Overview
Not every VRC installation has room for a straddle or four-post lift. Mezzanine corners, column-obstructed areas, restricted headroom under ductwork or sprinklers, and narrow aisles all create situations where a standard two-column or four-column VRC simply will not fit. The Wildeck hydraulic cantilever VRC is engineered for exactly these conditions — one column side, one open side, and the smallest possible equipment footprint for the capacity it delivers.
The cantilever design also enables 90-degree loading — material enters from the side perpendicular to the column — in addition to standard C and Z patterns. This makes the cantilever VRC practical for corner installations, adjacent-aisle transfers, and layouts where material needs to change direction as it moves between levels.
Why Cantilever
The cantilever configuration solves three problems that straddle and four-post lifts cannot.
Tight footprint. Columns on one side only means the lift occupies less floor space. In a crowded warehouse or manufacturing floor where square footage is at a premium, the cantilever VRC fits where wider lifts do not.
Low headroom. The cantilever design has a lower overall equipment height than the straddle configuration, making it the right choice when overhead clearance is restricted by ceilings, ductwork, sprinkler piping, or lighting.
90-degree loading. Side-loading capability adds a loading pattern that straddle lifts cannot accommodate. This is critical in corner installations, L-shaped material flow, and layouts where the lift must accept material from an aisle that runs perpendicular to the lift opening.
Specifications
- Capacity: up to 4,000 lbs
- Lift height: up to 18 ft 6 in.
- Speed: 20 fpm
- Platform: up to 8 ft wide x 6 ft long
- Loading patterns: C, Z, or 90 degrees
- Levels: single-level (ground plus one)
- Freestanding models available with optional support structure
Standard Safety and Hydraulic Features
The cantilever VRC shares the full Wildeck hydraulic safety package with all Wildeck hydraulic lifts.
- Patented AutoSenz® M-Series overload and jam protection
- Dual hydraulic rams and lifting cables for redundant safety
- Hydraulic rams pull (not push) for added strength and longer service life
- Operating pressure maintained below 1,600 psi for extended component life
- Oversized oil reservoir to reduce overheating risk
- Automatic shut-off valves for broken hydraulic hoses
- Manual lowering valve for emergency use
- High-flex IWRC lifting cable with broken cable free-fall safety cams rated for 7,000 lbs
- UL-508A labeled control panel with 24-volt safety wiring
- Pre-wired control panel and hydraulic pump ship as one assembly
- Bolt-together installation — no field welding required
- Fabricated by AWS D1.1 certified welders
Applications
The cantilever hydraulic VRC serves warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, records storage facilities, retail back-of-house operations, and any single-level application where limited floor space, low overhead clearance, or side-loading requirements make a straddle or four-post VRC impractical. Freestanding models serve installations where the lift cannot be attached to a wall or existing building structure.
Cantilever vs. Straddle Hydraulic VRC
Both are Wildeck hydraulic lifts with the same core safety features and hydraulic system. The difference is in the column configuration and what it enables. The straddle has columns on both sides for maximum structural stability, supports larger platforms (up to 8′ x 12′), and offers C or Z loading. The cantilever has columns on one side only for a smaller footprint and lower height, supports 90-degree loading in addition to C and Z, and fits where straddle lifts cannot. Choose the straddle when platform size and structural stability are priorities. Choose the cantilever when footprint, headroom, or 90-degree loading dictate the design.