Engine Crane or Gantry? Is 1 Tonne Enough, and Will It Fit?

Pulling an engine or moving a lathe, and not sure whether an engine crane or a gantry will cope? Check the rating at the reach you need, measure your ceiling and door, and position a gantry before you lift.

PartsForMachines lists over 55 engine cranes, gantries and hoists in its Hoists range, from 250kg mini lever hoists to 5-tonne chain blocks. Brands include Sealey, MO-TEC, Draper, Sykes Pickavant, SIP and Clarke.

Engine Crane or Gantry: Which Suits My Job?

An engine crane suits lifting an engine out of its bay; a gantry suits level lifts of engines and heavy components. The crane is a jib on a wheeled base, raised by a hand-pumped hydraulic unit, and many models fold away afterwards.

A gantry is a freestanding steel frame with a beam across the top. The frame does no lifting on its own, so you hang a trolley and chain block from the beam, or buy a complete kit such as the SG1000KIT 1-tonne gantry, trolley and chain block.

Is a 1-Tonne Engine Crane Enough for an Engine and Gearbox?

Only if the engine, gearbox, slings and leveller together weigh less than the crane’s rating at the jib position you need. The headline figure is for the shortest setting, and capacity falls at each step out.

The PFC101S 1-tonne folding engine crane lifts 1,000kg at position one but only 600kg at position five. The 93510 2-tonne engine crane drops from 2,000kg to 500kg with the jib fully extended. Take the weight from the workshop manual, add the lifting gear, and if the reach you need leaves too little margin, step up a size.

How Much Ceiling Height Does a Gantry Need?

More than the frame’s lowest setting: 2.4m on most of our gantries and 2.52m on the CWGC1000. All go up to 3.6m, and the Sealey frames adjust in 100mm steps, but only when unladen.

Then subtract what hangs below the beam: trolley, chain block and slings. A compact block such as the CB1000E 1-tonne chain block needs 322.5mm of headroom, while the 5-tonne CB5000E needs 600mm. In a 9ft (2.74m) shop you are working near the bottom of the range, so measure carefully. Check the width against your door too: these frames are 2.4m or 2.6m wide.

Can I Move a Gantry or Engine Crane With the Load On?

Not a gantry unless its instructions allow it: wheel it into place empty, lock the castors, then lift. Sealey says its gantries must not be moved while loaded, and the lockable castors on the SIP frame hold it firm during the lift.

An engine crane can be repositioned with a load on, but lower the load as low as possible first and keep to a hard, level floor. The PFC101S has braked rear castors to keep it steady while lifting. Never put any part of your body under a load hanging from a crane.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• The weight of the engine and gearbox, plus slings and leveller, against the crane’s rating at the jib position you will use
• Ceiling height and door width against the gantry’s lowest setting and overall width
• Chain block headroom and lift: 2.5m or 3m on our chain blocks
• What comes in the box: a frame only, or a kit with trolley and chain block; our electric hoists include brackets but not the support bar
• Floor, storage and delivery: a firm, level floor, space to store it, and help on hand when a heavy frame arrives

Not sure which suits your job? Browse the Hoists range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the load, your ceiling height and door width.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a chain block or a lever hoist?

For lifting from a gantry, use a chain block on the trolley. A lever hoist is worked by a ratchet lever; on the LH1000 lever hoist, free-chaining lets you take up slack by hand. Check each model: the LH251 is for horizontal pull only.

Will a 230V electric hoist work in my workshop?

Yes, for loads within its rating. The PH400 electric hoist runs on 230V single phase and lifts 400kg on double cable to 6m, or 200kg on single cable to 12m. Mounting brackets come with it; the support bar does not.

Which chain block goes with a frame-only gantry?

One rated for your load, on a matching trolley, with headroom and lift that suit your ceiling. The SIP 03849 frame, for example, is designed to pair with the 03845 1-tonne block (2.5m lift, 317mm headroom) and the matching beam trolley.

What do safe working load and test load mean?

The safe working load (SWL) is the most it is rated to lift; LOLER requires it to be marked on lifting machinery and accessories. Test load is the higher figure it was tested to: the CB1000 has a 1,000kg SWL and 1,500kg test load.

Does an engine crane or gantry need a LOLER inspection?

Generally yes, if used at work. In Great Britain, for example, LOLER requires a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months (6 for accessories) where it can deteriorate. It is also needed after any event that could affect its safety.

Can I use a recovery winch instead of a hoist?

No. Winch makers warn against using a winch as a hoist or to hold a suspended load. For lifting, use a chain block or electric hoist rated for the load.

Do engine cranes fold away for storage?

Many do. The PFC101S has parallel folding legs and an extra wheel for moving it folded, and the 93510’s outrigger legs fold down to 1,305mm high by 500mm long by 611mm wide. The range also includes folding cranes from Sykes Pickavant and MO-TEC.

Can I put a gantry together myself?

Yes, the Sealey gantries are designed for quick assembly and disassembly, but they are heavy: the SG1000 weighs 128kg and the SG2000W 170kg, so have help on hand at delivery. Set the frame height before you load it.

Can the crane legs go round a pallet?

On some cranes, yes: the PFC101S has parallel legs that extend to fit around pallets and boxes. Measure the leg spread against the space under the car or around the pallet before you buy.

Do I need a load leveller to fit an engine?

It helps. A leveller hangs from the crane hook and lets you adjust the tilt of the engine, so you can set the angle the job needs as you lift. The 93510 accepts a wide range of load slings and levellers.