Best Engine Hoists

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 24, 2023
Your typical engine hoist is neither cheap nor small but it is an absolute must-have for any vehicle repair shop and a necessity ...Read more
PROS

The whole thing is made of high tensile steel, a particularly thick material that can easily withstand some of the heavier loads. The hydraulic jack has the capacity to handle up to 8-ton loads. The handle on the back of the main tube comes with rubber grips, so it will be a bit easier and more convenient to push the hoist around.

CONS

The initial installation might take some time. 

OUR VERDICT

This 2-ton engine hoist will be a great pick for professional mechanics who deal with a lot of different engines on a daily basis. The rugged construction of this tool will not deform under any pressure, so it will be able to serve your workshop for years to come.

detailed parameters
Max Load

Up to 2 tons (4000 pounds)

Lifting Range

Min. Boom extension: up to 78.75"

Max. Boom extension: up to 90"

Extras

4-hole position boom, foldable construction, swiveling castors

Weight

185 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The paint lasts for a long time and is seldom affected by rust or corrosion. It is also oil-, grease-, and dirt-resistant, making the occasional cleanup job a lot easier. The large diameter of the hydraulic steel cylinder unit lowers the oil pressure that is required to move the load. The piston-ram is polished and treated to resist skiving. 

CONS

Some find the lifting handle a tad short. 

OUR VERDICT

If your job doesn't just revolve around passenger cars and you also tend to work with some of the heavier and more massive engines, the foldable engine hoist from Strongway will prove to be right up your alley.

detailed parameters
Max Load

Up to 2 tons (4000 pounds)

Lifting Range

Min. Boom extension: up to 70.1"

Max. Boom extension: up to 82.6"

Extras

4-hole position boom, foldable construction, swiveling castors, engine leveler included

Weight

184 pounds

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The boom can extend up to 105 inches, making this engine hoist a lot better for moving some of the heavier parts around the shop, like axles, transfer cases, and transmissions. The low 4 clearance of this engine crane will allow you to reach under more cars without having to jack up those cars.

CONS

The castors tend to make quite a bit of noise. 

OUR VERDICT

If you're looking for one of the more versatile engine hoists, you cannot go wrong with the Goplus AT3638BK+. It is just as robust as the next crane but the lifting range will allow you to work with a lot of different vehicles.

detailed parameters
Max Load

Up to 2 tons (4000 pounds)

Lifting Range

Min. Boom extension: up to 88.8" 

Max. Boom extension: up to 105"

Extras

4-hole position boom, foldable construction, swiveling castors

Weight

~160 pounds

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

Every part of the hoist comes in a single package, so you should be able to easily put it all together. Part of that package is a pretty comprehensive instruction manual. And you won't need any additional instruments other than a simple wrench to set the whole thing up.

CONS

The paint wears off after a rather short period of time. 

OUR VERDICT

The STKUSA x0377 should be able to satisfy some of the more experienced tradesmen. But it is definitely a better pick for aspiring mechanics and DIY enthusiasts who have a lot of passion for this field but not as much in terms of the actual practice.

detailed parameters
Max Load

Up to 2 tons (4000 pounds)

Lifting Range

Min. Boom extension: up to 73.6"

Max. Boom extension: up to 89"

Extras

4-hole position boom, foldable construction, swiveling castors

Weight

~140 pounds

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

When folded, the whole thing adds up to about 56” x 29” x 61” in overall dimensions, so you shouldn't have too hard of a time trying to find enough storage space for it. The handle is removable. The thick steel legs provide more than enough stability. 

CONS

The maximum load is somewhat limited. 

OUR VERDICT

The portable model from Titan Attachments will be particularly suitable for smaller engines. On top of that, the six independent swiveling castor wheels will be perfect for moving from smaller areas with lower headroom to larger ones.

detailed parameters
Max Load

Up to 1 ton (2000 pounds)

Lifting Range

Min. Boom extension: up to ~74"

Max. Boom extension: up to 90"

Extras

4-hole position boom, foldable construction, swiveling castors

Weight

157 pounds

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Engine Stands Engine Hoists

Heavy Loads are Welcome

Torin is not the largest company on the face of the Earth but it is more than familiar to most professional mechanics and car enthusiasts. They do not complicate things and make only the most reliable products, with no gimmicky features or questionable extra elements.

In the Torin T32001, that philosophy is more evident than ever. What you get is the most heavy-duty tool that will be able to withstand some serious daily abuse. The whole thing is made of high tensile steel, a particularly thick material that can easily handle some of the heavier loads.

Not dissimilar to most engine hoists, the model comes equipped with 6 wheels, all of which can be rotated 360 degrees. So you really shouldn't have any issues rolling it around the garage.

Among other things, the hoist features a hydraulic jack with a capacity to handle up to 8-ton heavy loads. Your standard 4-hole adjustable boom can handle from half a ton (1000 pounds) in the first position and up to 2 tons (4000 pounds) in the last one.

Again, most of these things aren't unique to this model, but what we liked in particular is the handle on the back of the main tube. The handle comes with rubber grips, so it will be a bit easier and more convenient to push the hoist around.

All in all, this 2-ton engine hoist will be a great pick for professional mechanics who deal with a lot of different engines on a daily basis. The rugged construction of this tool will not deform under any pressure, so it will be able to serve your workshop for years to come.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $333.13
Stock In stock
ASIN B000CO9YME

V8 and V12 Assistant

The Strongway NT32002 is easily one of the most rugged and robust hoists we've been able to find. The whole thing is comprised of high-grade steel, matching the standards of durability and overall quality required by the industry.

