The best engine support bars, compared.
Top pick: Neilsen engine support beam CT4283 Best value: US PRO engine support beam 500 kg – Lowest shelf price with 500 kg and 730–1,480 mm printed together, at about £69.99, on a different listing from the top pick. Updated October 2026.
An engine support bar holds an engine or gearbox in the vehicle while you release a mount, clutch or timing part. You use it on a transverse front-wheel-drive car when the engine stays in the bay. Judge a listing by a stated kilogram load, a span that meets the reinforced wing rails, and feet that sit in the inner gutter rather than on the outer wing. Maker notes and describe positioning and an aid to gearbox removal, not lifting the whole powertrain out. Stated loads are 300 kg, 315 kg, 400 kg or 500 kg, except the 8606, which prints a length and no kilogram rating. What to measure before you shortlist a type is in the [engine support bar buying guide](/hub/lifting-equipment/engine-support-bar/sub/engine-support-bar-buying-guide). Use an engine crane and an engine stand when the engine comes out, and use a transmission jack as well if the gearbox must be lowered. A wing beam, a rotating cross beam, a 2- and 3-point traverse, a short bar for a steep wing, and an under-vehicle prop are not interchangeable. Prefer a listing whose chain count and capacity agree with the maker page. A star line with no UK review text is weak evidence.
An engine support bar holds an engine or gearbox in the vehicle while you release a mount, clutch or timing part. You use it on a transverse front-wheel-drive car when the engine stays in the bay.
26 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What printed load do you need?
The Neilsen CT4283 at £72.49 states 500 kg, a working range of 750–1,450 mm, and a cross beam that slides and rotates through 360 degrees so you can place the hook without fighting the wing line. The listing includes 90 cm chains and M20 x 2.5 threaded hook rods with rubber pads on the feet. amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from 1 rating, and there is no review text in this extract, so the star line is a thin sample. Height adjustment in millimetres is not printed, and the page does not list engines or models. Choose it when the job needs rotation at a mid price, not when you want the Draper maker span and two named chains.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a rotating cross beam inside 750–1,450 mm and you accept a one-rating sample.
Less suitable: You want two chains and a Draper maker page, or a wide 2- and 3-point bar above 1,450 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the rotating cross beam do on this listing?
The title and bullets say the cross beam slides and rotates through 360 degrees so the support can be positioned.
What load and width are stated?
500 kg, with a working range of 750–1,450 mm.
Which engines does the listing name?
None. It says engine or gearbox support and does not list engines.
The US PRO under-vehicle listing at £94.99 is not a wing beam. The title calls it an under-vehicle gearbox support, states 400 kg, and says the bar is fully adjustable without printing a height range or a span. The brand field is Generic, and feet, chains, and included kit are not described on the page kept for this comparison. amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from 1 rating; the one United Kingdom review in the file only says great product, which is not enough to judge fit on your car. Use it when the job needs support from below and a wing bar cannot seat, not when you are shopping for a gutter-mounted traverse.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need an under-vehicle prop at 400 kg and you will confirm the adjustment range in the box, not a wing span.
Less suitable: You need a wing beam with a printed millimetre range, or detailed UK owner feedback.
Specifications
Common questions
What load does this listing state?
The bullet states a load capacity of 400 kg.
Is this a bar that sits across the wings?
The title calls it an under-vehicle gearbox support. A wing span is not in the listing.
Does the listing say which tools you need?
The listing does not name the tools you need. The only setup line is that the bar is fully adjustable.
The Draper 13350 is a 500 kg engine and gearbox support at £110.28, with 4.5 from 2 amazon.co.uk ratings and two chains in the included-components line. Draper’s maker page prints a 730–1,480 mm span even though the Amazon comparison cell for width is empty, so you should measure against that range before you buy. The listing positions the engine for mount replacement and calls the bar an aid when removing transmission parts and gearboxes, which matches a transverse clutch job rather than lifting the powertrain out. Rubber feet sit on the adjustable outer extension clamps, and the item weight is 16.5 kg with a 12-month parts and labour warranty. There is no review text behind the star line in this extract, so you are buying on the specification and the maker page, not on owner detail. In this set it is the most documented wing beam if your measured span sits inside 730–1,480 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a documented 500 kg wing beam with two chains and a maker span you can check before the engine stays in the car for a mount or gearbox job.
Less suitable: Your reinforced points sit outside 730–1,480 mm, or you need a rotating cross beam instead of a fixed traverse.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the box include?
The listing includes the 500 kg support and two chains.
Which vehicles does Draper name?
Most cars and light commercial vehicles. There is no model-by-model list.
What load is stated?
500 kg. The item weight is 16.5 kg.
