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Best Engine Cranes and Hoists UK (Reviews) 2024

Last Updated on September 28, 2022 by

Best Engine Crane Hoist UK

Engine cranes, or engine hoists as they are sometimes called, are commonplace in auto repair shops and even some serious DIY enthusiasts’ garages. Even if your work area is small or crowded, these cranes are designed to remove or install vehicle engines, and you can even work on them in midair thanks to the crane’s versatility and mobile design.

Most people use the hoist with a stand that is made to fit that crane, which gives you a lot of flexibility, especially when you’re trying to work from different angles. Since they can be used to lift and work on more than just engines, these cranes are very valuable tools to add to your garage, but they are quite expensive, so making the right choice is imperative. To help make sure you don’t spend big money on the wrong model, we’ve picked out 5 of the top hoists and cranes for removing engines below.

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Table of Contents

Best Engine Cranes and Hoists in the UK Reviews

Image

Crane

Weight Capacity

Price

Switzer Folding

1. Switzer Folding

Top Pick

2 Ton

2 Ton

Pandamoto

3. Pandamoto

1 Ton

Switzer Folding

4. Switzer Folding

1 Ton

PALDIN

5. PALDIN

1 Ton


#1. Switzer Quality Folding Engine Crane 2 Ton

Switzer Quality Folding Engine Crane 2 Ton

This two tonne engine crane is great for lifting engines, heavy machinery, and all sorts of heavy components of nearly every size and shape. Because of its folding design, you can easily transmit and store it wherever you like, and you even get four adjustable legs to provide you with the extra stability you need. In fact, the universal wheels mean manoeuvrability and positioning are both a whole lot easier.

Whether you want to make a repair, assemble something, move something around, or perform basic maintenance on an engine or other heavy equipment, the Switzer folding engine crane makes it super easy and fast, getting the task out of the way so that you can move on to others. This is a high-quality, dependable engine crane that is built to last and it is the best value for the money out there.

Pros

  • High quality and built to last
  • Great folding design
  • Reasonably priced
  • Very versatile and accommodates lots of different equipment

Cons

  • Instructions are a bit complicated

Verdict: Best overall for the money


#2. Warmiehomy 2 Ton Hydraulic Folding

This comes in an attractive blue colour, this engine crane has a total of four adjustable hole position booms: 0.5 tonne, 1 tonne, 1.5 tonne, and 2 tonnes. You can use it for multiple tasks, including repairing and assembling equipment, and it even comes in a space-saving design thanks to the fact that you can easily fold it. The universal wheels allow for perfect positioning and manoeuvring, and don’t be surprised if you find other uses for it as well.

The Warmiehomy hydraulic engine crane is a must-have if you need any type of heavy lifting done, and you can enjoy a boom height of 1450 mm to 2300 mm, with the boom extending from 106 cm to 160 cm. Best of all, this engine crane is perfect for shops of all sizes, so you’ll find it useful whether you need it for your home shop or your large commercial auto-repair facility.

Pros

  • Adjustable and versatile to accommodate numerous projects
  • Reasonably priced and affordable
  • Easy to store away when it isn’t being used

Cons

  • Can be difficult to put together


#3. Pandamoto 1 Ton Professional

Pandamoto 1 Ton Professional

With a patented double-piston pump and a lifting range of 25 to 2200 mm, you can easily lift your engine out of its bay with very little effort. The crane has a maximum weight capacity of 1000 kg and four jib positions, and best of all, it’s a perfect tool to have in both a home shop and a professional mechanics’ shop. With this engine crane, you can easily work on engines, machinery, and much more, and it comes with four adjustable legs for greater stability.

The crane comes in a bright-red colour and offers outrigger legs that easily fold up for those times when you need to store it or transport it to another location. It is reasonably priced and versatile, providing a lot of value for the money you’ll pay for it. It is also super sturdy and strong yet is compact once you fold it up and store it somewhere, and it is so easy to work with that you’ll quickly wonder how you ever got along without it.

Pros

  • Easy to manoeuvre from one area to another
  • Accommodates engines and other heavy equipment
  • Good value for money

Cons

  • Not the easiest to assemble
  • The screws and other parts aren’t the best quality


#4. Switzer Quality Folding Engine Crane 1 Tonne

Switzer Quality Folding Engine Crane 1 Tonne

At a reasonable price, this is a good middle of the road engine hoist that you can enjoy without breaking the bank. The universal wheels make positioning and manoeuvring much easier than you might expect, and its four adjustable legs make it easy to have a very stable, reliable crane regardless of the project at hand. You can lift and work on engines and lots of other equipment, and its foldable design means you can easily store it away when it isn’t being used.

With a maximum capacity of 1 tonne, this engine crane offers four different jib positions to choose from – ¼ tonne, ½ tonne, ¾ tonne, and 1 tonne – and it is perfect for maintenance, repair, and general work on all types of equipment. It is a dependable crane that is built to last, and it can make any task in your shop a lot easier to accommodate.

Pros

  • Very sturdy and reliable
  • Reasonably priced
  • Super easy to use

Cons

  • Can be difficult to assemble
  • Some mis-drilled holes that don’t line up


#5. PALDIN 1 Ton Hydraulic Folding Engine Crane Stand

PALDIN 1 Ton Hydraulic Folding Engine Crane Stand

The PALDIN folding engine crane is a must-have for both casual mechanics and professional ones because it makes lifting engines and many other types of equipment super easy on your part. In fact, this crane produces professional results in your home or commercial auto shop that can make you feel like an experienced mechanic even if you aren’t one. It also has a full-sized frame and heavy-duty castors and wheels that promise excellent stability with every job.

Perfect for moving, lifting, repairing, and assembling various equipment, the PALDIN engine crane is a must-have for any auto shop because of its versatility and its ease of use. You can quickly fold it to nearly one-half its size when you want to store it somewhere, and it comes with a two-year warranty for the peace of mind you need and deserve.

Pros

  • Available in both 1-tonne and 2-tonne models
  • Becomes very compact once it’s folded up
  • Solid unit

Cons

  • Slightly more expensive


Hoist and Crane for Engines Buying Considerations

Weight Capacity

This is especially important if you consistently work on engines or other pieces of equipment that are heavier than normal. Typically most models have either a 1 or 2 ton weight capacity, which is more than adequate for lifting a standard size car engine.

Lifting Range

The lifting range simply determines how high you can lift or lower the attached engine, with most models having similar lifting ranges, it’s not a huge sticking point, but should still be explored before purchasing a unit.

Assembly

Because of the nature of these lifts and the size of them, they need to be assembled correctly and safely. You’ll have to put them together which may take a bit of time considering some models are actually quite tricky to assemble, which is made worse with some of the poor instructions provided.

Cost

These hoists for lifting out engines are a big investment and cost a lot of money, though most of the models we have selected are fairly similar in terms of price, we ensured that we reviewed 5 lifts that offer value for money.

Final Word

Engine cranes make working in an auto shop so much easier because you can lift, repair, and assemble both engines and tons of other heavy machinery and equipment. They are quite expensive though, and probably won’t be purchased by someone looking to do some casual car DIY at home, that’s why we’ve tried our best to avoid you spending a lot of money on a bad lift thanks to our selected 5 best engine hoists and cranes above.