One Lift, Two Widths: The Expandable Top Beam Is the 10AP's Real Feature
Most two-post lifts force a decision you cannot undo. Order the narrow version and a dually will never fit between the columns; order the wide version and you give up floor space forever. The BendPak 10AP sidesteps that with an expandable top beam: the same lift can be set up in a narrow or a wide configuration, giving an overall width of 135" or 145", outside-column dimensions of 127" or 137", and a drive-thru clearance of 92" or 102".
Will It Fit?
Ceiling first — this is a tall lift. Overall height is 145", and the floor-to-overhead-switch dimension is 139.25". That overhead shutoff bar is a padded safety device: it stops the lift before a vehicle roof reaches the beam. Measure to your lowest obstruction, not your highest ceiling point, and account for garage door tracks, lighting and any door opener in the swing of the top beam.
Width. In the narrow configuration, overall width is 135" and drive-thru clearance is 92". In the wide configuration those become 145" and 102" — BendPak also states the wide drive-thru as 8.5 ft and the corresponding width between columns as 9.85 ft. Outside-column dimensions are 127" or 137" depending on configuration. Decide which setup you want before installation, because the anchor pattern follows it.
Rise and reach. Rise is 69", or 72.25" measured to the top of the pad, which BendPak also states as 6 ft of lifting height at the top of the arms. Minimum height with the pad down is 4". Front arm reach runs 24.5" to 50", rear arm reach 32" to 59.25".
Power. The electric-hydraulic power system runs on 220V. Noise is rated under 70 dB.
Concrete and anchoring. A two-post lift is anchored into the slab, and unlike a freestanding four-post it depends on that anchorage — this is the single most important site check for this product. BendPak specifies the concrete thickness, strength and cure requirements in the installation manual for this model; read that section and verify your slab against it before ordering. Where the slab is unknown, an unreinforced apron, or has been poured over a subfloor, get it cored and tested. Confirming that the floor, the ceiling and the electrical supply meet the manual's requirements is the buyer's responsibility. We are glad to talk it through, but we cannot inspect your slab from here.
The Arms Are Where a Two-Post Lift Is Won or Lost
The 10AP uses four triple-telescoping arms in BendPak's Bi-Metric arrangement, with drop-end arms at the front. Triple telescoping means each arm collapses shorter and extends longer than a two-stage arm, so a short-wheelbase sports car and a long pickup can both be reached from the same lift without swapping hardware. The drop-end design is what gets the pad down to a 4" minimum height, and that is the number that decides whether a low-clearance car can be lifted at all — a pad that will not slide under the pinch weld is a lift that cannot be used on that vehicle.
Each arm is rated for a maximum load of 2,500 lbs, and automatic arm restraints rated for 2,000+ lbs lock the arms in position once the vehicle's weight settles on the pads. That restraint is not a convenience feature: it is what prevents an arm swinging out from under a vehicle when someone bumps it. Double-telescoping screw pads let you dial in pad height at each contact point, which is how you level a vehicle whose lift points sit at four different heights — and a 14-piece standard adapter set is included for the vehicles that need something other than a bare pad.
Carriages, Cables and Locks
The carriages are oversized, at 53" and 59" tall. A taller carriage spreads the bearing load over a longer section of the column, which reduces the pressure at any one point on the column face and is the difference between a lift that stays smooth and one that develops slop. The carriages ride on a self-lubricating UHMW bearing system — a polymer bearing that does not need greasing on a schedule and does not become an abrasive paste when it collects shop dust.
Safety locks are spaced every 3" up the columns, with a single-point safety release so all locks disengage together rather than one column at a time. Combined with the padded overhead safety shutoff bar and a durable powder coat finish on the structure, the 10AP is specified as a working shop lift rather than a light-duty one.
Perfect For
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Independent repair shops that see everything from compacts to three-quarter-ton pickups and need one lift to cover the range.
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Fleet and municipal bays where the vehicle mix is set by whoever bought the fleet, not by the shop.
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Serious home garages with the ceiling for it. At 145" overall height this is not a low-ceiling lift, but if you have the room it gives you full clear-floor access underneath.
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Tire, brake and suspension work — the clear floor between the posts is the reason technicians prefer a two-post lift for wheels-off jobs.
What's in the Box
The lift ships as a two-post assembly with the expandable top beam, both columns, four triple-telescoping arms with double-telescoping screw pads, the electric-hydraulic power unit, equalizer cables and sheaves, the padded overhead safety shutoff bar, automatic arm restraints, and the 14-piece standard adapter set. Anchors and any accessory not listed above are not part of the standard package — ask us before you assume an item is included.
Specifications
| Capacity |
|
| Lifting capacity |
10,000 lbs. (4,536 kg) |
| Max. load per arm |
2,500 lbs. (1,134 kg) |
| Arm restraints rated |
2,000+ lbs. |
| Rise |
|
| Rise |
69" (1,753 mm) |
| Rise + pad |
72.25" (1,835 mm) |
| Min. height + pad |
4" (102 mm) |
| Dimensions |
|
| Height overall |
145" (3,683 mm) |
| Width overall |
135" or 145" |
| Outside columns |
127" or 137" |
| Drive-thru clearance |
92" or 102" |
| Floor to overhead switch |
139.25" (3,537 mm) |
| Arms & carriages |
|
| Front arm reach (min/max) |
24.5" – 50" |
| Rear arm reach (min/max) |
32" – 59.25" |
| Carriage height |
53" and 59" |
| Lock spacing |
Every 3" |
| Equalizer cables |
1/2" heavy-duty |
| Power & weight |
|
| Motor |
220V |
| Noise level |
Under 70 dB |
| Shipping weight |
1,729 lbs. |
| Shipping dimensions |
150" x 24" x 28" |
One dimension to confirm before you set the anchor pattern
BendPak's own documents give the inside-column dimension two different ways: one source states 108" and 118" for the narrow and wide configurations, another states 108.25" and 118.25". A quarter of an inch is irrelevant to most installations and decisive in a few. If your bay is tight enough for it to matter, contact us before you order and we will confirm against the current factory drawing rather than have you plan around the wrong figure.
Certification, Stated Plainly
BendPak states that the 10AP is ALI certified — a North American third-party lift safety listing, which is the document most insurers and inspectors are actually asking about when they ask whether a lift is "certified".
If your insurer, your fleet policy or a local inspector requires a particular listing, ask them for it by name. Certification is maintained per model and can change over time, so we will confirm the current status with you before you order rather than after the lift is installed.
Shipping and Delivery
Ships by freight to the lower 48 states, quoted live at checkout for your destination so the rate is current rather than an estimate. You must be able to unload the shipment or take pickup at the carrier's terminal — it arrives crated and heavy, so plan for a forklift, a loading dock, or an equipment trailer and enough hands. Residential delivery is available and carries a residential fee.
Inspect before you sign. Check the crate and its contents while the driver is present and note any damage on the bill of lading before signing. A clean signed BOL makes a freight damage claim very hard to pursue.
Warranty
Covered by BendPak's published warranty, linked on this page. That document governs coverage, term and the claim process, and nothing here restates a term it does not state.
Do not disassemble, modify or attempt a repair before filing a warranty claim. It is the most common reason a valid claim is denied. Stop using the equipment, photograph the fault in place, and contact us first.
