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Challenger Lifts CL10500 Turning Radius Gauges
Alignment Equipment · Workshop Guides
Challenger Lifts CL10500
Turning Radius Gauges:
The Complete UK Guide
How one bolt-on kit converts your existing four-post lift into a full alignment rack — and why it pays for itself in weeks
If you own a Challenger four-post lift and you’re not using it for wheel alignment, you’re leaving money on the table every single week. The Challenger Lifts CL10500 Powder Coated Turning Radius Gauges are the bolt-on kit that changes that. They drop directly into the runway profiles of compatible Challenger lifts, converting a general service lift into a fully functional alignment rack — no second machine required, no workshop reconfiguration, no fabrication work.
In this guide I’m going to walk you through exactly what this product is, which lifts it fits, how installation works, the financial case for making the upgrade, and everything else a UK garage owner needs to know before spending nearly a thousand pounds. I’ve been helping workshops source the right equipment for a long time and I’ll give you the straight version, not a sales pitch.
What are turning radius gauges and why does every alignment bay need them?
A turning radius gauge — also called a turnplate or turntable — is a precision rotating platform that you position under each front steered wheel of a vehicle during a four-wheel alignment job. The plate sits on a controlled low-friction bearing that allows the wheel to pivot left and right freely as you steer through the full lock-to-lock range. That free rotation is not optional. It is a technical requirement for accurate alignment.
Here’s why. When your alignment system measures toe angles, caster, camber and steering axis inclination, the vehicle’s suspension needs to be sitting in a completely natural state with no external forces distorting it. If the front wheels are on fixed rigid platforms that resist steering movement, the binding in the steering rack and suspension joints introduces measurement error. The numbers look plausible. But they’re wrong. You make adjustments based on those numbers, the car goes back to the customer, and it still pulls.
Most purpose-built alignment lifts come with turnplates integrated from the factory. But plenty of UK independent garages have a solid four-post general service lift that was bought for everyday work, not specifically for alignment. That is where the CL10500 closes the gap — it turns what you already own into an alignment-capable machine. No capital expenditure on a second lift. No additional bay space consumed. Just a clean, engineered bolt-on solution.
The Challenger Lifts CL10500 turning radius gauges — what you get for £987.38
Challenger Lifts is an American manufacturer with decades of experience supplying professional workshop equipment to dealerships, fleet workshops and independent garages. Their products are in daily use across the UK and worldwide. The CL10500 is their standard turning radius gauge kit for compatible four-post lift platforms, finished in a tough black powder coat.
- FinishBlack powder coat
- TypeTurning radius gauge / turnplate set
- FitmentDirect bolt-on — no drilling
- Compatible liftsChallenger 40, 4P14, 4115, AR4115, 44018AR
- Works withAny alignment system / aligner brand
What you receive is a pair of precision-machined turning radius platforms with a robust black powder coat finish. The powder coat is applied over a prepared steel substrate — this is not decorative paint, it is a thermally bonded coating that resists oil, brake fluid, tyre dressing and general garage floor chemistry. The rotating mechanism is designed for controlled, smooth movement rather than completely unconstrained spin. That is intentional. A plate with zero resistance would allow the wheels to drift under their own weight when the steering is released, making it harder to hold position during the measurement sweep.
Powder coated vs stainless steel — which version is right for you?
Two versions of these gauges are available from Hunter Tools and the question comes up every time. Here is my straight answer, not a hedge.
| Feature | CL10500 — Powder Coated | 10500SS — Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Price inc. VAT | £987.38 | £1,237.89 |
| Finish | Black powder coat | Brushed stainless steel |
| Corrosion resistance | Good — chemical and moisture resistant | Excellent — fully rust-proof |
| Best environment | Standard enclosed workshop | Coastal / high-humidity / MOT centres |
| Alignment performance | ✓ Identical | ✓ Identical |
| Saving vs RRP | 45% (was £1,795.23) | 45% (was £2,250.70) |
| In stock at Hunter Tools | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
For the large majority of UK independent workshops with a standard enclosed bay, the powder coated CL10500 does everything you need and saves you £250 over the stainless version. The finish is genuinely durable. Where I’d recommend the 10500SS without hesitation: garages near the coast where salt air accelerates corrosion, busy MOT testing stations running the plates heavily every day, and any environment where pressure washing or steam cleaning is part of the routine.
