Need a engine hoist/lift

[Djstorm100]

Hate to say it but loaned it out to a "friend" well friend moved away and took it...aka stole it. I've looked at tractor supply,advance auto, HF, Autozone and all are the same price. Any input on which/what brand to get?

Thanks!

 

[Desertskyy]

I have the HF 2 ton hoist/lift that I just bought recently

I just pulled the v6 out of my boat with no issues. I did buy some extra Hydro fluid as the ram was low when I got it home. Beyond that really no issues. I paid about $185.00 OTD Currently no leaks, all the parts were in the box etc. I know that their has been mixed reviews on the net but no issues for me.

Good luck

 

[Djstorm100]

I have the HF 2 ton hoist/lift that I just bought recently

I just pulled the v6 out of my boat with no issues. I did buy some extra Hydro fluid as the ram was low when I got it home. Beyond that really no issues. I paid about $185.00 OTD Currently no leaks, all the parts were in the box etc. I know that their has been mixed reviews on the net but no issues for me.

Good luck

I'm assuming you use a 20% off coupon? Just found a 25% coupon on the net that is valid. Just worry about HF quality, some stuff is great while others ****.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Considering there are only a couple of makers of these things on the market whom keep rebranding them, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

There are only a couple of weak points that I know, that being the ram (easily replaceable if you want), and the main boom itself bending. You can weld on a top beam if you feel it is needed. I don't for my needs.

 

[Desertskyy]

I hear you about HF quality. I actually looked at this for awhile. In looking at other hoists, they seemed to look like and have the same quality as the HF one that I bought. When I was buying mine it was already at a discount; probably about 20% off. The store manager would not let me use my 20% coupon on top of the discount. I did look on craigslist for a while but really did not come up with anything. I have no regrets on my purchase. Believe me it was painful buying from HF as I do stop in periodically but I just really do not like the quality of most if not all of their stuff.

 

[imnutz]

If you have a Pep Boys nearby, they have a Torin 2 ton on sale right now for 179 and their site has a 20 off 100 coupon to print out - 159 beats HF, but it is only pick up in store

 

[Shadowdog500]

If you have a Pep Boys nearby, they have a Torin 2 ton on sale right now for 179 and their site has a 20 off 100 coupon to print out - 159 beats HF, but it is only pick up in store

Can you use a coupon on a sale price at pep boys?

The same hoist went on sale at HF for $179 today. Thier website has a printable coupon.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How far away did the friend move ? Have you inquired about getting it back or him paying you for it ?


Luckily I have a few friends that I can borrow one from if I need one. If I were to buy one, the first it would have to be is a fold up model. That in itself might narrow down the choices.

 

[darkk]

Which ever one you buy, get one that folds up. I have an older style with straight legs that always stick out. I have to move it constantly because it's always in the way..

 

[imnutz]

Can you use a coupon on a sale price at pep boys?

The same hoist went on sale at HF for $179 today. Thier website has a printable coupon.

It worked for me

 

[BD1]

I got the 2 ton HF fold up one too. Handy goodie to have.

 

[MG44]

I have a generic yellow one for over 10 years. No idea who made it, its yellow, says 2 Ton on it, and lifts engines up and down.

 

[ALREBEL]

HF or Pep Boys will work. Just make sure you get the 2 ton because if your working on a p/u, the reach is a little strained.

 

[ShiftedSolutions]

I have used the HF hoist to pull a duramax/allison combo a couple times.. It was all I had in a pinch and I will say it worked just fine!

 

[kerwinq]

I have had a 2 ton fold up one from Harbor Freight for years and pulled/installed several engines and never had a problem.

 

[brownbagg]

if you get the hf fold up, just remember the wheels are different size so if you put them on wrong, the pins are hard to pull, ask me how I know. took me four years to figure that out. but other than that, no problem

 

[Shadowdog500]

If you have a Pep Boys nearby, they have a Torin 2 ton on sale right now for 179 and their site has a 20 off 100 coupon to print out - 159 beats HF, but it is only pick up in store

Thanks for the tip! I picked one up at Pep Boys today and the manager even printed the $20 off coupon for me.

