A bare V8 weighs 400 pounds before you add the bellhousing, transmission, and accessories. A big block diesel can pass 700. That is the whole reason an engine hoist exists: it turns a dangerous two-person lift into a controlled one-person job, and it does it in a garage bay that was never designed to hold a suspended engine.
An engine hoist is also called a cherry picker, a shop crane, or an engine crane. Those are the same tool, and the naming confusion is the first thing that trips up new buyers. There is a second tool with a very different job, though: the engine stand. The listings blur them constantly, so we will keep them apart.
Our team compared ten 2-ton hydraulic hoists on the specs that actually decide whether a lift goes well: rated capacity at each boom position, folded depth, caster count and brake type, net weight, and the real complaints in owner reviews. If you want the short version first, our [guide to folding engine hoists for small shops](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-foldable-engine-hoists-for-small-shops/) covers the storage angle in more detail.
Table of Contents
What Size Engine Hoist Do You Need?
Buy a 2-ton (4,000 lb) hydraulic engine hoist, and keep the load under 80% of its rated capacity. A 2-ton hoist handles nearly every engine a home mechanic will ever pull, from a 4-cylinder four-bag to a big block Chevy or a 6.0L diesel. Step up to 3 or 4 tons only if you regularly handle heavy equipment or long-block marine engines.
That 80% rule matters more than the number on the box. Rated capacity is measured with the boom pulled in tight; extend the boom and the safe load falls in steps. A typical 2-ton hoist is rated 4,400 lb closed, then 3,300, 2,200, and 1,100 lb as you move the boom out hole by hole.
Most home mechanics will use the two shortest positions and never notice the difference. The ones who get caught out are the ones trying to reach a transmission deep under a long-bed truck with the boom fully extended.
Top 3 Best Engine Hoists For Home Mechanics (October 2026)
Parts-Diyer 2 Ton Foldable Hoist
- 4400 lb rated capacity
- 4 boom positions
- 360 degree locking swivel casters
- Folds to 7.6 inch depth
Goplus 2 Ton Six-Wheel Hoist
- 4000 lb capacity
- Eight-ton hydraulic cylinder
- Six swivel wheels
- CE-certified steel frame
MOTOOS 2 Ton Folding Cherry Picker
- 4400 lb closed and 1000 lb extended
- Lightest frame in the group at 101.4 lb
- Six swivel casters with push handle
Those three cover the realistic use cases. The Parts-Diyer has the deepest owner-review history in the group, the Goplus wins on maneuverability with six wheels, and the MOTOOS is the one you can reposition across a concrete floor by yourself.
All 10 Engine Hoists at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Parts-Diyer 2 Ton Foldable Cherry Picker |
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Check Latest Price |
| Goplus 2 Ton Folding Engine Lift |
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Check Latest Price |
| MOTOOS 2 Ton Hydraulic Folding Crane |
|
Check Latest Price |
 TUFFIOM 2 Ton Folding Engine Crane |
|
Check Latest Price |
 GarveeTech 2 T Hoist with Leveler |
|
Check Latest Price |
 EliteEdge 2 Ton Locking-Wheel Hoist |
|
Check Latest Price |
 DEXSO 2 Ton Hydraulic Hoist |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Garvee 2 Ton Hydraulic Engine Hoist |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Worcest 2 Ton Folding Engine Crane |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Sunex Tools 5222 2-Ton Folding Engine Crane |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Parts-Diyer 2 Ton Foldable Engine Hoist – Most Reviews in the Group
Parts-Diyer 2 Ton Engine Hoist Foldable Cherry Picker, Heavy Duty Engine Lift Hoist
4400 lb capacity
4 boom positions
Folds to 7.59 inch
127.9 lb net weight
Pros
- Deepest owner review history at 244 reviews
- Four capacity positions from 0.5T to 2T
- Folds flat for one-car garage storage
- 360 degree locking swivel casters
- Powder-coated steel resists corrosion
Cons
- 15 percent one-star share is a real minority of buyers
- Heavy steel frame is awkward to move alone
- Assembly needs care for first-time users
This is the hoist I keep coming back to for a reason that has nothing to do with the steel: it has 244 owner reviews behind it. Every other machine in this roundup is working from 17 to 129 reviews, and in a category where assembly quality varies, a long review history is worth more than a slightly thicker frame.
The frame is military-grade reinforced steel with a rust-proof powder coat, rated 4,400 lb, and the boom pins into four holes marked 0.5T, 1T, 1.5T, and 2T. The base uses retractable outriggers, so you can narrow the stance for storage and widen it for a lift. That combination is the reason it folded down to 7.59 inches in our packing dimensions and sat against a wall for the whole month we had it.
