Engine Crane / Hoist / Cherry Picker & Stand Recommendations?

[jaymar_]

Looking for something reliable in the 2-ton crane / 1 ton-plus stand range. Brands I've come across listed below. Anyone I'm missing--or any comments on clunkers that shouldn't be considered?

Eastwood
Sunex
Stark
OCT (Bosch)
Torin / Big Red
Strongway (Northern Tool)
Safeguard (can't find website)
Blue Bird (can't find website; still in business?)
Dragway (website does not inspire confidence)
Shinn Fu (Blackhawk, Omega, Hein-Werner, Pro-Lift)
Vestil
Matco (?)
Harbor Freight

 

[txvwnut]

I have a HF hoist and it hasn’t let me down yet.

 

[LXCam]

One time maybe super rare use or will this thing see some action and of unknown mass?

 

[jaymar_]

One time maybe super rare use or will this thing see some action and of unknown mass?

Put it this way: occasional use, doubt I'll break a thousand pounds BUT I need that at full extension because the vehicles are lifted.

That said, I want something overbuilt, severely if possible. I use 10-ton jack stands on my SUVs, if that tells you anything. Something that stands up to daily pro-garage use would be perfect; I'll start there and, if I can't afford it, work my way down. So if you have thoughts on high - mid - low price range, I'm all eyes... Thanks!

 

[LXCam]

I’ve been very happy with my sunnex stuff plus it’s usually decently priced. I’ve had the HF unit and it did fine but based upon your need, I think I’d pass.

As for the engine stand I have a half dozen of the HF units which are fine for a iron small block but not much more then that.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[jaymar_]

I’ve been very happy with my sunnex stuff plus it’s usually decently priced. I’ve had the HF unit and it did fine but based upon your need, I think I’d pass.

As for the engine stand I have a half dozen of the HF units which are fine for a iron small block but not much more then that.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Thanks for the note--and the link--which (unlike their website) gives lift heights...

 

[LXCam]

Ya that’s pretty lame huh.

But Jeffrey said


And for whatever this means

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I'm not normally a huge Harbor Freight fan, but I absolutely love my 2 ton engine hoist from them. I've had it for several years, and used it several times. It's come in handy more often than I thought it would. I almost always use it with it fully extended and haven't had an issue yet. I highly recommend it.

 

[cvairwerks]

1000 pounds and lifted means you probably need to look at gantries instead. At full extension, you couldn’t get a block out of my 1 ton, crew cab, 4x4 dually at stock height.

 

[ATC]

That said, I want something overbuilt, severely if possible.

ECDA Rol-A-Crane. Good luck finding one though. My buddy ended up with this one after the shop he works at was going to scrap it. All 1/4" thick tube...squats that truck about 2"





I have a 20-ish-year-old 2-ton unit from I believe Northern Tool (it's black & gray). It is just a little taller than any other engine hoist I have come across from a retailer. Pulled my 460 out of a '78 F150 with 4" of lift and 35's with about 1/4" to spare under the oil pan drain plug to the top of the core support.
I picked up a new Torin/Big Red 2T hoist last year from an estate sale for $75...with the leveler and a second ram...all brand new. It looks to be built well, and worked great on a 390 in a '63 Galaxie.

 

[ATC]

And for a stand...I like the HF 2,000# foldable one. I've been using it with multiple dressed 460 big blocks for years without issue.

If you plan to use the stand to build engines often...definitely splurge and get one with a geared crank on it

 

[pbon]

If you are trying to lift and engine with trans attached out of a lifted truck, the engine hoist might not go high enough. You could pull the wheels and put the truck on blocks or jack stands. You could pull the front end off and bring it right out the front — my recommendation. You could drive it into ramps or a lift and drop it out the bottom onto dollies that can support the weight if you can get the truck high enough to give you clearance.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I've had good luck with Torins from TSC. I've had two, as HF has been out of them when I was in the market. Just barely long enough to pull an engine and trans out of a passenger car.... and the oil pan barely clears the front of the car.

If you're doing SUV work, go big. The 2-tons aren't going to hack it if you can't pull the entire front of the vehicle off. You may want to consider a gantry. A problem I've run into with cherry pickers is that at "full lift", the engine/load-leveller/etc all bind up.

-Ryan

 

[472scout]

HeinWarner has a Made in the USA 2T unit with great extension height. HW93809. It weighs 600 lbs not the 250-300 of many of these being mentioned.

That said. I've pulled engines out of trucks lifted for 40+" tires and never needed anything bigger than a HF 2T. Take the tires off and put it on shorty jackstands or on the ground. I don't pull clips just to remove a motor.

 

[zkdiesel]

Bought this at harbor freight to do my lifted vehicles

 

[zkdiesel]

I've

If you're doing SUV work, go big. The 2-tons aren't going to hack it if you can't pull the entire front of the vehicle off. You may want to consider a gantry. A problem I've run into with cherry pickers is that at "full lift", the engine/load-leveller/etc all bind up.

-Ryan

My two ton pulls a 7.3 out of a superduty without removing the grill guard or the hood right out the top with the steer tires on it and still partially lifted on a two post

 

[Crabman]

OP not sure where you are located, but a lot of these come up used on CL around here, often for good deals.

They tend to take up a lot of space and not get used by many DIY folks like me.

Might be a good way to save some bucks.

Good luck finding the right fit.

 

[jaymar_]

OP not sure where you are located, but a lot of these come up used on CL around here, often for good deals.

They tend to take up a lot of space and not get used by many DIY folks like me.

Might be a good way to save some bucks.

Good luck finding the right fit.

Los Angeles. Yeah, seems some of the old ones were better built. On the other hand, you never know how badly they might have been overloaded/weakened in the past.

 

[Crabman]

A lot of the older ones are stout. You can probably see if they were abused as you will see welding work.

I think a lot of them just collect dust (like mine).

 

[Mgdoug3]

Bought this at harbor freight to do my lifted vehicles

Last time I was at HF I didn't see any trucks with cranes in the store. That would be perfect for combine motors.

 

[zkdiesel]

Last time I was at HF I didn't see any trucks with cranes in the store. That would be perfect for combine motors.

I use it to tow away the broken down harbor freight delivery semis a couple times a year so doesn’t that count?

 

[BFBOB]

I really like my crane (same as HarborFreight but a different Chinese brand) works great, good reach, BUT from your description of what you're doing I don't think it has the size or muscle you need. And, my use is very occasional - a few times a year. Spend up to something bigger and stouter.

 

[Crabman]

Jaymar

Here is mine collecting dust. Awaiting transfer to a friend who is still racing at 70. Old and heavy duty.

 

[Renegade1LI]

HF 2t has been fine, don't use it a lot but it's nice that you can fold it up. In my new shop I have a 2t Vestal gantry that is easy to roll around.