How to Lift an Engine: Gantry Crane vs. Engine Hoist vs. Roustabout Lift

Whether you’re repairing an engine or replacing one, it’s often necessary to remove the engine from the vehicle. But how to lift an engine? That’s a question with several possible answers, and the best one depends on your space and the size of the engine. You may be weighing a gantry crane vs. engine hoist or considering a roustabout lift. These three tools are generally the best bets.

Learn the pros and cons of each tool below. Keep in mind that it’s also possible to use a chain hoist to remove an engine if you have an overhead infrastructure to mount it to that can support the load.

Engine hoist

As its name suggests, an engine hoist is designed to help you to lift the engine from a vehicle and set it elsewhere while you work. Most are hydraulic. Foldable options like this knockdown engine hoist make storage easy. Engine hoists are versatile tools that can be useful any time you’re working with heavy car parts, not just engines.

Most engine hoists can lift at least a ton. Check the rated lifting capacity of your hoist against the weight of the engine you’re moving.

Compared to other hoisting options, engine hoists have a low overhead and slim footprint, making them good for home mechanics and anyone working in a confined space. Because they come in one piece and can fit into the back of a truck, they’re easy to transport and set up. Wheels make them easy to move around the workspace.

Engine hoists do have two potential drawbacks. First, they’re not meant to carry a load over time. Before moving an engine, it’s important to figure out where you will place it to work on it. Second, if you’re working on a vehicle with an unusually long hood, you may not be able to reach the engine with an engine hoist depending on the model.

Gantry crane

A gantry crane consists of two A-frames joined by a beam that supports a load. Although a gantry crane isn’t specifically designed to function as an engine hoist, it can be a good option, particularly for heavy-duty jobs. That’s because gantry cranes can support massive amounts of weight. A lightweight aluminum gantry crane can lift as much as 5 tons, while a steel gantry crane can lift as much as 10 tons.

These cranes are usually disassembled for sale or rental, with three sections that can be joined together with four pins. Assembly is easy, even with just one person.

The gantry crane has some advantages over other engine hoisting options. It can support the load over time, so you don’t need to find somewhere to place the engine while you do your repairs. You could work off the gantry crane as long as the load is supported properly. That means making sure all components of the rigging system are rated for the weight of the engine.

In addition, gantry cranes are well suited for work on vehicles with long hoods. Since the beam is 8 feet to 10 feet long, it can reach over the hood to the engine when a traditional engine hoist can’t.

Gantry cranes aren’t the best option for small spaces. They are 8 feet to 10 feet high and equally wide, with wider models available, so you’ll need a large space to use one.

Roustabout lift

If you can’t get your hands on an engine hoist or a gantry crane, a roustabout lift will likely do the job just as well. Like an engine hoist, a roustabout lift is great for working in tight spaces. Its base is 6 feet by 4 feet, and it stands about 8 feet tall. Using a manual crank winch, it can lift loads of up to 1,500 pounds, enough to move most engines. It comes as one unit and is easy to transport.

Having a proper hoisting setup can make lifting an engine and repairing or replacing it much simpler. If your space is limited, choose an engine hoist or roustabout lift— just remember that you’ll need somewhere to place the engine once it’s out of the vehicle. If you have plenty of space, a gantry crane is an equally good option.

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