These two Autobots are the best of friends, and expert technicians and inventors.

GRAPPLE

Grapple made his first appearance during the Dinobot Island fiasco, but was merely glimpsed in the background. He first came to the forefront when he invented a tower to convert the sun's rays into energy. Optimus Prime forbid it's contruction, fearing the Decepticons would try to steal it, and a miserable Grapple, along with an unwitting Hoist, made an unesy deal with the apparently turncoat Constructicons to help them build it. However, when the tower was completed, the Constructicons called in the other Decepticons, revealing their plan to steal the tower. When the other Autobots, concerned by their teammates unknown whereabouts, arrived, Smokescreen managed to trick Devastator into destroying the tower. Grapple and Hoist were shown leniency by Optimus Prime, but made to clear the rubble away on their own.

When he arrived on Earth, Grapple was presumably reconfigured by Teletran One to transform into an Earthen truck crane. In this mode, his jib can be used as a battering ram. In robot mode, he has a laser in place of his left hand, which he can use to weld metal during construction of his inventions.

Grapple was a loyal warrior, who did tend to complain on occasion. He was present at the Autobot City Massacre of 2005, but was not seen afterwards, and is presumed either terminated or in retirement.

HOIST

Hoist made his first appearance when he and Grapple were tricked into building Grapple's energy tower by the Constructicons. He next appeared when he, Warpath, and Spike Witwicky travelled back in time to Medieval times to stop Starscream, Ramjet, Ravage and Rumble from taking over the kingdom of a ruthless knight named Sir Wygen. However, the lack of energy rendered nearly all of them inactive, until aid from a wizard known as Veyhar restored their power. Hoist then destroyed the crude dynamo Starscream had created to keep his power up, and he and Warpath took the Decepticons back to the present. During his service in the Autobot ranks, Hoist even became a short-lived movie-star.

Apparently reconfigured by Teletran One when he and his fellows arrived on Earth to join Optimus Prime, Hoist transforms into a tow truck. In this mode, he has a motorised winch in his rear, which deploys at his mental command. The winch cable is at least strong enough to hold the weight of Spike Witwicky, wearing heavy armour (Ref: "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court"). In robot mode, Hoist has a laser in place of his left hand, which can be used for welding.

It is unknown if Hoist was present at the Autobot City Massacre of 2005, but was not seen afterwards and is presumed either terminated or in retirement.