The Draper 13349 at £101.50 states 300 kg, one chain in the included-components line, and the same mount and gearbox-aid wording as the 500 kg sibling. Rubber feet sit on the adjustable outer extension clamps, the item weight is 15 kg, and the warranty is 12 months parts and labour. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 2 ratings with no review text in this extract. Hosted instructions for the 13349 model number also describe two chains, which clashes with the one-chain Amazon line, so you should count what is in the box before you rely on a single sling. The 300 kg figure is an honest cap when the engine mass alone sits below it; it is not permission to hang engine and gearbox together unless you have weighed that combined load.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You know the held mass fits a 300 kg line and you will verify chain count on delivery.
Less suitable: You need 500 kg headroom, two chains named on the listing, or a printed span on the Amazon page.
Specifications
Common questions
How many chains does this listing include?
The included-components line says one chain, plus the 300 kg support.
What load is stated?
300 kg. The item weight is 15 kg.
Does the listing say it is easy to store?
The listing asks this. It does not say the bar is easy to store.
The BGS 8515 at £110.53 is the wide traverse in this set, with a stated 315 kg load and a cross-beam width of 1,000–1,550 mm. The listing describes 2- and 3-point support on wing edges and the bonnet latch, and if needed on the radiator support, with two pendant ropes included. Longitudinal foot heights and cross-beam foot height are printed in steps, and the item weighs 12.3 kg in alloy steel. amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 7 ratings, but the review texts kept for this category are marked Germany, not United Kingdom, so this comparison does not treat them as UK buyer experience. BGS’s maker material warns against extending past the marked maximum. It fits a wide bay when 315 kg covers the engine you will hold, not when you need a 500 kg headline.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Your measured span needs the wide BGS traverse and 315 kg is enough for the engine you will hold.
Less suitable: You need a 500 kg plate, a rotating cross beam, or UK review detail you can quote.
Specifications
Common questions
Where does the third support point go?
The listing says 2- and 3-point support on the wing edges and the bonnet latch, and if needed on the radiator support.
What load and width are stated?
315 kg, with a cross-beam width of 1,000–1,550 mm.
Does the listing include a storage case?
No. The included items are the support and two pendant ropes. A case is not listed.
The BGS 8606 at £140.28 is sold for a large wing angle, with a longitudinal beam of 690–1,050 mm and jobs that include mount removal, timing-belt work, and clutch replacement. Feet and the support plate are height-adjustable and lockable, hooks rotate and move on a hand wheel, and a non-slip rubber pad is named. The listing does not print a kilogram capacity, and the item weight line says 1 kg, which this comparison does not treat as the true mass of the bar. amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from 30 ratings; review themes in the file come from Belgium, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, not from United Kingdom buyers. Some of those texts praise the tool on a Golf job; others warn it is not for every car or only for one or two uses. It is the steep-wing option only if you accept a missing load line and inspect the hardware on arrival.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Your wing angle blocks a normal traverse, your span fits 690–1,050 mm, and you will set load limits from another source than this Amazon page.
Less suitable: You need a printed kilogram figure before you buy, or United Kingdom owner detail at this price.
Specifications
Common questions
What kilogram load does this listing state?
None. The title gives 690–1,050 mm and does not print a kilogram capacity.
Which jobs does the listing name?
Engine-mount removal, timing-belt work, and clutch replacement, on many common vehicles.
Are the feet adjustable?
Yes. The bullets say the feet and the support plate are height-adjustable and lockable, with a non-slip rubber pad.
The US PRO listing at £69.99 is the lowest-priced 500 kg wing-style beam in this set, with an operating width of 730–1,480 mm printed on the page and height adjustment of 0–200 mm. The steel beam is powder coated, the feet are rubber pads, and the listing describes a double hook with fine adjustment screws and height adjusters with bearings. The brand field says Generic and the manufacturer line is Unbranded, so this is not the same certainty as a Draper or BGS plate. This amazon.co.uk extract has no star rating and no review count, and the included-components line does not name chains or ropes, so you must read what arrives before you hang load on it. For a home mechanic who accepts a listing-only specification at entry price, it is the best value 500 kg span in the table if the numbers on the box match the page.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a printed 500 kg span at the lowest shelf price in this set and you can verify chains and feet when the box arrives.
Less suitable: You want UK owner comments or a named chain count before you buy, or you need a rotating cross beam.
Specifications
Common questions
What capacity and width does the listing print?
It states 500 kg, also printed as 1,100 lb, and an operating width of 730–1,480 mm.
Does it have rubber feet?
Yes. The bullets include rubber feet pads.
Is there a customer-review line?
No. This listing has no star rating and no review count.
Scores use the seven amazon.co.uk listings kept here. Shelf prices, stars and review counts were read on 19 October 2026. There was no lab test and no workshop weigh-in. A high score is a listing that matches one job, prints a kilogram load you can set against the part you hold, and states a span and feet you can check on the car. It is not a measured safety rating. The five weights below sum to 100. Deductions for a printed 1 kg item weight, a Generic brand field on a wing beam, and a review that only says great product sit outside that 100.
