Ryan Ensby
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2 Ton Engine Hoist (Shop Crane): How to Choose, and What to Avoid
When most people say “2 ton engine hoist”, they mean a hydraulic shop crane (engine crane, cherry picker). The headline rating (2 ton / 4,000 lb) is typically at the shortest boom position. If you extend the boom to get more reach into the engine bay, the rated capacity usually drops.
Quick pick for most DIY garages: a folding 2-ton shop crane with clearly labeled boom-position ratings, decent casters, and a folded footprint you can store.
Start here (spec-first):
What a “2 ton engine hoist” actually is (and what it isn’t)
- Hydraulic shop crane: a wheeled, pump-up crane used to lift engines and heavy components in a garage.
- Not an overhead hoist: overhead systems (chain/electric hoists) require a safe mounting point and are a different setup than a folding shop crane.
- Not a personnel “cherry picker” lift: “cherry picker” can also mean an aerial lift for people. This page is about engine hoists/shop cranes. (OSHA aerial lifts overview: https://www.osha.gov/etools/scaffolding/aerial-lifts)
The 5 checks that decide whether a 2-ton hoist will work for you
1) Reach (can it get into the engine bay?)
Reach determines whether you can lift from the factory lifting points without the hoist legs being blocked by the front of the car. If reach is wrong, the job becomes fighting the tool instead of lifting the engine.
2) Capacity at your boom position (the #1 mistake)
Most shop cranes have multiple boom holes with different ratings. A “2 ton” hoist can be rated for much less at extended positions. That’s not marketing, it’s how the geometry works. In practice, you should shop by the per-position decal/manual, not the headline ‘2 ton’ name.
Example (official): Harbor Freight’s Pittsburgh 2-ton foldable shop crane manual lists 4 boom positions (from 1/2 ton up to 2 tons) and warns that capacity decreases as the boom lengthens. Manual: https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/58000-58999/58755-193175501110.pdf
3) Hook height with your rigging installed
What matters is hook height with your chain/straps/leveler installed, not “overall crane height” or “boom height” alone. Rigging loss is a common reason the engine “lifts” but won’t clear.
Related: How high can an engine hoist lift? (Typical hook height + how to measure)
4) Storage and mobility
If you’re in a home garage, folding legs and a footprint you can store matter. Mobility also depends on your floor surface and caster size. Multiple manuals specify that these cranes are intended for use on hard, level surfaces. (Example: Harbor Freight manual above, and Sunex 5222 manual: https://sunextools.com/cdn/shop/files/5222_-_2_Ton_Foldable_Engine_Crane_-_Owner_s_Manual.pdf?v=15677737662606192640)
5) Your timeline (buy vs rent vs buy-used-and-resell)
If you only need a hoist for a weekend, renting is often cheaper than buying and storing. But if your project might stall for weeks, buying used and reselling later can beat weekly rental costs.
- Where can I rent an engine hoist? (US guide)
- Retailer pages: AutoZone, O’Reilly, Advance, Home Depot
Decision table (fast)
| Your constraint | What to prioritize | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Need reach into the bay | Boom reach + capacity at that boom hole | Buying “2 ton” and discovering it’s 1/2–1 ton at the reach you need |
| Not enough clearance | Hook height with rigging installed | Using boom height / overall height specs |
| Small garage | Folded footprint and caster quality | Buying a unit you can’t store or roll safely |
| One-time job | Rental availability + pickup/return window | Assuming auto parts stores “rent” hoists nationally |
Representative models (US availability) and what the official sources actually say
This is not a price ranking. It’s a reality-based shortlist of common US options with official pages/manuals you can verify.
Harbor Freight: Pittsburgh 2-ton foldable shop crane (item 58755)
- Product page: https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-foldable-shop-crane-58755.html
- Manual (boom positions and derating warning): https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/58000-58999/58755-193175501110.pdf
AutoZone: Duralast 2-ton engine hoist (80900T)
- Official product page: https://www.autozone.com/p/duralast-engine-hoist-80900t/123037
- Note: the official page confirms a 4-position telescoping boom and a 4,000 lb maximum load capacity, but does not publish exact per-position ratings (UNKNOWN unless the manual/decal is available).
Advance Auto Parts: DieHard 2-ton engine hoist (DH20025)
- Official product page: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/diehard-2-ton-engine-hoist-dh20025/12476933-P
- Note: the official page confirms 4,000 lb maximum load capacity and that it includes a chain and hook, but exact per-position ratings are UNKNOWN without the manual/decal.
Sunex: 5222 2-ton foldable engine crane
- Product page: https://sunextools.com/products/2-ton-foldable-engine-crane
- Manual (position-by-position boom height and extension): https://sunextools.com/cdn/shop/files/5222_-_2_Ton_Foldable_Engine_Crane_-_Owner_s_Manual.pdf?v=15677737662606192640
Buying checklist (2-ton folding shop crane)
- Capacity by boom position: confirm the rating at the boom hole you will use (do not shop on the “2 ton” name only).
- Reach: verify you can reach the engine lifting points while the legs clear the front of the vehicle.
- Hook height after rigging: plan for chain/straps/leveler consuming lift height.
- Hard, level surface: multiple manuals specify use on a hard, level surface (see Harbor Freight and Sunex manuals linked above).
- Moving under load: manuals commonly warn against moving while under load or advise keeping loads low before moving (verify for your exact model; examples in Harbor Freight and Sunex manuals).
- Pins and clips: boom position and folding legs rely on pins/R-clips being present and secure.
Used-buy inspection checklist (avoid buying a problem)
- Frame/boom/welds: reject cracked, bent, or damaged structures. Manuals instruct inspection before use (Harbor Freight and Sunex manuals linked above).
- Boom holes/pins/R-clips: make sure the correct pins and clips are present, straight, and seat correctly.
- Hydraulic ram: avoid visible leaks or a ram that creeps down under a test load (Sunex warns against use if leaking hydraulic fluid).
- Casters/wheels: confirm all wheels roll freely and aren’t cracked or missing hardware.
- Hook/chain hardware: confirm a safety latch exists and the hardware is not bent, cracked, gouged, or modified.
- Ratings/labels: don’t buy a crane with missing or unreadable rating labels unless you can confirm the exact model manual and boom-position decal.
Rigging and safety (don’t skip)
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