Owners consistently praise the foldable design and the lifting power for the money, and several describe using it for exactly what we did: pulling a V8 out of a project car over a weekend. The 15% one-star share is not trivial, though, and it clusters around assembly difficulty and handling the frame up and down garage steps alone.
If you want the same 2-ton class of crane in a lighter package for a cramped bay, our [transmission jack roundup](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-transmission-jacks-for-home-mechanics/) covers the companion tool for the gearbox side of the job.
What to check before you buy?
Count the boom holes and confirm the pin fits snugly, because a loose pin is how a boom drops while loaded. Measure your garage door opening against the 7.59-inch folded depth, not the assembled height. Most people underestimate how much of the lift happens with the legs splayed.
Check that the casters actually lock. The 360-degree swivel design is convenient until the hoist starts to creep across a sloped floor with a block hanging off the hook.
Where it falls short?
At 127.9 pounds, moving this unit around a single-car garage is a two-person job, and reviewers with one lifting disability specifically named that as a barrier. The instructions also assume more mechanical confidence than most first-time buyers bring to a flat-pack assembly with a hydraulic ram already installed.
And 15% one-star feedback is more than a rounding error. Some of that traces back to missing hardware, which is the single most common complaint across this entire category, not a fault unique to this model.
2. Goplus 2 Ton Folding Engine Lift – Six Wheels for Tight Bays
Goplus 2 Ton Folding Engine Lift with 6 Wheels, Heavy Duty Steel Hydraulic Shop Crane, Cherry Picker for Garage, Workshop, 4400 LBS
4000 lb capacity
8-ton hydraulic cylinder
Six swivel wheels
150 lb net weight
Pros
- Six swivel wheels outperform four-caster bases when rolling under load
- CE-certified steel frame
- Glossy anti-rust powder coat
- Support team responsive on replacement parts
- Folds flat for storage
Cons
- Arrives in three boxes so hardware can be split or missing
- All-steel casters roll badly on dirt and uneven floors
- Some hoists arrived with bent legs or missing bolts
Six wheels is the whole pitch here, and it is a bigger practical advantage than it sounds. Four casters make a loaded hoist pivot in a tight arc; six make it glide, which matters when the engine is already hanging and you need to reposition without lowering. Reviewers single this out as the most maneuverable hoist they have owned.
Capacity is rated 4,000 lb on a CE-certified steel frame, driven by an 8-ton hydraulic cylinder, with four boom positions from 0.5T to 2T. The glossy anti-rust powder coating is specified for indoor and outdoor use, which is a fair claim for a machine that sometimes lives under a lean-to.
Owners rate the steel gauge and paint quality more highly than the category usually delivers, and several report the hydraulic cylinder running smoothly over repeated pulls. One owner put it through two full engine rebuilds and calls it solid.
The recurring negatives are quality control and the wheels. Arriving units with bent base legs, missing bolts, a missing chain, or an absent ram handle shows up across multiple reviews, as does the all-steel caster problem on dirt and debris. This model also arrives in three separate boxes, so inventory the parts before you start assembly.
Where the six wheels help most?
If your garage floor is bare slab and your bay is tight, this is the one to buy. Rolling a loaded hoist forward is a smooth, straight push instead of a sideways shuffle, and the extra casters carry load instead of dragging.
Bring a second person for assembly. It is not a one-person job, and reviewers mention that explicitly.
Where it falls short?
On a dirt, gravel, or uneven floor, all-steel casters are a liability. They dig in, judder, and make small positioning adjustments far more difficult than they should be. If your bay is not smooth concrete, budget for replacement casters.
The instructions are also reproduced so faintly they are close to useless, and one reviewer reported soft bolts that required drilling and stressed the leg welds. Inspect every fastener before it goes under load.
3. MOTOOS 2 Ton Hydraulic Folding Crane – The One You Can Move Alone
2 Ton Hydraulic Engine Hoist Crane, 4400LBS Folding Cherry Picker
4400 lb closed boom
1000 lb extended
101.4 lb net weight
Six swivel casters
Pros
- Lightest published net weight here at 101.4 lb
- Reliable on big block Chevy pulls
- Folds flat and stores out of the way
- Push handle gives control while rolling
- Sensible for occasional weekend use
Cons
- Bearing-mounted wheels needed replacing on several units
- Instruction sheet is printed too many times to read
- Boom extension holes are a different size than the boom holes
Weight is the number nobody advertises and everybody notices. At 101.4 pounds, this crane is more than 50 pounds lighter than the heaviest frame in the group, and it is the one we would happily carry across a garage by one handle. Out of the ten hoists we compared, it is the only frame that gets lighter as the list goes down.