Job and type fit
25%A wing beam with a printed span and gutter-style feet scores higher than an under-vehicle prop with no span, or a short bar with no kilogram line. Wing beam, rotating cross beam, 2- and 3-point traverse, steep-angle bar and under-vehicle prop are not interchangeable.
Stated load and kit
20%One capacity figure, chains or ropes named, and maker or listing agreement score higher. A missing kilogram scores low. A one-chain versus two-chain clash costs points. The chain or sling should be rated above the load you hang on it.
Span and adjustment
15%A printed millimetre range, height adjustment where the job needs it, and a rotating or multi-point head when the listing describes it. Extending past a marked maximum is a use failure, not a score line.
amazon.co.uk stars and sample
25%The star line is scaled, then review count is added. No star line scores 0 on this part. Review text that is not marked United Kingdom is not treated as UK buyer evidence.
Price against the job
15%Shelf price in GBP is judged against the type and the printed load, not against the biggest number in the title. The £69.99 beam is best value because it prints 500 kg and 730–1,480 mm together.
Choose the job first, then match a printed kilogram load and a span you have measured on the car. A wing beam, a rotating head and an under-vehicle prop are not the same purchase, and a missing kilogram line is not a 500 kg rating.
An engine support bar holds an engine or gearbox in the vehicle while a mount, clutch or timing part is released. Use it when the engine stays in the car. Use an engine crane and an engine stand when the engine comes out, and use a transmission jack as well if the gearbox must be lowered. That boundary is set out in [engine support bar vs engine stand](/hub/lifting-equipment/engine-support-bar/sub/engine-support-bar-vs-engine-stand). The first check is the job.
Draper’s instructions put rubber supports in the gutter of the front wing panels, not on top of the wings. The BGS 8515 wants a flat reinforced surface inside the wing. Rubber feet do not make crushed paint impossible.
The BGS 8606 prints a length and no kilogram rating. Its item-weight line says 1 kg, which this comparison does not treat as the true mass. A missing capacity is a missing capacity.
The bar holds the engine while a mount, clutch or timing part is released. When the engine comes out, you need a crane and an engine stand. Extending a beam past its marked maximum is a failure mode in the BGS 8515 instructions.
Match the printed kilogram figure to the component you will hold. This set prints 300 kg, 315 kg, 400 kg or 500 kg, except the BGS 8606, which prints no kilogram line. Measure the reinforced points. Printed ranges are 730–1,480 mm on the US PRO 500 kg beam and on the Draper 13350 maker page, 750–1,450 mm on the Neilsen CT4283, 1,000–1,550 mm on the BGS 8515, and 690–1,050 mm on the BGS 8606. Extending past the marked maximum is a failure mode in the BGS 8515 instructions.
Feet sit in the inner gutter or on a flat reinforced surface inside the wing, not on the outer panel. The Draper 13350 listing includes two chains. The Draper 13349 Amazon line says one chain, while hosted instructions for that model say two, so count the box. The BGS 8515 includes two pendant ropes. The Neilsen adds a cross beam that slides and rotates through 360 degrees, with 90 cm chains. The US PRO under-vehicle bar is a 400 kg prop with no span.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are replacing a mount or clutch on a transverse car and the engine stays in the bay. The Draper 13350 is the top pick: 500 kg, two chains, and a maker span of 730–1,480 mm at about £110.28. There is no review text behind 4.5 from 2 ratings.
You want a printed 500 kg span at the lowest shelf price in this set and you can check chains and feet when the box arrives. The US PRO beam is about £69.99, with 730–1,480 mm and 0–200 mm of height adjustment. This extract has no star line.
Your measured span needs more than 1,450 mm and 315 kg covers the engine you will hold. The BGS 8515 prints 1,000–1,550 mm and 2- and 3-point support with two pendant ropes. It is the wrong row if you need a 500 kg headline.
The top pick is the Draper 13350 at about £110.28. It scores 88, the highest here, with a stated 500 kg load, two chains, 4.5 from 2 amazon.co.uk ratings, and a maker span of 730–1,480 mm that the Amazon width cell does not print. Best value is the US PRO 500 kg beam at about £69.99, a different listing, score 72, with that same span printed on the page, 0–200 mm of height adjustment, and no star line in this extract. Skip the Draper if your reinforced points sit outside 730–1,480 mm or you need a rotating cross beam. Skip the US PRO beam if you want UK owner comments or a named chain count before you buy.
US PRO engine support beam 500 kg
Lowest shelf price with 500 kg and 730–1,480 mm printed together, at about £69.99, on a different listing from the top pick.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources named below. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts on these seven listings were read on 19 October 2026. Page updated October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are taken from those listings. We did not run a lab test.