Chris

 

[deter]

have you tried craigslist? I picked up a harbor freight folder for $70

 

[BD1]

Harbor Freight is having a sale April 2nd to the 15th. The 2 ton foldable engine hoist is $199.99. Lot number 35915 / 60388 / 69051 / 69514. Use 20 % off coupon and your at 160.00. Seems cheap.

 

[yuk]

hey djstorm100, what part of the country you livin in?

 

[jpinca]

I have the red, 2 ton, foldable HF one and managed to bend the main mast right below the ram attach point. The square tube kinked.

I was using it to pull fence posts in the 2 ton boom setting when the mast kinked. Not exactly a conventional use, but I expected the ram to go into bypass prior to any mechanical damage, so there's a lack of engineering there.

I did use it to pull and installed several engines prior and it worked well for that purpose. I plan to buy another one and re-purpose the bent one into a truck or trailer crane.

Just be careful on a heavy lift!

 

[JakeKohl]

Which ever one you buy, get one that folds up. I have an older style with straight legs that always stick out. I have to move it constantly because it's always in the way..

^----^ This....definitely.

Mine doesn't...it ***** (but not enough to go out and buy another one).

 

[Shadowdog500]

Harbor Freight is having a sale April 2nd to the 15th. The 2 ton foldable engine hoist is $199.99. Lot number 35915 / 60388 / 69051 / 69514. Use 20 % off coupon and your at 160.00. Seems cheap.

I don't think HF will let you use a coupon on a sale item anymore. Mine don't, but I still try from time to time.

Chris

 

[BD1]

I don't think HF will let you use a coupon on a sale item anymore. Mine don't, but I still try from time to time.

Chris

The one by me [ racine, wisconsin] will allow the 20 % off on sale items. As
long as it is not a dedicated coupon for the item or the sidewalk sales. I just picked up a pallet jack for neighbor on sale for 249.99 and used a 25% off. Saved him 62.00 bucks.

 

[JMcFly]

I bought the 1 ton HF hoist for $99 with coupon. I would go with the 2 ton only because you can have more weight on the longer boom.

 

[john11139]

Dont loan tools. Tell them to go to a tool rental place and rent one. I had a engine hoist I loaned out once. The fellow had his truck parked on a slight incline and he was taking the engine out. Once he pulled the engine forward and disconnected it from the trans, truck and engine hoist took off down the street. Hit a bump and folded the engine hoist up. All he said is sorry. (that dont pay the bills)

 

[Eslader]

I'll add to the good reviews of the HF one. Mine works just fine.

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Pictures are always good. Here's my $160 unit from Craig's List, less than a mile from my house. No idea on the brand, is semi-folding I guess, was cheaper than HF, and suits my needs:

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I love having an engine hoist. Ironically, I've had the hoist for several years and have yet to lift an engine with it. Instead it's been great for lifting motorcycles, the Cushman, a large oil tank, compressor, and even a $5K heavy duty hard drive magnetic degausser for my job that specifies eight people to lift into place.

Folding / compact setups are awesome. It still is awkward to store, but far better than the fixed frame one I had previously.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I went several years without using a hoist I owned, to the point it was just in the way. So I sold it.

I needed one last year, so bought one off Craigslist for $100, used it for a month, sold it on Craigslist for $100. No takey up space in garage.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I just put the one I bought at pep boys together and it is a really nice hoist. It was packed beautifully and didn't have a scratch on it. I'm pretty darn happy!

Chris

 

[mikester]

I replace my old HF hoist last year. I looked at the Torins in Northern Tool. It seemed they looked just like some of the other lifts out there so I called the company. I was told by the woman at Torin that they make the same lift in black for Advanced Auto, red for Pep Boys, gray and blue for Auto Zone and blue and yellow for Napa. It was on sale at Pep Boys but out of stock so I picked one up at Auto Zone. The best thing was Auto Zone did a price match plus 10% less. I showed the guy the printout from Pep Boys and it just listed the lower price without mentioning it was a sale item. It worked out very well ! Came in two boxes, very heavy and took about an hour to put together.