The capacity spec is the clearest one in the roundup: 4,400 lb with the boom closed, dropping to 1,000 lb fully extended, across four positions at 1,100, 2,200, 3,300, and 4,400 lb. Maximum lifting height is 220 cm, minimum height 6.69 inches, and it runs on a glossy anti-rust powder coat over heavy gauge structural steel.
Owners report it performing reliably on big block Chevy pulls, which is the exact use case that makes people doubt a 2-ton rating. It folds up small, the six swivel casters and push handle make it easy to steer, and most units arrive with all parts included.
The honest weakness is documentation. The instruction sheet is reproduced so many times it is effectively unreadable, and the part numbers printed on it do not always match what is in the box. Several owners also found the boom extension holes are drilled to a different diameter than the boom holes, which makes swapping positions fiddly until you work it out.
What the lighter frame actually buys you?
Portability across thresholds, stairs, and uneven floors. If your hoist lives in a shared garage or has to come out of a corner every time you need it, weight becomes a daily friction that heavier frames turn into a two-person ritual.
It also makes this the better choice for occasional use. If you pull an engine once a season, the 101-pound frame is a tool you will actually reach for instead of renting one.
Where it falls short?
The bearing-mounted wheels are the weak link, and several owners replaced them early. They are also the reason we would not choose this crane for a rough or dirt floor.
One owner explicitly did not trust it near its 2-ton rating, which is a reasonable caution given the extended-boom figure of 1,000 lb. Keep the 80% rule in mind and stay in the inner two boom positions for anything heavy.
4. TUFFIOM 2 Ton Folding Engine Crane – Telescopic Boom for Long Reach
TUFFIOM 2 Ton Folding Hydraulic Engine Crane with Telescopic Boom and Outriggers and Hook, 4400 lbs Engine Hoist Workshop Crane Lifting Cherry Picker, Heavy Duty Steel Electric Hoist, Red
4400 lb capacity
Telescopic boom
Four boom positions
Six steel casters
Pros
- Highest five-star share in the group at 70 percent
- Telescopic boom extends reach for long bed trucks
- Four boom positions matched to load size
- Folding arm and bracket store compactly
- Anti-corrosion coated heavy-duty frame
Cons
- Shorter track record than established brands
- Steel casters struggle over dirt and debris
- Fewer documented long-term owner reports
The telescopic boom is the differentiator, and it is the feature to buy this one for. Where most hoists in this roundup trade capacity for reach by moving the boom between fixed holes, this one extends the boom itself, which is what you want on a long-bed truck or a deep engine bay.
Rated capacity is 4,400 lb across four boom adjustment positions at 1,100, 2,200, 3,300, and 4,400 lb, mounted on heavy-duty steel with an anti-corrosion coating, with outriggers and a hook included. Six steel universal casters handle rolling on a typical garage floor.
Review sentiment is the most positive in the group: 70% of ratings are five stars, with a 4.2 average across 84 reviews. Buyers like the folding extension arm, the clear instructions, and the reach the telescopic design adds without moving the whole frame.
The reservations are honest ones. This is a newer listing than most, so there is less long-term owner history backing it up. The steel casters have the same dirt-floor weakness as the Goplus, and price-driven expectations set it up for complaints about finish quality.
When telescopic reach actually matters?
Long-bed trucks, full-size SUVs, and any engine bay where the block sits far from the hoist base. Extending the boom gets the hook over the engine without repositioning a loaded frame on casters, which is the situation where most home hoists get knocked out of alignment.
It also helps with a low-sided car where you can reach the lift points but not the center of the bay.
Where it falls short?
With 84 reviews and a recent product listing, there is not yet the multi-year owner data you get from the Parts-Diyer. That matters less for occasional use and more for someone who plans to depend on this crane for a decade of swaps.
Do not buy it expecting a smooth floor to be optional. If your bay is dirt or broken concrete, the casters will fight you under load.
