Didn't "build it," but definitely DIY Man Basket...

[TnAndy]

It痴 not perfect but it痴 a heck of a lot better than using a ladder. I値l take the chance of hose blowing under fairly light load vs falling off a ladder any time.

Too bad this forum doesn't have a "like" button to save posting "yep....you're right !"

 

[TnAndy]

My L48 TLB is now officially 14 years old, and appears to have all original hoses.

Replaced one on my 2011 Yanmar, because I damaged it. Had a hose blow on a backhoe once, due to extreme pressure of trying to dig something it wasn't capable of digging.

 

[dieselcrawler]

In 35+ years of tractor operation myself, and adding the experience of several other close friends and family, I do not know of one single 'hose burst/loader or implement fell' incident. Hoses started leaking, yes. Cylinders leak down, slowly drop, yes. Bumped control valves, yes. Not saying it never happens, it does. Just saying the likelyhood is low, and the flipside of overall safer work conditions using this basket, is higher. I have access to the IBC totes mentioned earlier, and would be willing to let my 12yo son climb in that basket with me operating, sooner than I'd let him climb an extension ladder on sketchy footing. I'd do the ladder climbing myself before I'd let him. I understand the risks involved, and as is the case in life, compromise and choices are made daily. Be safe, yes. But you still gotta get the job done in a reasonably efficient manner.

 

[downsizingnow48]

When I work out of the basket I usually have a couple 5 gal buckets with tools and materials in it. A lot easier and safer than juggling stuff on a ladder. For bigger jobs I set up scaffolding. But for a lot of things the fork/basket solution is just right.

 

[shooterdon]

In 35+ years of tractor operation myself, and adding the experience of several other close friends and family, I do not know of one single 'hose burst/loader or implement fell' incident. Hoses started leaking, yes. Cylinders leak down, slowly drop, yes. Bumped control valves, yes. Not saying it never happens, it does. Just saying the likelyhood is low, and the flipside of overall safer work conditions using this basket, is higher. I have access to the IBC totes mentioned earlier, and would be willing to let my 12yo son climb in that basket with me operating, sooner than I'd let him climb an extension ladder on sketchy footing. I'd do the ladder climbing myself before I'd let him. I understand the risks involved, and as is the case in life, compromise and choices are made daily. Be safe, yes. But you still gotta get the job done in a reasonably efficient manner.

Good points for sure.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has had a hose blow while doing "light" work. I doubt the IBC, person and tools will weight more than 400 lbs. My loader is rated at 2700 lbs so a 400 lb load sounds light to me.

If a hose does blow, I wonder how fast the load would drop. I expect it would not be instantaneous like falling off a ladder.

 

[KennyG]

If a hose does blow, I wonder how fast the load would drop. I expect it would not be instantaneous like falling off a ladder.

If you had a complete rupture of the hose, the drop would be gravity less the resistance of the friction in the cylinders and joints of the loader and the limitations of how fast the fluid could be forced out the rupture. My guess it would be fast enough to be scary but unlikely to cause serious injury unless it jolted you out of the platform. I've been intending to build one of these and I think it's pretty low risk.

 

[p0diabl0]

If you had a complete rupture of the hose, the drop would be gravity less the resistance of the friction in the cylinders and joints of the loader and the limitations of how fast the fluid could be forced out the rupture. My guess it would be fast enough to be scary but unlikely to cause serious injury unless it jolted you out of the platform. I've been intending to build one of these and I think it's pretty low risk.

Do you think it would be similar in speed to putting the loader in "float" mode? Or is that likely a bigger flow than a ruptured hose? Obviously depends on the size of the rupture/break.

I've admittedly been up in the air on a pallet only. It was pretty sketchy. I used the loader to climb up but a ladder would have been better.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Some refinements I made that might be useful to know about. A piece of plywood makes a flat comfortable floor. A chain attaches the basket to the forks so it does not wobble when you step in. Another chain is across the opening to guard against accidentally stepping off. A third chain attaches the ladder to the basket so it cannot fall away and leave you stranded. An all-weather receptacle so you can plug in several corded tools. The 4x4s top and bottom prevent scarring of house siding, and the top one can be easily swapped from side to side to get close to the work.

 

[grsthegreat]

the only hose i have ever seen ruptured in 30+ years of tractor work were on excavator and a backhoe. i too dont see the loader falling very fast even if it did rupture. but the cage would definately need to be strapped onto forks. ive been up in man cages on forklifts over the years, and on telehandlers. never felt at risk. oh....i ALWAYS had my osha approved fall restraints on....ya, ya, sure did. i swear judge

 

[buck12]

On my last tractor, I managed to tear the hydraulic filter off with a log. The bucket hit the ground instantly. This released far more fluid in a shorter time than I would I think a burst hose would. I to have a homegrown man lift. Given the risk of a burst hose verses a ladder I will take my chances using the man lift.

