I have a northern tool hoist(it sucks because the front wheels don't swivel) and when it is all the way down I can just lift the boom up and it will catch it. You have to lift it pretty far past the height you want or do it twice but it is way way better than pumping that whole distance. This obviously doesn't work with a load.

A friend of mine has the best cylinder for his and I need to replace mine with it. It pumps on the up an down stroke so if you are moving an engine from the ground to stand or install height its super fast. Its the only one I have seen that way and it is awesome.