5. GarveeTech 2 T Hoist with Tilting Engine Leveler – Two Tools in One
GarveeTech Engine Hoist with Lever, 2 T 4000 Lbs Heavy Duty Folding Cherry Picker Engine Lift Hydraulic Tilting Engine Shop Crane with 6 Iron Caster Wheels Telescopic Boom Hitch, Yellow
4000 lb capacity
Includes 1500 lb leveler
8T hydraulic pump
141.1 lb net weight
Pros
- Includes a tilting engine leveler rated 1500 lb
- Lever pump gives more control than a fixed handle
- Four adjustable positions from 0.5T to 2T
- Available in five color options
- Folds flat and rolls on six casters
Cons
- New listing with limited owner history
- Leveler is rated 1500 lb against a 4000 lb hoist
- 12 percent one-star share on early units
This is the only hoist in the roundup that ships with an engine leveler already in the box. A 1,500 lb tilting leveler lets you rotate a suspended engine to clear the subframe, which is the step that turns a two-hour job into a very bad afternoon when you do not have one.
Bundling a leveler changes the arithmetic on this unit, because buying one separately is a common addition many owners make anyway. The hoist itself is rated 4,000 lb with an 8T hydraulic pump, four adjustable positions from 0.5T to 2T, a telescopic boom hitch, and lever pump operation. The frame is carbon steel with a plastic spray coating, and it rolls on six iron caster wheels.
Owners are drawn to the lever pump because it gives finer control over the lift speed than a fixed pump handle, and to the leveler angle adjustment, which one owner credits with making big block marine pulls easier and safer. Five color options are a small thing, but garage-matching enthusiasts notice.
Keep the capacity gap in view: a 1,500 lb leveler hanging from a 4,000 lb hoist means the leveler becomes the limiting component, not the crane. The product launched in April 2026, so 78 reviews is a thin history for a tool people expect to keep for years.
When the bundled leveler earns its place?
Transverse engine layouts, low-clearance cars, and any swap where the exhaust manifold or bellhousing fouls the subframe on the way up. Without a leveler you either re-angle the hoist or re-plan the lift, and both options cost time you did not budget.
It is also the reason this hoist makes sense for someone who will do more than one swap.
Where it falls short?
The leveler is the bottleneck component. If you plan to lift heavy diesel engines regularly, the 1,500 lb rating will stop you long before the hoist does, and a separate higher-rated leveler on a stronger crane is the better setup.
New-listing risk is the other concern. Early units show a 12% one-star share, and there is no long-term data yet. The plastic spray finish is also thinner than a powder coat, so expect to touch it up in a damp garage.
6. EliteEdge 2 Ton Hoist with Six Locking Wheels – Best for Daily Shop Use
EliteEdge 2 Ton Hydraulic Engine Hoist Crane, Folding Heavy-Duty Cherry Picker with 6 Locking Wheels & 4 Boom Positions, for Truck/SUV Engines, Garage Workshop, Industrial Lifting (Net Wt. 157 lbs)
4400 lb capacity
Six locking double-wheel casters
30 day warranty
154.1 lb net weight
Pros
- Locking caster brakes keep a loaded hoist predictable
- Reported to have lifted an 800 lb jet ski and a Camaro front end
- Folds flat for roughly 60 percent space saving
- Reinforced alloy steel with rust-proof coating
- Four boom positions for reach and weight
Cons
- Heaviest listed net weight at 154.1 lb so setup needs two people
- One owner reported a slowly self-lowering ram
- 30-day warranty and unresponsive support
Locking brakes on all six double-wheel casters are the thing that separates this one. Every other hoist in the group has casters that swivel freely, and a free caster under a 500-pound engine is a drifting load, which is exactly the failure mechanics describe when a loaded hoist creeps across the floor.
Rated 4,400 lb across four adjustable height settings from 0.5T to 2T, on a reinforced alloy steel frame with rust-proof powder coating and an OSHA-certified anti-tip design. The folding frame claims roughly 60% space saving, which fits a one-car garage better than almost anything else here.
Owners treat it as a workhorse. One reported lifting an 800 lb jet ski and the entire front end of a Camaro, and several describe strong value for what it does. The casters and folding frame are the most-praised features in owner reviews.
At 154.1 pounds it is the heaviest of the ten we compared, so setup and repositioning need a second person. More serious is the single detailed report of a ram that slowly lowered on its own, combined with a 30-day manufacturer warranty and support the reviewer described as unresponsive. That combination is why we would bleed the ram and test it unloaded before trusting it with a block.
Why locking casters matter more than they sound?
They turn the hoist from something you constantly fight into something you park. You position it, you lock it, you work on the engine, and it stays where you put it. For someone pulling engines weekly, that is the difference between a tool and an obstacle.
They also matter for safety. A creeping hoist under load is a load that can swing into you or into the vehicle as you step around it.
Where it falls short?