 

[4570Man]

Didn't "build it," but definitely DIY Man Basket...

In any hose failure regardless of speed you’re probably going to end up dumped off your platform. But I still stick to my belief this is much safer than a ladder. Add a pressure washer or chainsaw in the mix and the man bucket is by far the safer option.

 

[pokey1416]

"Trust me honey - I work for the government" :laughing:

 

[mikester]

Yep works great have had the wife up in it many times. I put yellow safety chain on the entry side and I have chains at each corner bottom (visible in the attached photograph) that prevent the tote from sliding off the forks. I used the ratchet strap to tighten everything down.

View attachment 676876

New word of the day - Dichotomy. Did you quietly up the wife's life insurance policy or did you realize she's a keeper because she's willing to risk life and limb for you climbing in that basket to clean your eaves troughs?

 

[mikester]

In 35+ years of tractor operation myself, and adding the experience of several other close friends and family, I do not know of one single 'hose burst/loader or implement fell' incident. Hoses started leaking, yes. Cylinders leak down, slowly drop, yes. Bumped control valves, yes. Not saying it never happens, it does. Just saying the likelyhood is low, and the flipside of overall safer work conditions using this basket, is higher. I have access to the IBC totes mentioned earlier, and would be willing to let my 12yo son climb in that basket with me operating, sooner than I'd let him climb an extension ladder on sketchy footing. I'd do the ladder climbing myself before I'd let him. I understand the risks involved, and as is the case in life, compromise and choices are made daily. Be safe, yes. But you still gotta get the job done in a reasonably efficient manner.

I blew a loader boom hose on my case 580 TLB while carrying a load of gravel in the bucket. Hit the ground in under a second and my windshield was completely coated in hydraulic oil. Just a wee little hole in the hose. I know you have ZERO chance of getting out of the way if something goes wrong, don't kid yourself.

I managed to survive childhood even though my parents had a car without rear seat belts. That doesn't mean a lot of people didn't die in car accidents without seat belts.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I was joking...

Yea, i get the joke but.

A close friend has a similar work platform that he uses on a skid steer with forks, same deal. He's been doing it for 20 years. He has built an entire 1840 Western Town, I do not exaggerate, an entire town. If you want search, Circle M City, Tramway NC. The web page does not do it justice. He does cowboy weddings and parties. Degreed EE, hardest worker i know, never really had a job.


He knows it's not safe.

He's in good shape but has to climb up to the basket. With cherry pickers the controls are on the platform.

So, my question was, if you can't climb up, does someone else run the controls?

 

[Peter 315]

Yea, i get the joke but.

A close friend has a similar work platform that he uses on a skid steer with forks, same deal. He's been doing it for 20 years. He has built an entire 1840 Western Town, I do not exaggerate, an entire town. If you want search, Circle M City, Tramway NC. The web page does not do it justice. He does cowboy weddings and parties. Degreed EE, hardest worker i know, never really had a job.


He knows it's not safe.

He's in good shape but has to climb up to the basket. With cherry pickers the controls are on the platform.

So, my question was, if you can't climb up, does someone else run the controls?

Yes you would need two people...I would put the wife in the basket she's not that great on the tractor......:laughing:

 

[pokey1416]

New word of the day - Dichotomy. Did you quietly up the wife's life insurance policy or did you realize she's a keeper because she's willing to risk life and limb for you climbing in that basket to clean your eaves troughs?

Yep, I risk my life driving her around "shopping" so we can have her "time together". Least she can do is help me out. :confused3:

 

[defranks]

I'm going to get one of those baskets! I usually wire a couple of metal loading ramps to my forks, so doing this would definitely be a big step toward more safety. We take risks every time we get out of bed, it's all relative.

 

[Lunk]

If you have a set of pallet forks, buy one of those caged 270 gal totes. You can usually find them on CL for 35-75 bucks. Remove the 4 bolts holding the top bars on and pull the plastic tank out. Strap the cage (I use a 2" ratchet - way overkill) to the forks. You now have a man basket for trimming limbs, cleaning gutters or siding, or I'm my case helping pick apples before they drop. Not OSHA approved I'm sure, but as safe as you want to make it for sure.

If this has been posted before, my apologies. Just thought I'd post it after using it the other day.

Lunk

Just to be clear, I accept no liability for anything stupid that happens as a result of my sharing my experiences. It works for me. It's safer than a ladder, or sitting in the bucket, and it's as safe as you want to make it...

For future reference, I will no longer be sharing such ideas, as the potential for being sued apparently exists in this litigious world, where personal responsibility is something no one will own up to.

My apologies to the wounded.

My .02

 

[Peter 315]

Like this is any safer...........Amazon.com: Titan Forklift Safety Cage, Collapsible Work Platform, Steel Basket, 36” x 36”: Home Improvement