Challenger LE12 12,000 lbs. Symmetric 2-Post Lift

The LE12 is the two-post lift you buy when the vehicles have outgrown the lift you have. It carries 12,000 lbs. on heavy-duty 2-stage arms in a true symmetric arrangement, and - the part that decides whether it works in your building - it has an adjustable column height, so the same lift can be set for a low ceiling or raised to give a high-roof van real headroom underneath. Optional 2 ft. column extensions take it further still.

Symmetric is the deliberate choice here rather than a limitation. On a lift rated for trucks, vans and utility vehicles, centring the load between the columns is what keeps a long, heavy body balanced through the whole travel. Asymmetric spotting exists to solve a door-clearance problem that a work van does not have.

2-stage arms, and why fewer stages is not a downgrade

The LE12 uses 2-stage arms front and rear, reaching from 35.75 in. at minimum to 54.5 in. at maximum. A 2-stage arm has one fewer telescoping joint than a 3-stage arm. On a lift aimed at heavy, long-wheelbase vehicles that is a structural advantage, not a missing feature: fewer joints means fewer wear points and less deflection at the tip when there is serious weight on the pad. What you give up is the very short reach a 3-stage arm can fold down to, which matters on small cars and matters much less on the vehicles this lift is rated for.

Heavy-duty polyurethane screw pads sit on the arm ends and adjust through a range, so the wide variety of manufacturer-recommended lift points on trucks and vans can be met by turning a pad rather than stacking adapters. Stack adapters come with the lift as standard, which is worth knowing before you price a set separately.

Adjustable column height, and what it is really for

Most two-post lifts fix your ceiling problem at the point of purchase. The LE12 does not. Column height is adjustable, and the overall height of the assembled lift is either 166 in. or 175 in. depending on how you set it, with the ceiling requirement following at 167 in. or 176 in. and the floor-to-overhead-switch measurement at 159.5 in. or 168.5 in.

The practical consequence is that one model covers two quite different buildings. A shop with a modest ceiling can take the lower setting and still get a 12,000 lbs. lift; a shop with the room to spare can take the taller setting and gain real working headroom under a high-roof van or a box body. Optional 2 ft. column extensions are available on top of that when maximum height is what you are after.

Single-point lock release, and door guards

The mechanical lock release is single-point: one action disengages both columns at once. On a lift this size that is a safety feature disguised as a convenience one, because the alternative - walking to each column in turn - is what leads to a technician releasing one side while standing somewhere they should not be. The padded overhead shut-off stops the carriage before a tall roof reaches the crossbeam, which on a lift routinely used for vans is not a hypothetical.

Standard dual integrated rubber door guards protect panels from the doors of whatever the customer happens to be driving. Arm restraints and arm pins are plated against rust and the whole structure is powder coated.

Will It Fit?

Overall width is 139.75 in., with 115 in. between the insides of the columns and 103 in. of drive-thru clearance. Overall height is 166 in. or 175 in. by setting, needing 167 in. or 176 in. of ceiling. Rise height is 77.75 in. at the top of the pad and 71 in. of maximum rise measured under the arms.

Two figures to get from us rather than from this page. Challenger's concrete thickness and strength specification is not one we publish, so we will not quote you a slab figure - ask us for the installation manual before you drill. And published pad heights differ: one entry gives a minimum pad height of 7 in., while the specification block gives the screw pad range as 5.25 in. to 6.75 in. If the lowest pad height decides whether a particular low-clearance vehicle can be lifted, ask us to confirm it in writing before you order and we will get the current figure straight from Challenger.

Verifying the slab, the anchor spec, the ceiling clearance and the electrical supply is the buyer's responsibility. All four are far cheaper to check with a tape measure than after a truck-load of steel is standing in the bay.

Power supply

The power unit is 2 HP, 208v-230v, single-phase, with a speed of rise listed at 61 seconds. That is unhurried, and appropriately so - a 12,000 lbs. lift is not a quick-lube tool. Have an electrician confirm the circuit against the motor plate before delivery day.

Perfect For

• Truck and van shops where a lighter-rated lift is close to its limit too often.
• Fleet and commercial maintenance garages running service vehicles all week.
• General repair facilities wanting one lift that covers cars through to light commercials.
• Shops with an awkward ceiling, where adjustable column height is what makes the purchase possible at all.

What's in the Box

• Two columns with adjustable height
• Heavy-duty 2-stage front and rear arms
• Heavy-duty polyurethane screw pads
• Stack adapters, supplied as standard
• Single point mechanical lock release
• Padded overhead shut-off system
• Standard dual integrated rubber door guards, plated arm restraints and arm pins

Available in red or blue. The 2 ft. column extensions are an option, not standard - say what you are servicing and we will tell you whether you need them.

Certification, stated plainly

Our record for the LE12 shows ALI and ETL certification marked yes, and the current listing says the same. That is a third-party listing rather than a manufacturer's own declaration - the distinction an insurer, a fleet policy or a local inspector is normally asking about. If a listing is a condition of your cover or of a contract, get the requirement in writing and let us match the certificate to the configuration you are ordering.

Shipping and Delivery

The LE12 ships as freight within the lower 48 states. You will need a forklift or a dock to take it off the truck, or you can arrange terminal pickup instead; warehouse collection is also available. Residential delivery can be arranged and carries a fee. This item ships free, so there is nothing to add at checkout.

Inspect it before you sign for it. Columns and arms travel banded to a pallet and a bent flange does not always announce itself through the wrapping - count the pieces, look closely at corners and threads, and write anything you find on the bill of lading while the driver is still standing there.

Warranty

Warranty terms and how to claim are set out on our warranty claims page. No coverage period appears on this page because our product record for the LE12 holds a link rather than a term, and a warranty length is not something to estimate. Ask us and we will confirm it.

If something goes wrong, tell us before it is taken apart. A dismantled power unit or column cannot be assessed, and that is the single most common reason a legitimate claim ends up contested. Photograph the fault, note what the lift was doing at the time, and leave it exactly as it is.