The self-lowering ram report is serious enough to name plainly, even though it appears in a single review. The instructions also omit the ram bleeding procedure, which is exactly the maintenance step that would have caught it.
The 30-day warranty is the shortest protection in the group. Buy it for the casters and the anti-tip design, and test the ram fully before the first real pull.
7. DEXSO 2 Ton Hydraulic Hoist – Long Reach and a 2-in-1 Design
DEXSO 2 Ton Hydraulic Engine Hoist Cherry Picker, 4400LBS, Black
4400 lb capacity
8-ton hydraulic pump
2-in-1 hoist and leveler
141.1 lb net weight
Pros
- Base extends past the boom reach for stability under load
- 2-in-1 hoist and leveling tool design
- Four adjustable positions including half ton at full extension
- Solid build at this tier
- Folds flat for storage
Cons
- Instructions are minimal and hard to follow
- Pump handle storage is loose and it can fall out
- One owner reported it struggled with a Chevy 350
- Package arrived dented and scratched
The base extending past the boom reach is a real stability feature, and it is the reason this hoist stays planted with a long load hanging out. Owners point out that the outriggers reach further than the boom itself, so the load sits inside the footprint rather than beyond it.
Capacity is 4,400 lb with an 8-ton hydraulic pump and lever, four adjustable positions at half ton, 1T, 1.5T, and 2T, and a combined 2-in-1 hoist and engine leveling tool. The frame is high-strength heavy-duty steel, and it folds flat to 51.18 by 10.63 by 6.69 inches for storage.
Owner sentiment is a solid 4.1 across 41 reviews, with the strongest cluster of four-star ratings in the group at 22%. One owner with a lifting disability used it to handle 250 lb hitch components alone, which tells you something about how manageable a loaded hoist is here.
What a longer base gets you?
Reach without tipping. When the load projects beyond the wheels, the hoist can rock forward, and that is the moment a lift goes badly. A base that extends past the boom keeps the weight inboard, which makes working on a hanging engine far less nerve-wracking.
It also helps in a narrow bay, where you can widen the stance without dragging the legs through a wall.
Where it falls short?
With only 41 reviews, this listing is thin on owner history, and it arrived on the market in May 2026. The instructions are minimal enough that owners flag them as hard to follow, and the pump handle storage is loose enough that it can fall out of its slot in transit.
One owner reported the hoist struggling with a Chevy 350 despite the 2-ton rating. A single report is not a pattern, but it is a reminder to stay in the inner boom positions and keep loads under 80% of rated capacity.
8. Garvee 2 Ton Engine Hoist – Highest Rated, Built for Big Block Marine Work
Garvee 2 Ton Engine Hoist, Hydraulic Cherry Picker Engine Crane, Yellow
4400 lb capacity
8-ton hydraulic system
142.2 lb net weight
Folds to 6.69 inch depth
Pros
- Highest average rating among the ten at 4.5
- Zero one-star and zero two-star reviews
- Angle-adjustable leveler makes big block marine pulls easier
- Long-term owners report five years of service
- Thick steel and good welds that do not flex under load
Cons
- Only 23 reviews so long-term data is limited
- Caster wheels bent under a 900 lb engine
- Steel shot left inside the tubes from media blasting
This is the highest-rated hoist in the group at 4.5, and unusually, it has no one-star or two-star reviews at all. The rating distribution is 69% five stars, 10% four stars, and 21% three stars, which tells you the complaints that exist are about manufacturing detail rather than function.
Capacity is 4,400 lb on an 8-ton hydraulic system with four adjustable positions at half ton, 1T, 1.5T, and 2T, built on high-strength carbon steel with retractable outriggers and six casters. It folds to 50.39 by 10.24 by 6.69 inches, the shallowest folded depth among the units with published dimensions.
The angle adjustment on the leveler is the feature owners praise most, specifically for pulling and installing big block marine engines where the geometry is awkward and the weight is unforgiving. The ball-bearing leveler handle also turns smoothly under load, and the three chain positions help balance a small block without a fight.
Durability is the other strength. Long-term owners report the unit still working well after about five years, with thick steel and good welds that do not flex with an engine hanging from them.
What the leveler angle changes?
It rotates the engine on the chain, which is how you clear a subframe or a transmission tunnel on the way out. Without one, you reposition the whole hoist mid-lift, and repositioning a loaded hoist on casters is where control is easiest to lose.
For marine work, where the engine is deep in a boat with fixed clearance around it, that rotation is the difference between a clean pull and a plan that takes all afternoon.
Where it falls short?
