Harbor Freight Shop Crane

[Twister]

I am in need of my own shop crane and the harbor freight ones are in my price range. Has anyone on here bought the 1 ton version? I am looking to see if the boom is long enough to put my 302 with the tranny attached to it in my truck with a 3 in body lift. I got a coupon that makes it $99

Here is a link, let me know what you guys think.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-capacity-foldable-shop-crane-93840.html

 

[97RangerXLT]

It will probably be just fine for what you want to use it for. the only issue might be the lenght due to your body lift, but you can probably let the air out of the tires to compensate for it.

99 bucks isn't too shabby either.

AJ

 

[4.0B2]

go for it... I've got a buddy with one and have used it several times.. I have an OLD craftsman that's mine, but the HF one is fine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That boom looks pretty short to me... it takes some pretty good ups to get an engine over the radiator support when you have a lift. As you go up the engine gets closer to the mast. Not sure how that is going to work out... it might be ok.

 

[4.0B2]

go look at it in store...

worse comes to worse, when you get ready to pull the motor, take the tires off and lay the axle on the ground! lol

 

[Frank The Tank]

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=188801

I bought a used Rural King one for 30 dollars. They are about 160 new and sometimes on sale. It's a lot nicer unit. (At least this 15 yr old one is)

Harbor freight engine stands are nice though. Had mine for 9 years now.

 

[94 lngbd]

if you have some steel stock wheels throw them on & let them sit on ground

 

[scotts90ranger]

I have the 1 1/2 ton version and that's what I used to drop the engine in my truck, I have no idea how you guys drop the engine with transmission attached in these things... with an engine 4 cylinders long you run out of room lengthwise REALLY fast... Anyway, with that said, I have a 6" lift and a D35 up front, I put 235 roller tires on to lower the front a bit, tried letting the air out of the tires and the legs of the lift hit the axle on both sides... had to have about 10psi or so in the tires to clear the axle. One tip I've used every time I've had my engine out (3rd time now I think) instead of the normal prop rod, hook a ratchet strap hook in the hood latch hole then feed the strap over the back and hook it to something out back (I use the top lip of the front of the bed) then pull the hood back until the hinges hit the cowl, this gets you some more vertical room.

 

[Ozwynn]

why not just mark the hood where the hinges are and pull the hood?

I got the 2 ton, works fine for pulling a V8 Diesel

 

[vegasloki]

The boom on the 1 ton is a bit short. It can work but I think the 2 ton is s better choice if you can swing it

 

[scotts90ranger]

why not just mark the hood where the hinges are and pull the hood?

I installed the engine and transmission/transfer case by myself in two days (took two days because they were out for 6 months so I had to find everything ), difficult to install a hood by yourself.

 

[brinker88]

I have the 2 ton version of the engine hoist. It's great but make SURE your reinforce them. Look at the photo and you'll see what I mean...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have no idea how you guys drop the engine with transmission attached in these things... with an engine 4 cylinders long you run out of room lengthwise REALLY fast...

I let most of the air out of my 235's with 3" of lift, with a 30 year old 2 ton hoist the 2.8/A4LD as a unit crawled out and the 302/C5 snuck back in already bolted togethers. Engine and trans were sitting in the truck after about 2 hours (including notching the engine crossmember and modifying the trans crossmember)

The hood was off, that made everything way easier. I hate the stupid prop rod...

 

[Ozwynn]

I take the hood off the PT Cruiser when I am tuning it up because I hate bashing my skull against the hood latch.......

I can get the hood off the F350 and back on myself......

if the boom doesn't lift the engine high enough disasemble the front clip

 

[fastpakr]

I own the HF lift from the OP. As others have suggested, it's a little lacking in height. Other than that, no problems with it.