 

[LEVE]

I've had a 2-ton fold up from both Northern Tool, and now one from HF. As for quality between the two.. well, I sure can't find any difference, except the HF sits level and has been easier to lock the legs in place than the older NT hoist.


The reason for the change, me. One day I was lifting a Caravan engine. I neglected to put the keeper on one of the pins holding the folding leg locked down. I didn't notice the problem as I was moving the hoist with an engine hanging on it high in the air over the Caravan grille, but the locking pin was working it's way out. When it was half way out... the hoist collapsed under weight and twisted one side of the frame. Yep, it was totally my fault.

Now the HF hoist sits in to the side of the garage waiting to lift heavy stuff. But, you can bet your bottom dollar I won't ever forget to lock those pins.

I went several years without using a hoist I owned, to the point it was just in the way. So I sold it.

I needed one last year, so bought one off Craigslist for $100, used it for a month, sold it on Craigslist for $100. No takey up space in garage.

I like this idea... however I don't have patience for it. When I needed one... I needed one... and none showed up on CL.

Of course, the day after the project was complete.. two showed up on CL. The story of my life!

 

[fflintstone]

have you tried craigslist? I picked up a harbor freight folder for $70

X 2!
and its pre assembled! some people have had a hard time assembling them due to poor tolerances.

 

[BD1]

I have the red, 2 ton, foldable HF one and managed to bend the main mast right below the ram attach point. The square tube kinked.

I was using it to pull fence posts in the 2 ton boom setting when the mast kinked. Not exactly a conventional use, but I expected the ram to go into bypass prior to any mechanical damage, so there's a lack of engineering there.

I did use it to pull and installed several engines prior and it worked well for that purpose. I plan to buy another one and re-purpose the bent one into a truck or trailer crane.

Just be careful on a heavy lift!

For pulling fence posts, I have the boom as close to vertical I can get by adding slings. I think it is stronger this way and no problems with it kinking. Once I broke it free then lowered hoist down.

 

[Den69rs96]

One thing nobody mentioned is the boom length. I bought the Torin 2 ton that folds up from pep boys 5-6 years ago. Worked great, but the boom was a little to short to pull the motor out of my 69 Camaro from the front. I had to move the hoist to the side and remove/install the engine from over the fender.

 

[Shadowdog500]

One thing nobody mentioned is the boom length. I bought the Torin 2 ton that folds up from pep boys 5-6 years ago. Worked great, but the boom was a little to short to pull the motor out of my 69 Camaro from the front. I had to move the hoist to the side and remove/install the engine from over the fender.

How far is the setback on your engine? I've seen the hoists with the short arm, but I don't think this is it.

The clips for the pins that hold the legs down are chincy as hell though! I'm going to drill the hole bigger and use a better clip.

Chris

 

[Den69rs96]

The engine is set back kinda of far in a camaro. Its about 43 inches to the center of the carb from the front with the bumper on. The chain is about an 1 inch back from the end, so it ended up being couple inches short of reaching the center hole of the carb plate. I could have used the first hole on the carb plate or removed the bumper and grill assembly to gain the room, but it was less work to go over fender.

The torin is in the middle of cherry pickers. There are shorter ones and longer ones. My friend has a 2 ton with a longer boom. On my friends, the legs with the wheels slide out completely similar to how the boom extension comes out where as the legs with the wheels on the Torin just fold up and are not adjustable.

Overall, I bought mine for 159.99 with a 30 dollar rebate from pep boys 5-6 year ago so I'm not complaining.

 

[DodgeMech]

The AC Delco one from O'reilly's is awesome...heavy duty and easy to roll even with a complete B series Cummins attached to it

 

[Falcon67]

I've had a red Torin (Pep Boys) for several years. Works great, plenty of boom length for a Ford. Think I paid $110 for it - it was a call the wife, I'm buying this thing it's so cheap kinda deal. They had just set them on the floor when I came in, guy said the price I said "take one to checkout right now".