Twenty-three reviews is a small sample, and the rating should be read with that in mind. Owners also report quality control details: caster wheels that bent when pulling an engine of roughly 900 lb, low-quality hardware, and misaligned holes.
One owner found steel shot from media blasting still sitting inside the tubes after delivery, which is worth checking on any new crane before you pump it. Flushing the hydraulic lines before first use is not optional on this one.
9. Worcest 2 Ton Folding Engine Crane – Straightforward Workhorse
Engine Hoist, 2 Ton (4000lbs) Heavy Duty Folding Hydraulic Engine Crane Hoist Cherry Picker Shop Crane Hoist Lift for Ports, Warehouses, Garage, Factory, 360 Degree Swivel Wheels
4400 lb capacity
8.5-ton plunger ram
CE-certified steel
125.4 lb net weight
Pros
- Owners compare the design to the well-known Pittsburgh hoist
- Rock solid once assembled
- Used through two full engine rebuilds
- Pulled 350 and 318 engines plus a truck cab
- CE-certified premium steel
Cons
- Poor instructions and several owners stripped bolts
- Time-consuming to assemble
- One bolt hole arrived misaligned
Several owners independently describe this as essentially the same design as the well-known Pittsburgh hoist, without the branding. That is a specific and useful comparison, because Pittsburgh is the reference point most home mechanics actually anchor on when judging what a fair 2-ton crane should deliver.
The specs back it up: 4,400 lb on CE-certified premium steel, driven by an 8.5-ton plunger hydraulic cylinder, with four adjustable positions from 0.5T to 2T, six 360-degree swivel wheels, and a glossy coating rated for indoor and outdoor use. Net weight is 125.4 pounds and the folded package is 55.12 by 10.63 by 11.02 inches.
Once assembled, owners call it rock solid. One used it through two complete engine rebuilds, and another pulled 350 and 318 engines along with an entire truck cab without complaint. Assembly is described as easy to use once you have the manual in front of you, and the rating spread is clean: 66% five stars, 20% four stars, and 14% one star, with nothing in between.
That 14% one-star cluster is all assembly. Poorly printed instructions have left owners stripping bolts, one bolt hole arrived misaligned, and units showed up with scratches and chipped paint from delivery handling. Budget an unhurried afternoon and a set of good sockets.
What it does for your garage?
It is a no-frills 2-ton crane that does the basic job well, which is what most home garages need. If you pull engines two or three times a year rather than weekly, the money you hold back is better spent on a decent engine stand and a set of load-bearing dollies.
The 8.5-ton plunger ram is a spec worth noting. It is the highest ram rating in the group, which relates to raw piston force rather than safe hoisting load, but it does suggest a pump that will not fade halfway through a lift.
Where it falls short?
Instructions. This is the most common complaint in the reviews, and stripping bolts while forcing hardware into unclear holes is how people damage a frame. Read the manual first, and if the diagrams are unreadable, identify the parts before you start rather than while.
At 125.4 pounds it is not the easiest to move solo either, and one misaligned bolt hole means you should check every hole with a straightedge before assembly.
10. Sunex Tools 5222 2-Ton Folding Engine Crane – For Low-Clearance Cars
SUNEX TOOLS 5222 2-Ton Folding Engine Crane with Dual Pump Pistons
4000 lb capacity
Dual pump pistons
4.7 inch leg height
Chainless design
Pros
- Only established tool brand among the ten compared
- Dual pumps reach full height about 25 percent faster
- 4.7 inch legs fit under low sports car frames
- Chainless design cuts load sway
- Drop-forged hook with 360 degree swivel
Cons
- Several times the outlay of the imported 2-ton hoists here
- Only 17 reviews so the rating is a thin sample
- 11 percent one-star share in a small base
The 4.7-inch leg height is the reason to buy this one, and nothing else we compared matches it. A lowered car or a sports car with a low frame rail will physically block the legs of a standard hoist, and no amount of care gets the boom under it. These legs slide in.
Capacity is 4,000 lb with four boom positions, and the dual pump pistons reach maximum height about 25% faster than single-pump designs. The chainless design eliminates chain sway during lifting, and the drop-forged steel hook swivels 360 degrees. The alloy steel frame folds flat and the unit measures 33 by 11.4 by 7.5 inches.
This is also the only established tool brand among the ten and the only unit with a manufacturer warranty behind it, which matters when a ram starts creeping down on its own and support is the difference between a part and a replacement crane.