Which Challenger lifts are compatible with the CL10500?
This is the most important practical question before you buy, so let me be exact. The CL10500 is engineered to bolt into the runway channel profiles of specific Challenger four-post lift series only. It is not a universal product. The confirmed compatible lifts are:
40 Series
4P14 Series
4115 Series
AR4115 Series
44018AR Rack
How the bolt-on conversion works in practice
Installation is straightforward. Challenger has engineered this specifically so it doesn’t require specialist fabrication skills or significant workshop downtime. Here is what the process involves.
Lower the lift to ground level. Check the front-wheel cutout positions in the runways — the recessed sections built into compatible Challenger platforms to accept the CL10500. They should be clean and free of debris or corrosion.
The kit includes all mounting hardware. The frames bolt into pre-drilled fixing points that are already built into the Challenger runway. No drilling, no welding, no modification to the lift structure whatsoever.
The turnplate surface must sit completely flush with the surrounding runway. Any lip or step is a tyre hazard. Verify hardware is fully seated to the correct torque spec before use.
The CL10500 is passive hardware — it provides the rotating surface and nothing else. It works with any alignment system brand: Hunter, Snap-on, Hofmann, John Bean, Corghi, or any other that requires front wheel turnplates for steering sweep measurements.
“The real value of the CL10500 is not just what it does — it’s what it stops you from having to buy. A dedicated alignment lift costs thousands. A bolt-on kit that converts your existing four-post costs under a thousand. For most independent UK garages, that is not even a difficult decision.”
— Edward Robinson, Workshop Equipment Specialist, Hunter ToolsThe business case: ROI in under two months
People see a price tag of nearly a thousand pounds and frame it as a cost. It is not a cost. It is an investment that generates revenue every single time a car drives into your alignment bay. Here is the arithmetic.
A standard four-wheel alignment check-and-adjust at a UK independent garage currently prices between £55 and £90 for most cars. Using £65 as a conservative average, you need to complete approximately 16 alignment jobs to recover the full cost of the CL10500. For a workshop already doing tyre work, that is a matter of two to three weeks of incremental revenue, not months.
Beyond the raw payback period, the compounding effect matters. Once you have alignment capability you stop referring customers elsewhere. You become a full-service suspension and geometry workshop, which increases average transaction value on every tyre, steering and suspension job that comes through your door. Customers who previously needed two different garages now only need you.
- No second lift required — converts your existing Challenger four-post equipment
- ROI typically achieved inside two to three months of regular use
- Captures alignment work that currently leaves your workshop for a competitor
- Compatible with any alignment system you already own or plan to purchase
- Powder coat finish handles oil, brake fluid and daily workshop use without issue
- Currently 45% off RRP — the most competitive UK price on this product
- In stock at Hunter Tools, Ellesmere Port — ready for immediate despatch
- Finance available on larger equipment orders — ask Edward directly
Other Hunter Tools products worth considering
If you’re investing in your workshop’s alignment and diagnostic capability, here are the other products from our live range that pair well with the CL10500 or form the next logical step in your workshop setup.
The CL10500 is in stock right now at Hunter Tools
Currently 45% off RRP. Order online or WhatsApp Edward before you buy — he’ll confirm your lift is compatible and answer every question before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Buy or ask Edward directly
The CL10500 is in stock at Hunter Tools in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. If you want to talk through compatibility, discuss your workshop setup, or simply ask whether this is the right solution before you spend any money, WhatsApp is the fastest route. You’ll get a straight answer, not a script.
- 265 Chester Rd, Whitby, Ellesmere Port CH66 2NZ
- pollard@huntertools.co.uk
- assadkinkoso@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: +44 7476 609086
- huntertools.co.uk
Edward helps UK garage owners and workshop professionals source the right equipment for their businesses from Hunter Tools in Ellesmere Port. He specialises in vehicle lifting equipment, alignment systems and professional workshop tools. Questions about the CL10500 or anything in the Hunter Tools range? Email pollard@huntertools.co.uk or WhatsApp +44 7476 609086.