BendPak HD-9SWX Super-Wide, Extended-Length Four-Post Lift
Most four-post lift pages sell you the capacity. The number that actually decides whether the HD-9SWX works in your building is the minimum wheelbase table, and BendPak publishes it: this lift carries its full 9,000 lbs. (4,082 kg) at a 135 in. (3,429 mm) wheelbase, 75% of that rating at 115 in. (2,921 mm), 50% at 95 in. (2,413 mm) and 25% at 80 in. (2,032 mm). A short-wheelbase vehicle is not simply lighter on the runways — it concentrates its load, and the lift is derated accordingly. If your plan is to stack a compact under a truck, that table is the first thing to read, and it is the reason we lead with it.
The rest of the machine is built around two ideas: extra width and extra length. Post-to-post spacing is 192 in. (4,877 mm, 16 ft) and the runways are 188 in. (4,775 mm) long — 24 in. longer than BendPak's standard-length super-wide model — so the HD-9SWX takes long-wheelbase vehicles and parks two of them side by side over another two below. Capacity is 4,500 lbs. (2,041 kg) per axle, front and rear.
Will It Fit?
This is a large freestanding structure and the ceiling is usually the constraint. The columns stand 102 in. (2,591 mm) tall, and the runways reach a maximum lifting height of 89 in. (2,261 mm) with a maximum rise under the runway of 82 in. (2,083 mm). Measure to the lowest obstruction in the bay — a garage door track, a light, a beam — not to the highest point of the ceiling.
On the floor, the lift measures 202 in. (5,131 mm) wide overall and 242.5 in. (6,159 mm) long including the approach ramps, with an outside length of 198 in. (5,029 mm) without them. Drive-through clearance between the carriages is 178 in. (4,521 mm), or 14.85 ft. Each runway is 19 in. (483 mm) wide, and the inside pair adjusts from 34.25 in. (870 mm) to 41 in. (1,041 mm) apart to suit narrow or wide track widths. Minimum runway height is 7 in. (178 mm), which is what lets a low-stance car climb the ramps without scraping.
Power is a 220 VAC, 60 Hz, single-phase supply, and the power unit runs at a measured 45 dB. Two customer responsibilities are worth stating plainly: the floor has to be flat, level and sound enough for a freestanding four-post lift carrying up to 9,000 lbs. of vehicle, and the electrical supply has to be in place before the installer arrives. We cannot assess either from here — have your installer confirm the slab and the circuit against BendPak's installation manual, which is linked from this product page.
Locks, cables and the parts you never see
There are 17 locking positions in each column, spaced every 4 in. (102 mm), and all four columns engage together as the runways rise. That spacing matters more on a storage lift than a service lift: it lets you park a vehicle at the exact height that clears the roof of the one underneath, rather than choosing between too low and too high.
The cables, sheaves, safety locks and air lines all run inside the structure, so nothing that carries load is exposed to weather, dirt or a careless bumper. Roller axles are 1.25 in., the lifting cables are heavy-duty 3/8 in. aircraft cable, and the sheaves are oversized to reduce cable fatigue — a larger sheave bends the cable less sharply, and cable fails by fatigue before it fails by strength. Independent slack-cable latches sit behind the primary locks, and a push-button pneumatic release lowers the lift without anyone reaching into a column.
Two cars up, two cars under
Double-wide is a genuinely different proposition from a standard four-post. With four runways over a 192 in. span, the HD-9SWX turns a two-car bay into four-car storage, and because the runways are open-centre it doubles as a maintenance platform — you can work under two raised vehicles at once instead of shuffling one lift between jobs. Anti-sway slider blocks inside each column stop the carriages rocking as a vehicle is driven on, and the runways carry a rail kit and a matte finish that hides tyre marks.
If your vehicles are heavier than this lift is rated for, BendPak's four-post range continues upward — the 14,000 lbs. HDS-14 series and, at the top, a 40,000 lbs. model. This one is sized for cars, trucks and SUVs within the wheelbase table above.
Perfect For
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Collectors and home garages doubling parking in an existing two-car footprint, particularly where the vehicles are long.
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Dealerships and detail shops needing storage that can become a service platform on a busy day.
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Independent shops that want standing room under a raised vehicle rather than a crouch.
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Anyone with wide vehicles — the super-wide runway spacing is the whole point of the model.
What's in the Box
- Four runways with rail kit and matte finish
- One kit (pair) of aluminium approach ramps — additional ramps are a separate purchase and are not supplied
- Electric/hydraulic power unit with customisable mounting position
- Single hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath the runway
- Enclosed lifting cables, sheaves and multi-position safety locks with adjustable lock ladders
- Push-button pneumatic safety release
- Independent backup slack-cable safety latches
Specifications
| Lifting capacity |
9,000 lbs. (4,082 kg) |
| Max. capacity per axle |
4,500 lbs. (2,041 kg) front and rear |
| Max. lifting height |
89 in. (2,261 mm) |
| Max. rise under runway |
82 in. (2,083 mm) |
| Min. runway height |
7 in. (178 mm) |
| Column height |
102 in. (2,591 mm) |
| Overall width |
202 in. (5,131 mm) |
| Overall length (with ramps) |
242.5 in. (6,159 mm) |
| Outside length |
198 in. (5,029 mm) |
| Width between columns |
192 in. (4,877 mm) — 16 ft |
| Drive-thru clearance |
178 in. (4,521 mm) — 14.85 ft |
| Runway length |
188 in. (4,775 mm) |
| Runway width |
19 in. (483 mm) |
| Width between runways |
34.25 in. (870 mm) to 41 in. (1,041 mm) |
| Locking positions |
17, spaced every 4 in. (102 mm) |
| Roller axles / cable |
1.25 in. axles, 3/8 in. aircraft cable |
| Power unit |
220 VAC, 60 Hz, single phase — 45 dB |
| Min. wheelbase at rated capacity |
135 in. (3,429 mm) |
| At 75% capacity |
115 in. (2,921 mm) |
| At 50% capacity |
95 in. (2,413 mm) |
| At 25% capacity |
80 in. (2,032 mm) |
One figure we will not print: our records carry two different shipping weights for this lift, and the manufacturer's dimensional line for the crate contains an obvious metric typo. Rather than pick the more plausible number, we have left the weight out of this section and quote freight live at checkout instead. Ask us if you need the crate figures for a lift plan and we will confirm them against the factory sheet.
Certification, stated honestly
The product data we hold for this lift carries no third-party safety certification claim, and we will not imply one. That is a statement about paperwork, not about the engineering. But some insurers, fleet policies and local jurisdictions require a specific North American third-party lift safety listing, and if yours does, it has to be verified against the manufacturer's own documentation before you buy. Send us the wording and we will check it.
Shipping and delivery
Freight only, to the lower 48 states, quoted live at checkout for your address so the price reflects today's rate rather than a stale number. A four-post lift arrives as a heavy palletised shipment: you need a forklift, a loading dock or a plan to unload, or you can collect from the freight terminal, which many buyers find easier. Residential delivery is available and carries a fee. Warehouse pickup is offered too — the BendPak pickup locations are listed further down this page.
Check the shipment before you sign. Damage noted on the bill of lading at delivery, with the driver still there, is a claim; damage discovered after a clean signature usually is not. Photograph anything that looks wrong while the truck is in front of you.
Warranty and installation
BendPak publishes a single warranty document covering its whole product line rather than a per-model term, so we will send you the current copy on request instead of quoting a figure here. Two practical points: keep your installation and any service records, and do not disassemble a component you intend to claim on — stripping a power unit or a cylinder to diagnose it is the most common reason a good claim is refused. Call us first.