Before applying the lead-free paint finish, the manufacturers always perform a particularly thorough chemical wash. This way, the paint lasts for a long time and is seldom affected by rust or corrosion. Plus, the said paint is oil, grease, and dirt-resistant, making the occasional cleanup job a lot easier.

The large diameter of the hydraulic steel cylinder unit is another important element of the crane's design. It lowers the oil pressure that is required to move the load. This way, the unit helps in terms of reducing the wear and tear, thus extending the service life of this shop crane.

It's a small thing but we would also like to mention the piston-ram that is polished and treated to resist skiving. But what isn't a small thing is an engine leveler. Very few cranes come with it, which is a shame since it makes engine positioning and overall handling a lot easier. Both the leveler and the well-thought-out support brackets will allow you to work even with V12 engines.

In conclusion, if your job doesn't just revolve around passenger cars and you also tend to deal with some of the heavier and more massive engines, the foldable engine hoist from Strongway will prove to be right up your alley.

Last updated price $269.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00TIN4W7W

Doth Thou Even Hoist?

The so-called cherry picker from Goplus has left a pretty good impression on us, more than enough to land a spot on our list. The extended boom has a 2-ton (4000-pound) lifting capacity, so it will be able to effortlessly lift just about any gas engine and even some of the smaller diesel engines.

But what we particularly liked about it is the lifting range. The aforementioned boom can extend up to 105 inches. Now, it may not sound like that huge of a difference. But those few extra inches make the model considerably better for moving some of the heavier parts around the shop, like axles, transfer cases, and transmissions.

Other than that, the low 4 clearance of this engine crane will allow you to reach under more cars without having to jack up those cars.

We haven't talked much about the model's construction but that isn't because there is nothing positive we could say about it. The product is made of heavy-gauge structural steel. Plus, it is painted with a nice glossy corrosion-resistant and anti-rust paint. The paint will allow you to use the hoist both indoors and outdoors without worrying about the weather conditions. And it isn't difficult to clean.

In short, if you're looking for one of the more versatile engine hoists, you cannot go wrong with the Goplus AT3638BK+. It is just as robust as the next crane but the lifting range will allow you to work with far more different vehicles.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01AUG96ZS

Pretty Good Starting Point

The STKUSA x0377 is another crane on our list that has simplicity as one of its strongest suits. First, every part of the hoist comes in a single package, so the installation process shouldn't take away too much of your precious time. Plus, part of that package is a pretty comprehensive instruction manual. You should be able to easily set the whole thing up but if you do encounter any issues along the way, just refer to the manual. It'll definitely help you figure things out. And you won't need any additional instruments other than a simple wrench to put all of it together.

As for the construction, the vertical mast is made of premium steel that is about 5/16" thick. Equipped with a 12” forged steel chain and a 5/16” hook, the crane will be able to hold up to 2-ton engines mid-air.

Now, we aren't saying that we're ecstatic about every part of the product as the paint does tend to wear off after a rather short period of time. But all of the aforementioned parts and the 3” x 3” square tube strong legs sort of make up for the shortcoming in the paint department.

The foldable construction will allow you to easily find some storage space for this crane. And the swiveling castors, along with the rather lightweight construction that adds up to about 140 pounds, will make it even easier to maneuver around the workshop.

To sum it up, the STKUSA x0377 should be able to satisfy some of the more experienced tradesmen. But it is definitely a better pick for aspiring mechanics and DIY enthusiasts that have a lot of passion for this field but not as much in terms of the actual practice.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B018JDNZXI

An Uplifting Experience

If you do not work with truck engines and your job only revolves around passenger cars, this folding engine hoist from Titan Attachments will be a good fit for you. Since its max load caps at 1 ton (2000 pounds), it won't be able to support some of the heavier engines. But the product has enough "brawn" to easily hold some of the smaller ones mid-air for as long as you need.

When folded, the whole thing adds up to about 56” x 29” x 61” in overall dimensions, so you shouldn't have too hard of a time trying to find enough storage space for it. Add to that the rather modest weight of 157 pounds and you won't just be able to save space but also maximize efficiency in your shop. Furthermore, the handle is removable, further improving the model's already impressive space-saving capabilities.

It may not be the most rugged engine hoist on our list but the thick steel legs provide more than enough stability. The premium steel vertical mast is another prominent feature of this tool that makes it a tad more durable than your standard engine crane.

All things considered, the compact model from Titan Attachments will be particularly suitable for some of the smaller engines. On top of that, the six independent swiveling castor wheels will be perfect for moving from smaller areas with lower headroom to larger ones.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01KP3Y71Y

What Is an Engine Hoist?

An engine hoist, also known as an engine crane, is a common and relatively simple repair tool. The construction is often present in vehicle repair shops. With its help, a professional mechanic, a DIY enthusiast, or anyone who knows a thing or two about engines can either install or remove an engine in small and crowded vehicle engine compartments.

Though it might seem bulky and intricate, the tool is actually a lot less complicated than one might think. Using a cantilevered support structure, a crane like that holds the engine in mid-air. This way, the mechanic has the ability to carefully connect or disconnect some of the more fragile hoses and wires on the engine to the frame of the vehicle.

Most motor cranes come with a set of swiveling castors so that you can remove the engine roll away from the vehicle frame, positioning the engine and the crane in a convenient place. Other than that, the majority also feature a foldable construction, an important design choice that allows the user to find enough storage place for the crane in his garage.

A crane like that is often used with an engine stand since the latter will be able to provide you with access to the underside surfaces of your engine.

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