HF Crane - $139.00

[p8ntblr]

Saw this on woodnet. I've been contemplating on getting one. I was afraid that since it's an HF brand it my fall apart and drop the equipment, or worse hurt someone. But it seems many woodnet have and love them.
Now to decide to get this with a larger load capacity or pay more to get the one that folds up.

[Uncle Cracker]

My neighbor has the one depicted on the coupon. Not the best built thing I ever saw, but he says he hasn't had any issues with it. It does take up a lot of space, though. I have given a little thought to the fold-up version, but do not own one, as I have relatively little need, and I can't quite convince myself that it's really sturdy enough, nor that I wouldn't find it too much of a PITA to put up and take down.

[Pappy]

These are basically an enginge hoist with longer boom lift jacks and extendable, sleeved booms. No new technology, so I would think they would work fine. The load limits become considerably less as the boom is extended, as is the case with any crane.

[Thom2]

As a former owner of an impossible-to-store-cuss-at-everytime-you-trip-over-it-can't-get-it-out-of-your-way model such as you're looking at, let me just tell you ..... GET THE FOLD UP!!!! (unless you've got a 40x60 shop with dedicated space for one)

I ended up selling my "heavy duty" model (non-chinese) which I cussed at for several years. I went to a fold up version and it tucks away nicely in the back of my garden shed. While my fold-up is not a HF, it probably came out of the same plant. I have no regrets, the space that it saves for the little use that it sees was well worth the trade-off.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

As a former owner of an impossible-to-store-cuss-at-everytime-you-trip-over-it-can't-get-it-out-of-your-way model such as you're looking at, let me just tell you ..... GET THE FOLD UP!!!! (unless you've got a 40x60 shop with dedicated space for one)

I ended up selling my "heavy duty" model (non-chinese) which I cussed at for several years. I went to a fold up version and it tucks away nicely in the back of my garden shed. While my fold-up is not a HF, it probably came out of the same plant. I have no regrets, the space that it saves for the little use that it sees was well worth the trade-off.

Dude. We could have welded it to your truck bed. Problem solved.

[vanguard]

I picked up the fold up version at a Pep Boys over a year ago for about $100. I think the HF version is also on sale at this weekends parking lot sale for $97.

[JR]

My dream shop has a big ol' I-beam on rollers, with a moving block and tackle. No mobile bases required. Just hoist the beast in question and let it drift to where it needs to be.



JR

[mpc]

I have HF's 2-ton folding shop crane/engine hoist. It's several years old now and still works fine. I dig it out about once or twice a year to lift engines and one time used it as a "jack" on the garage door when one of the door hinges busted. Friends have borrowed it a couple times too - lifting small-block Chevy V8 out a boat, lifting some furniture, etc.

The only complaint I had was during assembly, some of the welded parts weren't 100% lined up so the wheels didn't quite "agree" on where the ground should be. I ended up using washers/shims on a couple casters to make it roll better.

Issues as an engine hoist: the splayed-out legs for the casters give it a lot of stability but they run into the tires or suspension of a lot of cars... you end up having to lift the car a bit just to get the hoist in there... then the hoist smacks the ceiling or garage door if you don't pay attention while lifting the engine! They also run into the trailer of boats... I wish the square-tube members were more like flat rectangles. ONE inch would make so much difference!

mpc

[JR]

It looks like the 1-ton foldable will be at the sidewalk sale this weekend for $97.77.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...emnumber=93840

[LCHIEN]

Saw this on woodnet. I've been contemplating on getting one. I was afraid that since it's an HF brand it my fall apart and drop the equipment, or worse hurt someone. But it seems many woodnet have and love them.
Now to decide to get this with a larger load capacity or pay more to get the one that folds up.

I'v e been looking at this statement for a couple of days now and I will say I've never had (or even heard of) anything from HF just fall apart and "lose its load" so to speak.

I do often times have issues with fit and finish and consequently with the ability to adjust smoothly and work without hassle. I have also had issues with documentation and poor packaging.

And I do have several HF products whose quality was just really good. the low price not even considered.

But never had a problem with total failure to hold up, for at least a little while.