Lift Bucket (Man Lift) for 3ph

[40_acre_mule]

Does anybody make a lift bucket that attaches to the 3 point hitch and runs off the rear hydraulics?
I'd like to get myself about 12 feet off the ground for trimming trees with a chainsaw or pole-saw.

 

[bcp]

IF I was going to do that, I think I would start with an Ag Krane. Then modify for a basket, with safety devices.

Ag Kranes — Ag Krane

Bruce

 

[Rustyiron]

I have thought about making a basket for my loader mounted "jib pole", my hesitation is the need of an operator to move you around or having to position a ladder & climb up into the basket.

 

[jeff9366]

OSHA has to approve man lift equipment. Tractors are not approved for man lifts because of small front wheels/large rear wheels and high ground clearance, which make tractors INHERENTLY UNSTABLE.

There are several producers of OSHA approved man lifts for pickup truck beds that will safely raise you twelve feet.

Aerial Lift Work Trucks | Lift-A-Loft

 

[zzvyb6]

Another problem with your idea (besides the operation of it and the tractor instability) is the inherent difficulty of maintaining bucket tilt (pitch) at various useage heights. You're not going to be comfortable even at 12 ft with the platform pitched 15 - 20 degrees.

Instead, rent a towable trailer mounted manlift. My local Home Depot rents them for under $300 for 4 hours. I own a JLG T350 for tree trimming, barn painting and windmill maintenance. You can substitute a jib crane arm for the bucket if needed. It has auto leveling and outrigger load sensing. Mine is an electric (battery) powered job.

Believe me, just for tree trimming alone, you'll want to got 'out' and 'around' besides just 'up'. And definitely more that 12 feet up. Mine goes to 35 ft for a working height of 40.

 

[KYErik]

Assuming you have a large tractor, you could buy a 3 pointcarry all frame pretty cheap and then some 8 foot studs and 3/4 " plywood and build a raised platform. You could use 12 foot 2X4's, build the platform at 8 feet and have a safety rail coming up an additional 4 feet. Use a ladder to get up on the platform. Again, your tractor would need to be large enough so that you wouldn't risk turning it over.

I hate trimming trees while standing on a ladder because I always fear that the limb will come down and hit the ladder.

I would also suggest building a platform for the FEL- this would be very adjustable. Use a prop between the FEL bucket and the ground so it cannot fall.

 

[Smokeydog]

Farm, forest work and products are mostly exempt from OSHA. Don’t think you will ever see an OSHA approved tractor or chainsaw.

There some 3pt fork lifts. Saw a 3pt man basket on eBay once for orchard work.

View attachment 738558
Made this for our use.

Working on tractor mounted hydraulic polesaw for the loader. LimbSaw has one you can buy now.

Trees, sawing and tractors all are high hazard work. I want to smell some roses a little longer before pushing up daisies.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

“Tractor” and “chainsaw” should never be used in the same sentence. And if you throw an extension ladder into the mix make sure you have the hospital and the funeral home on speed dial.

 

[toolslinger]

Personally, I'd rather have something like a towable boom, or small bucket truck, but if you're all in on a 3PH setup, I've run across these while cruising the net:

Tractor Scissor Lift Attachment - Skid-Lift

Skid-Lift offers a complete scissor lift attachment for farm tractors. Reach new heights with your tractor. Learn more about Skid-Lift.

skid-lift.com

 

[Fxfymn413]

The basket that IBC's come in work really well for a red neck version of a man lift. Cut a "notch" out of the front, put it on the forks, and ratchet strap it to the back of the pallet forks to secure it. If you are concerned about falling out the front put a safety chain across the opening. If you are really concerned about falling out use a safety belt tied to a chain fastened to the cage.