday morning, which is the whole point of storing a car above another car rather than beside it.

Will It Fit?

These are the figures to walk into the garage with. Measure before you order, not after the freight arrives.

• Ceiling height. Total height is 118.5" (3,009 mm) for the empty structure. Add the roof height of whatever you intend to park on the upper deck, plus clearance for lights and door hardware.
• Floor width. Total width is 221.25" (5,620 mm), with 211" (5,362 mm) between posts and 100.25" (2,546 mm) between the short and double posts.
• Floor length. Total length is 218.5" (5,550 mm); outside length is 174" (4,418 mm) and the runways are 159" (4,039 mm) — short runways are what make this the version that fits a normal bay.
• Drive-through. 85" (2,161 mm) wide by 68.5" (1,742 mm) high. That height is the one to check against the vehicle you plan to drive underneath.
• Approach. Minimum runway height is 4.75" (121 mm), so a low front bumper has a fighting chance on the ramps.
• Power. 220 VAC, 60 Hz, 1 Ph. Have the circuit in place before delivery day.

Checking the ceiling, the floor plan and the circuit is the buyer's job, and a machine that will not stand up in the room is not a warranty question. Our record for this model does not state a required slab thickness or concrete strength; that figure is in the installation manual linked on this page, and we will confirm it in writing if you ask before you order.

Two rise figures to confirm before you order

Published figures for the rise differ, so each is shown below with the source it comes from.

Those two readings are not compatible with each other on a lift of this height, so both are set out above rather than merged into one. Plan your building from the published specification. If the rise figure is the thing your purchase turns on — clearance for the vehicle underneath, or a door that has to shut — ask us to confirm it in writing before you order and we will get the answer straight from BendPak.

Independent platforms: why they are not a luxury

Each of the two platforms has its own electric-hydraulic power unit and moves on its own. The practical consequence is that you never shuffle. Lower the side holding the car you want, drive it off, drive it back, raise it. The other vehicle has not moved and has not been touched. On a stacker where both decks are tethered together, every retrieval is a two-car operation, and that is the reason so many of them end up used as permanent storage instead of daily parking.

The decks are full width, which protects the vehicle parked underneath from drips and grit rather than leaving it exposed between two narrow rails. Multiple lock positions in each column let you choose the parked height, so a tall pickup on the lower deck and a low coupe above it can each be given the clearance they actually need.

Simple by design

Tandem drive cylinders and a hydraulic circuit that keeps the ends of a platform level do the lifting; heavy-duty galvanized cables carry the load. There is almost nothing here to go out of adjustment, which is why a welded-steel machine like this survives years of an unheated garage and still cycles on the first press. Wide baseplates spread the column loads into the slab, and the superstructure is powder-coated rather than painted, which matters if the lift lives outdoors or in a bay that gets washed down.

Perfect For

• The home garage with a normal roof — this is the version to look at first if the taller model does not clear your ceiling.
• Enthusiasts parking a project car over a daily driver and wanting both accessible in the same week.
• Small commercial premises wanting to double vehicle storage without extending the building.
• Cars, light trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, which is the vehicle range this series names for itself.

What's in the Box

• Two independently operated platforms with full-width aluminium-decked runways and built-in wheel stops
• Dual electric-hydraulic power units
• Dual hydraulic cylinders with heavy-duty galvanized lifting cables
• Front and rear wheel chocks
• Lightweight extended aluminum approach ramps that stow when not in use

Nothing else is listed as included. Accessories are a separate conversation — have it before you order.

Specifications

Certification, stated plainly

Our product record for the PL-12000DPS does not carry a third-party safety-listing document for the North American market. That describes our data, not the machine — such a document may exist and simply not be attached to this listing. The distinction worth understanding is between a manufacturer declaring conformity itself and an independent body examining the product and issuing a listing, because insurers, fleet policies and some local inspectors ask for the second kind by name. If any of those apply to you, ask us in writing before you order and we will obtain a written answer from the manufacturer instead of guessing.

Shipping and delivery

The PL-12000DPS is a special-order machine, built to your order rather than picked from stock, so ask for the current lead time when you enquire. It travels as freight within the lower 48 states, free of charge.

Delivery is to the kerb. Before you order, settle how the crate comes off the truck: a forklift or telehandler on site, or collection from the freight terminal, which many buyers find simpler for a machine this size. A residential address carries a residential fee. Warehouse pickup can be arranged for this brand — call us to set it up. Inspect the crate at delivery and write any damage onto the bill of lading before signing — once a clean signature is given, a damage claim becomes very difficult.

Warranty

BendPak has more than 50 years behind its parking lifts, and this series is backed by a five-year warranty; the warranty document linked on this page is the one that governs. If something fails, do not take it apart first. Photograph it, leave the assembly intact and contact us — a disassembled component is the most common reason a good claim is refused.