Hofmann 15K Four-Post Alignment Lift — 15,000 lb Capacity

The two measurements that decide whether a four-post alignment lift can take your work are the drive-on clearance and the body clearance, and on the 15K they are 120" and 125". That is enough for a dual-wheel truck to drive straight on without the rear duals touching anything on the way up the runways. If you have ever watched a technician inch a dually onto a lift that was designed around a pickup, that is the problem this lift is built to remove.

Behind it sits 15,000 lbs of capacity, ultra-wide 26" runways, an open-front design and extra-long 100" rear slip plates — and the whole thing is certified to the ANSI/ALI automotive lift standard.

Clearance, and why 100" slip plates matter

Rear slip plates are what let the rear wheels move sideways while the suspension is loaded, which is the only way a four-wheel alignment reads true. A short slip plate covers one wheelbase well and forces a compromise on everything else: a long-wheelbase truck ends up with its rear wheels off the plates, and a short one sits at the far edge.

Extra-long 100" rear plates cover both ends of that range from the same setup. On a shop doing everything from a service van to a long-wheelbase crew cab, that means fewer repositioning moves, and a repositioning move on an alignment lift is not a small thing — it means driving off, resetting and re-measuring.

The 8" ultra-low-profile runways work the same argument from the other end. A low runway is a shallow approach angle, and a shallow approach angle is what lets a low-profile car onto an alignment lift without its front air dam meeting the ramp. Between the 8" runways and the 120" drive-on clearance, this lift covers an unusually wide spread of vehicle without adapters.

Open front, and the adjustments that follow from it

The 15K uses an open-front construction: there is no cross-member across the front of the lift, so the front suspension, the steering linkage and the adjustment points are reachable from the front rather than from underneath at an angle. On a machine whose entire job is adjustment, that is the difference between a comfortable job and an awkward one, all day, every day.

Micro-adjustment levelling is provided on both the front and rear cross beams. An alignment lift that is not level does not produce a wrong number, it produces a number you cannot trust — and a lift that can be trimmed on both beams can be brought true on a floor that is not perfectly flat, which describes most shop floors. The adjustable folding 4" front wheel stops are designed with clearance for long, low-profile vehicles: they fold out of the way when the overhang would otherwise foul them.

The lift is imaging-alignment compatible and accommodates split-roll during alignment using AC200 or AC400 clamps, so it works with imaging systems rather than requiring a particular one.

Two lengths, and picking the right one

The 15K is sold in a standard and an extended version, and the extended one is not simply longer for the sake of it — it changes the service wheelbase from 183" to 210.5" and the two-wheel alignment wheelbase from 167.75" to 195.25". If your work includes long-wheelbase trucks, that is the specification to check before you order, because it cannot be changed afterwards. The part numbers are EELR706APKG for the standard and EELR708APKG for the extended.

Will It Fit?

The minimum concrete thickness of 4" is the specification most likely to catch someone out, and it is the customer's responsibility to meet it — along with the concrete strength, the electrical supply, the compressed air and any permit your jurisdiction requires. If you are converting a bay or pouring a new floor, ask us for the installation documents before the concrete goes down rather than after.

Perfect For

• A truck and van alignment shop where dual-wheel vehicles are routine and clearance is the daily constraint.
• A mixed-fleet dealership running everything from low cars to long-wheelbase crew cabs on one lift.
• A high-volume alignment bay that benefits from open-front access on every single job.
• A shop running imaging alignment that wants a lift built to work with it rather than around it.

Certification

This lift is certified to the ANSI/ALI automotive lift standard, in both the standard and extended lengths, and that claim comes from the manufacturer's own copy on this product. It is a certification against a published standard rather than a self-declaration, and it is normally what an insurer, a dealership programme or a workplace inspector is asking about. If yours requires a current certificate or a specific listing number, ask us and we will get you the document rather than an assurance.

One figure to confirm with us

Our records give the standard overall length two ways: the manufacturer's specification list says 250.75" and a separate product field on the same record says 250". It is a rounding-sized difference and it will not change most installations, but if you are fitting this lift into a bay where the last inch counts, ask us and we will confirm it from the factory drawing before you order.

Shipping and delivery

All Hofmann machines come with free delivery, setup, and instruction, as stated in the Pick Up and Delivery section on this page. On an alignment lift, that setup visit includes getting the thing level, which is the difference between a lift that measures and a lift that guesses. Delivery is within the lower 48 states.

Site readiness is on you: the concrete, the electrical supply, the compressed air, room around the runways, and access for the delivery vehicle and the installation crew. Talk it through with us before delivery is scheduled. When the lift arrives, inspect the runways, the columns, the cross beams and the power unit before signing, and note any damage on the delivery paperwork at the time.

Warranty

Warranty terms for this lift are published on our warranty claims page — read the terms themselves. If something fails, speak to us before anyone disassembles the power unit, the cylinders, the cables or the locking mechanism. Equipment already taken apart is much harder to claim on, and on a certified lift, unauthorised work on the safety systems can put the certification itself in question.