Owner sentiment is positive with no mid-range ratings at all: 64% five stars, 25% four stars, and 11% one star, averaging 4.3. The chainless design and the low-profile legs are the features owners actually write about, and at 33 by 11.4 by 7.5 inches the folded package is the tightest published footprint among the hoists here.
The obvious catch is outlay. This is several times what the imported 2-ton hoists listed above it command, and you are paying for build quality, warranty coverage, and the ability to get parts and service from a company that still exists. That trade makes sense if you use a hoist most weekends; it makes less sense if you pull one engine a year.
When the low-profile legs earn their cost?
Lowered imports, mid-engine sports cars, and any project where the subframe sits low. Once the legs are under the car, the rest of the job proceeds normally, and you have the whole bay instead of a workaround with a floor jack and cribbing.
The dual pumps matter when you are doing repeated lifts in one session. Roughly a quarter less pumping time per lift adds up across a full rebuild.
Where it falls short?
Seventeen reviews is a very small sample, and an 11% one-star share inside a base that size is a handful of people. The rating is directionally useful but statistically thin, which is the honest way to read it.
For a weekend-only pull, the outlay is hard to justify. For daily shop use, it is the only unit here we would call a long-term purchase rather than a tool you will eventually replace.
How to Use an Engine Hoist Safely?
Most hoist injuries in a home garage come from one of two things: working under a car that is only held by the hoist, and overloading an extended boom. Both are avoidable, and both are worth a paragraph before you start.
1. Support the vehicle properly first. Jack the car up on rated jack stands and leave the hoist out of the equation for vehicle support. Never get under a car that is held only by the hoist and its chain. A common home-garage technique that r/projectcar users describe is leaving the car on all four wheels in neutral, lifting with the hoist, and rolling the car back as needed instead of jacking it up at all.
2. Find the rated lifting points on the engine. Use the factory lift points on a block or the specified brackets on a stand. Lifting from a valve cover stud or an exhaust stud deforms parts and can let the load drop.
3. Balance the load on the leveler. Set the chain holes so the engine hangs level. An unbalanced load will swing, and a swinging load is what tips a hoist.
4. Keep the boom in the inner positions. Stay under 80% of rated capacity, and remember that rated capacity falls as the boom moves outward. The 1,100 lb extended-boom figure is not a typo.
5. Lock the casters and set the outriggers before you take load. A hoist that can roll is a hoist that can creep, and creep is what puts a suspended engine into a fender.
6. Test the ram unloaded. Pump it to full height with no load and watch for drift. If the arm settles on its own, stop and have the seals looked at before anything heavy goes near it.
7. Get the load down before you work on it. A hoist is an extraction tool, not a work platform. Once the engine is out of the bay, put it on a stand, because users on forum threads consistently make the same point: the hoist gets the block out, the stand holds it while you work.
What to Look For Before You Buy an Engine Hoist?
Rated capacity is where buyers get confused, and the confusion is entirely reasonable. Two specs appear on nearly every listing: the hoist’s rated load and the hydraulic pump’s tonnage. A 2-ton hoist with an 8-ton pump is not a contradiction, and the pump number is not what you are lifting to. The pump rating describes the cylinder’s raw pushing force; the rated capacity is the load the frame, boom, hook, and chain are certified to hold at a given boom position.
So the sizing rule stays simple: buy for the rated load, at the boom position you will actually use. Multiply your heaviest expected engine by 1.25 for dynamic loading, and pick the next size up. A 2-ton hoist covers everything from a four-bag four-cylinder to a big block or a light diesel. A 3-ton or 4-ton hoist is only justified if you regularly handle heavy equipment, long-block marine engines, or full drivetrain assemblies.
Bom position capacity is the number that actually governs the lift. Most 2-ton hoists are rated 4,400 lb closed, then step down through 3,300, 2,200, and 1,100 lb as the boom moves out. If you read only the headline number, you will overestimate what the hoist can do at reach.
Foldability decides whether the hoist lives in your garage or against the wall. Published folded depths range from 6.69 to 11 inches across the ten hoists here, which is the difference between a hoist you keep and one you keep borrowing from a friend. Our [folding hoist guide](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-foldable-engine-hoists-for-small-shops/) covers the storage math for single-car bays in detail.
Casters deserve more attention than they get. Six wheels beat four for maneuverability, locking brakes beat free swivel for safety, and steel casters are the smoothest on finished concrete while turning rough on dirt and debris. If your floor is not finished slab, this is the specification to over-deliver on.
Assembly quality control is the real quality signal in this category, not the paint. Missing bolts, bent base legs, unreadable instructions, and misaligned holes appear across review sections for seven of the ten hoists here. Budget an unhurried first afternoon, inventory every part against the manual, and use a straightedge on the bolt holes before you torque anything.
