One of the most common questions we receive is whether a customer should stay with a 500 Series scissor hoist or move up to a 600 Series hoist.
The answer depends on your dump body length, desired dump angle, expected payload, cycle time expectations, and overall application.
While both series are excellent choices, they were designed for different operating ranges and understanding the differences can help you choose the correct hoist the first time.
What Is the 500 Series?
The Primary Mover 500 Series includes:
- PF-416
- PF-516
- PF-520
All three hoists utilize a 5.5-inch hydraulic cylinder and share many of the same design principles.
While the models have different capacities and stroke lengths, they are generally designed for smaller to medium-sized dump trailers and dump truck applications.
The 500 Series has become one of the most popular choices in the industry because it offers an excellent balance between:
- Capacity
- Weight
- Cost
- Cycle time
- Installation flexibility
What Is the 600 Series?
The Primary Mover 600 Series includes:
- PF-616-6
- PF-621-6
- PF-625
- PF-630
The most noticeable difference is the larger 6.5-inch hydraulic cylinder.
Moving from a 5.5-inch cylinder to a 6.5-inch cylinder provides a substantial increase in lifting force and allows the hoist to handle larger dump bodies and heavier applications.
For customers operating near the upper limits of a PF-520, the 600 Series often provides a significant performance advantage.
The Most Common Decision: PF-520 vs PF-616-6
One of the most common crossover points occurs around the 16-foot dump body range.
Historically, many manufacturers—including ourselves—have listed the PF-520 as suitable for applications up to 16 feet in length.
While that can certainly be true, it is important to understand that a 16-foot body can place the PF-520 near the upper end of its intended operating range depending on:
- Body weight
- Payload requirements
- Rear overhang
- Desired dump angle
- Material being hauled
A 16-foot trailer hauling light landscaping materials may perform perfectly with a PF-520.
A 16-foot trailer hauling dense gravel, wet dirt, demolition debris, or heavy construction materials may benefit greatly from stepping up to a PF-616-6.
What Do You Gain When Moving to the 600 Series?
The biggest advantage is simple:
- More lifting force
- More capacity margin
- More flexibility for heavier applications
The 6.5-inch cylinder provides a substantial increase in available hydraulic force compared to a 5.5-inch cylinder.
This gives builders more confidence when dealing with longer dump bodies and heavier loads.
In many cases, stepping up to a 600 Series hoist can move an application from "possible" to "comfortable."
What Do You Give Up?
Like everything in engineering, there are tradeoffs.
A larger cylinder requires more hydraulic oil volume to move through the same stroke.
That means:
- Longer cycle times
- More oil volume requirements
- Slightly heavier overall system weight
- Higher initial cost
For some customers, those tradeoffs are insignificant.
For others, especially those cycling their dump body frequently throughout the day, cycle time may be an important consideration.
PF-520 vs PF-616-6: The Interesting Comparison
Many customers assume the PF-616-6 must be dramatically slower than the PF-520 because of the larger cylinder.
In reality, the difference is often smaller than expected.
The PF-520 utilizes a 20-inch stroke cylinder.
The PF-616-6 utilizes a 16-inch stroke cylinder.
While the PF-616-6 has a larger cylinder bore, it also has less stroke to travel.
Because of this, the increase in cycle time is often much less dramatic than customers expect.
Meanwhile, they gain the benefit of the larger 6.5-inch cylinder.
PF-520 vs PF-621-6
This comparison tells a different story.
The PF-621-6 utilizes a stroke length very similar to the PF-520 while also incorporating the larger 6.5-inch cylinder.
Because both stroke length and cylinder volume increase, the amount of hydraulic oil required increases significantly.
As a result, customers should expect noticeably longer cycle times when compared to a PF-520.
However, they also gain substantially more lifting capability and additional capacity margin.
Choosing Based on Real-World Use
When deciding between a 500 Series and a 600 Series hoist, ask yourself:
- How long is the dump body?
- What materials will be hauled most often?
- What dump angle do I need?
- How important is cycle time?
- How much capacity margin do I want?
If you consistently operate near the upper limits of a hoist's rated capacity, stepping up one size often provides better long-term performance and reliability.
Many customers who initially try to maximize a PF-520 eventually realize they would have been happier with a PF-616-6 from the beginning.
500 Series Advantages
- Lighter overall weight
- Faster cycle times
- Lower hydraulic oil requirements
- Excellent for small and medium applications
- Lower initial investment
600 Series Advantages
- Higher lifting force
- Greater capacity margin
- Better suited for long dump bodies
- Excellent for heavier materials
- Commercial-duty applications
What About the HD Frame?
As applications continue to grow larger, frame strength becomes just as important as cylinder force.
The largest members of the 600 Series lineup—the PF-625 and PF-630—utilize our Heavy Duty frame design, which we discuss in detail in the next guide.
Learn More About HD Scissor Hoist Frames
Final Thoughts
The choice between a 500 Series and 600 Series hoist is not simply about buying the biggest cylinder available.
It is about balancing:
- Capacity
- Cycle time
- Dump angle
- Body length
- Payload requirements
- Long-term reliability
For many applications, the PF-520 is an excellent solution.
For heavier trailers, longer bodies, and customers looking for additional capacity margin, the PF-616-6 and larger 600 Series models often become the better long-term investment.
Need help selecting the right hoist? Call Primary Mover at 985-888-6554.
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