The Benefits of an Aluminum Gantry Crane Over an Engine Hoist

One common tool found in many automotive garages is the engine hoist. While engine hoists serve their purpose, they can be limiting in their versatility and portability. Many operators and warehouse managers choose aluminum gantry cranes to overcome these issues. These cranes provide a more efficient, stable, and versatile solution — perfect for a broader range of lifting tasks. With their lightweight frame and ease of use, aluminum gantry cranes can take your projects to the next level.

Aluminum Gantry Crane vs. Engine Hoist

When comparing engine hoist vs. gantry crane, it’s important to recognize the unique benefits gantry cranes offer. While engine hoists are primarily meant for lifting engines and heavy components vertically, aluminum gantry cranes offer a more versatile solution for all kinds of lifting tasks.

Understanding Engine Hoists

A typical garage engine hoist consists of a wheeled base, a post, and a cantilever arm:

• Base: The base uses two legs extending forward from the post past the end of the cantilever arm. These legs fit underneath a vehicle to allow the arm to reach over the engine, and they provide stability to the hoist when lifting a load.
• Post: The post is typically equipped with a hand-powered jack or a hydraulic piston that raises or lowers the arm.
• Arm: The arm is equipped with a chain and hook at the end of the cantilever, and some hoists use a telescoping arm to allow it to reach farther. The hook and jack lift and lower an engine into or out of the engine bay.

This kind of engine hoist is usually sufficient for many types of engine swaps. With capacities up to 6 tons, they can easily provide the required lifting capabilities. However, there are some jobs that a standard engine hoist just can’t do, and users are forced to look for a different solution.

Understanding Aluminum Gantry Cranes

Aluminum gantry cranes are versatile and strong, making them perfect for automotive applications. Features include:

• Adjustable height settings: Many aluminum gantry cranes are equipped with adjustable height settings, so you can customize them to fit your specific lifting requirements. The feature is especially important if you’re working on vehicles of different sizes or when lifting varying types of components.
• Extensive reach: Their 10-foot span can easily fit around the sides of a car to reach over the full length of any hood. With a 10-foot beam height, it can fit just as easily over the tall hood of a pickup truck. The crane’s extensive reach makes it easy to access the engine of any vehicle without risking damage to the vehicle’s body.

Problems With Engine Hoists

An engine hoist can also have problems when the user is trying to work on certain kinds of vehicles. If someone tries removing an engine from a car with a long hood, such as a classic Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the arm on the engine hoist might not be long enough to reach the engine. This problem forces the user to seek a completely different solution or risk damaging the vehicle by trying to make the hoist reach.

A similar problem arises when trying to remove an engine from many pickup trucks. Most typical engine hoists aren’t tall enough to reach over the hood of a pickup truck, especially any fitted with an aftermarket suspension lift kit.

Additionally, engine hoists can become difficult to move when loaded. They are typically equipped with small wheels that slide underneath the engine for the hoist to operate. If any pieces of hardware — such as small washers — get dropped while working on the engine, they can get in the way of those wheels, which can struggle to move even with just a small obstruction.

Aluminum Gantry Crane Benefits

One way to solve all of the problems caused by a typical engine hoist is with an aluminum gantry crane. These cranes are highly durable, versatile, and portable. Made from lightweight aluminum, Spanco’s Aluminum Gantry Cranes make the perfect solution for your garage. Our cranes start at just 116 pounds with capacities up to 3 tons — light enough to move and strong enough for even the most demanding tasks. 

Enhanced Stability and Safety

Aluminum gantry cranes are durable and extremely stable with high loads. Their wide base and robust construction offer a solid foundation for moving heavy loads around a workspace. If the crane is equipped with optional pneumatic tires, it can also operate outdoors to move heavy objects in and out of the garage. 

Unlike engine hoists, which might wobble or tip under a lot of weight, aluminum gantry cranes are designed to stay balanced and provide a safer workspace.

Versatility

The benefits and uses of an aluminum gantry crane go beyond its ability to replace a standard engine hoist. Its tall reach and wide span make it easy for the crane to handle any engine removal job, but its greater versatility also makes it easy to use for a wide range of other tasks, from lifting and replacing heavy transmission to lifting and maneuvering suspension components for repairs or upgrades.

The versatility and ease of use of an aluminum gantry crane make it ideal for any automotive garage. To read about a real-life application of a gantry crane working in place of a standard engine hoist, check out this case study, where we talked with a Pennsylvania automotive garage, and they explained to us how they use the gantry crane and the ways it has benefited their business.

Portability

Aluminum gantry cranes are easy to move, making them ideal for manufacturing, maintenance, and other material handling tasks. The Aluminum Gantry Crane from Spanco consists of a lightweight frame constructed with aluminum components. One person can easily carry, assemble, and position these cranes inside, outside, on a rooftop, and in most other locations. With adjustable spans and heights, you can easily transport and assemble them at any jobsite.

Every Spanco Aluminum Gantry Crane also comes equipped standard with low-friction polyurethane casters that can move easily, even under a load and are less likely to get hung up on small hardware that might end up on the floor. 

Customizable

Many aluminum gantry cranes come with customizable features such as adjustable heights and interchangeable components so you can tailor the crane to your unique project or preference. At Spanco, you can also choose from several components to customize your crane:

• Pneumatic tires: Available in both single and dual configurations, these tires are ideal for use on soft roofing materials and uneven terrain.
• Various caster options and wheel brakes: You can customize your crane with a selection of caster styles and braking systems, available upon request.
• Height-adjustment winch-hoist kits: Made for cranes under no-load conditions, this kit features cable winch hoists that allow for quick and effortless height adjustments of the I-beam.

Explore High-Quality Aluminum Gantry Cranes at Spanco

While engine hoists are useful for specific tasks, aluminum gantry cranes offer numerous benefits that make them a superior choice for many applications. Their durability, versatility, and ease of use make them essential for any garage.

Explore high-quality aluminum gantry cranes at Spanco to enhance your workspace and improve your efficiency today. With their innovative design and robust construction, Spanco gantry cranes will meet your lifting needs and take your automotive projects to the next level.

Browse our aluminum gantry cranes or contact us to learn how they can benefit your business.