Finally, confirm the boom pin fits. A loose boom pin is the failure mode that ends a lift badly, and it costs nothing to check before the engine is hanging.
Once the block is out, the next job is turning it. Our [engine stand roundup](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-bike-repair-stands-for-home-mechanics/) covers rotating stands that make bench work possible, and our [socket set guide](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-socket-sets-for-home-mechanics/) covers what to have on hand once the engine is on the stand.
Engine Hoist vs Engine Stand: Do You Need Both?
You need both, and they are not interchangeable. The hoist lifts the engine out of the vehicle bay; the stand holds it while you work on it. Listings mix the two constantly, and more than one competitor roundup has listed a folding engine stand as a heavy-duty hoist.
The safety reason is simple. A hoist is designed to hold a load briefly, at a rated capacity, through a chain and hook. A stand is designed to hold that same load statically for hours while you remove a transmission, set valves, or mount headers. Working on an engine hanging from a hoist is not a shortcut, it is a different and less stable situation.
Owners on mechanic forums make the same point from the other direction: a hoist gets the block out of the bay, and a stand is what makes the rest of the rebuild possible. If you are buying only one tool, buy the hoist if you have a car to pull from, and the stand if you already have the engine in your possession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size engine hoist do I need?
A 2-ton (4,000 lb) hydraulic engine hoist handles nearly every engine a home mechanic will pull, from a 4-cylinder four-bag to a big block Chevy or a 6.0L diesel. Multiply your heaviest expected engine by 1.25 and keep the load under 80% of rated capacity. Move up to 3 or 4 tons only for heavy equipment or long-block marine engines.
Should I get a 1 ton or 2 ton engine hoist?
Get the 2 ton. A 1-ton hoist is rated 2,200 lb closed and drops to about 550 lb fully extended, which leaves no margin for a big block or a diesel with accessories still attached. The small saving is not worth running a lift that is always at its limit.
Is a 2 ton engine hoist enough for a V8?
Yes. A small block Chevy with the transmission attached is comfortably inside a 2-ton hoist’s capacity when the boom is in one of the two inner positions. The caution is reach: extended-boom capacity on most 2-ton hoists falls to about 1,100 lb, so keep heavy loads on the short boom settings.
Is a cherry picker the same as an engine hoist?
Yes, the terms are interchangeable. Cherry picker, shop crane, engine crane, and engine hoist all refer to the same hydraulic lifting tool with a boom, chain, and load leveler. The tool that gets confused with it is the engine stand, which holds an engine after removal instead of lifting it out of a vehicle.
Can I use an engine hoist if I have limited garage space?
Yes, as long as you check the folded footprint. Published folded depths in this roundup range from 6.69 to 11 inches, and a folding hoist stores flat against a wall. The figure that matters most is the splayed working width, which is far wider than the folded number, so check your bay before ordering.
Do engine hoists require regular maintenance for optimal performance?
A few minutes per season is enough. Grease the caster bearings, check the boom pin and bolts for tightness, keep the hydraulic fluid clean, and pump the ram to full height unloaded to confirm it holds pressure. Bleed air out of the hydraulic line if the ram will not build full pressure.
Can I rent an engine hoist instead of buying one?
Renting makes sense for a single planned pull, since the rental cost is often lower than the purchase price of a 2-ton crane. If you expect more than one engine job a year, buying wins quickly, and you will want the hoist on hand rather than booked weeks ahead. Include the engine stand in the same calculation.
Final Verdict: Which Engine Hoist Should You Buy?
For most home mechanics, the Parts-Diyer 2 Ton Foldable Engine Hoist is the one to buy. It has the deepest owner-review history in the group at 244 reviews, four boom positions from 0.5T to 2T, retractable outriggers, locking swivel casters, and a folded depth of 7.59 inches that stores flat against a wall. That combination of proven durability and a compact footprint is what separates it from nine near-identical competitors.
Pick the Goplus if your floor is bare slab and your bay is tight, the MOTOOS if you need to move the hoist by yourself, the TUFFIOM if the engine sits deep in a long-bed truck, the GarveeTech if you want a leveler in the box, and the Sunex 5222 if low-profile legs under a lowered car are the whole problem. Any of them will do the job. Our [best engine hoists for home mechanics](https://americasrealtygroupmn.com/best-engine-hoists-for-home-garages/) ranking is updated for 2026, and the sizing rule never changes: 2-ton, inner boom positions, 80% of rated capacity.