How to load engine on/off trailer?

[Shounak]

I've bought a POS panel van, finally.

Ford XF Panel Van - eBay Falcon, Ford, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 18-Nov-07 16:22:08 AEDST)

I've finally sourced a motor from it and the guy wants me to pick it up. I'm going to hire a trailer and just go around to get it.

But it's getting it on and off that's the problem. I don't have an engine hoist, I was just planning on renting one from Kennards for about the $50 mark. But is that the only way to get a big 4.1 litre Ford motor on and off?

Or is there an easier way people have previously used?

[Troy711]

it took us 6 blokes to lift a 454 off the back of a hilux

[Shounak]

So 3 guys might be alright for a 250? I can only hope.

[sircruisealotVS]

depends where your loading and unloading really....ive used a good rope chained to the engine which was levered over a big beam in the roof of the shed before. had two blokes lifting the engine and one bloke on the rope to take some of the load.
ive also seen someone before use a jack to lift the engine (with blokes steading it) behind the trailer then lift it across onto the trailer.
an engine hoist is the easy way...but some creative thought should get the engine moved.

[f1tzy]

lol. a mattress and 1 well placed roundhouse kick

[maginoodle]

3 blokes should be allright. I would use a trolley and ramp if i couldnt use a lifter. failing that i would tip the motor onto one end back up to it then tip it onto the trailer and lift the other end up.

[Rhino Racing]

Good to see someone restoring an oldie .
If you were near me i would lend you a chain hoist that i have......
It takes all of the struggle and back ache out of it.
Doesnt matter where u are u will always find a tree, beam under a old queenslander or shed etc that you can safely lift from. Just use a hand trolley to move it around to where u need to go.
If that is no good for you get a hand trolley that has an extension on the base of it, strap it to the trolley really well and wheel it onto the trailer. Park the trailer wheels in the gutter or in a hollow and use a sheet of ply as a ramp so you can just walk up onto the trailer.(make sure the ply cant dislodge halfway up the ramp)
If you dont have a proper engine transport stand to leave it on while driving place the sump through an old tyre and tie it down securely or you will damage both the engine and the trailer when it moves. We had an old forklift tyre that we used to use because it had very heavy side walls and tread that used to hold the engines really well without ballooning out and collapsing like a lot of car tyres will.So head down to your local Bob Jane and see whats out the back.
Where we live you can hire a ute with a hoist on the back for doing exactly what u r trying to do for about $80 a day.
Maybe someone in your area has got one too.
Good luck!

[Cheap6]

Here's a variation on the tyre idea: I have lifted, on my own, an engine (12a rotary so admittedly substantially less weight than a 250) into the boot of a car by rolling/lifting it from one stack of tyres/wheels to another, each one higher than the previous.

Also, with a mate I have lifted an engine from an engine bay (a 4 cyl. so again lighter than a 250 but there were only two of us) using a piece of steel pipe across the engine bay, with a chain looped over it and bolted to the engine.

Either method would be easier with three people, even with a heavier engine.

[Reaper]

My brother and I managed to get a blue 308+trispastic box onto a trailer with nothing more than a tiny supacrap trolly jack and a couple of bits of wood just last week. It wasn't all that difficult.

Reaper

[Scooter79]

Call one of those guys from the Worlds Strongest Man competiton

[fabz]

Call one of those guys from the Worlds Strongest Man competiton

Yes you called me?? hahahaha

[Gus The Snail]

in my younger more silly days , i'd pick up a 4 cyl motor myself and drop it onto a trailer.. few months ago i did a datsun 120 motor by myself.These days i use friends , or my car trailer ramps to slide it on.

[ProphetVX]

Chain wrap it around the engine....
Steel pole slide it through the chain....

Two blokes on each side.... Should be able to do it.

I've lifted a 2.5 ltr cast iron straight 6 with 3 blokes doing that.

[greenfoam]

Me and my Dad got a small block chev onto the back of a ute with a normal 2 wheeled trolley and long ramps, to this day I can't exactly remember just how much trouble we had moving it but I do know it was alot of trouble and very heavy :P. Apart from that 4 or 5 guys can lift a Holden V8 on or off a trailer. But these days with everyone having stuffed up backs from doing this kind of thing it's best to just buy a cheap engine crane