BendPak MDS-6LP: three published working heights, not just "up"

A mid-rise scissor lift is bought to put a car at the height that suits the job, and the MDS-6LP is one of the few that tells you exactly what those heights are. Its lock bars catch at 21 in. / 533 mm, 32 in. / 813 mm and 38.75 in. / 984 mm, with full rise at 44 in. / 1,118 mm. Those are published positions, not "multiple lock points" — and they are the difference between wheels just clear of the floor for a brake job and a platform high enough to sit under comfortably on a stool.

Around them sits an open-centre lift rated at 6,000 lbs / 2,724 kg on 19 in. / 484 mm by 67 in. / 1,701 mm platforms, running the full stroke in about 35 seconds. Open-centre matters here: with nothing spanning the middle, exhaust, transmission and sump work is reachable from below rather than around a frame.

Will It Fit?

Overall length is 92.6 in. / 2,351 mm and the platforms set 40 in. / 1,018 mm to 46 in. / 1,168 mm apart, so the width across the machine is adjustable rather than fixed. Fully lowered it stands 5 in. / 127 mm off the floor, which is what determines whether a low car can get onto it at all. The power unit runs on 208-230 VAC / 60 Hz / 1 Ph.

One requirement is easy to overlook: the lock releases are pneumatic, so the lift needs a compressed air supply of at least 50 psi and 10 CFM available at installation. A small compressor or even a hand pump will charge them, but they are not optional. Slab thickness and strength are not stated in our record; that figure is in the installation manual linked on this page, and we will confirm it in writing if you ask. Verifying floor, ceiling and circuit before ordering is the buyer's responsibility.

Rise with the blocks fitted — our sources do not agree

The bare full-rise figure is not in dispute. The figure with the rubber lift blocks in place is, so both are shown attributed.

For reference, the same specification gives full rise without blocks as 44 in. / 1,118 mm. If the last inch and a half decides whether you can work upright under a particular vehicle, ask us to confirm the figure in writing before ordering and we will get it from the manufacturer rather than quote whichever number reads better.

Why four scissor bars per platform is the specification to compare

Each platform is built on four solid steel scissor frame support bars. That is a structural claim you can check against any competing mid-rise, and it is the one that governs how the platform behaves off-centre — a two-bar scissor twists when the load sits toward one end, which is exactly what happens when you pull an engine or a gearbox and the balance moves. Underneath, a pair of master hydraulic cylinders works with a pair of equalising cylinders through a flow divider, so the two platforms rise and fall together rather than one chasing the other.

The lock bars themselves are solid steel and engage automatically as the platforms rise. When they are seated, the mechanical locks carry the load and the hydraulics do not — which is the point of a lock, and worth understanding: a lift resting on its locks cannot be lowered by a fluid leak.

Ramps that come off, and fittings that get greased

The approach ramps drop into slotted receivers on the platform and lift straight out again. That is a small design decision with a real consequence: with the ramps removed you have clear access all the way around the wheel arches, which is where most of the awkward work is. Hinge points carry Zerk grease fittings so the wear areas can be lubricated on a schedule rather than replaced, and four cushioned rubber contact blocks come as standard so the lift is usable the day it is commissioned.

Perfect For

• Home garages with low ceilings, where a two-post lift will not physically stand up.
• Quick-lube and tire bays doing repetitive wheels-off work at a chosen height.
• Full-service shops needing a fast second position that clears the floor completely when not in use.
• Restoration and detailing work where the open centre matters more than walk-under height.

What's in the Box

The lift with both platforms and their four-bar scissor frames; the solid-steel safety lock bars and stainless-steel pneumatic lock-release cylinders; the electric-hydraulic power unit with flow divider; four cushioned rubber contact blocks; the drop-in approach ramps; and the documentation set — owner's manual, safety decals, lift-point spread information and a training placard.

Specifications

Certification, stated honestly

Our data for this model records no third-party safety listing. We would rather print that sentence than let its absence pass unnoticed. The distinction worth understanding is between a manufacturer stating that its own product meets a standard and an independent organisation testing it against one; the second is what insurers, workplace policies and some local inspectors ask for by name, and no feature list substitutes for the certificate. If your cover or your permit depends on it, tell us which scheme you need and we will pursue documentation for this model from the manufacturer before you buy.

Shipping and delivery

Freight only, to the lower 48 states, quoted live at checkout against the address you enter. No shipping figure appears in this description because freight rates move and a stale number becomes a dispute.

The truck brings it to the kerb. Plan the last few metres in advance: a forklift on site, or collect from the freight terminal yourself, which is often the least trouble. A residential address carries a residential fee. Warehouse pickup is available for this brand. Look the crate over before you sign, and write any damage onto the bill of lading while the driver is still there.

Warranty

The warranty document for this lift is linked on this page — read the term and the exclusions in it rather than in a summary. Whatever it covers, do not take apart a component you intend to claim on. Photograph it as found, leave it assembled and call us first; disassembly is the usual reason a good claim is refused.