Man Lift

[Gem99ultra]

Built myself a man lift out of a 1-ton cargo container frame. I ditched the plastic base because 1) the floor wasn't solid nor smooth and 2) the cross rails on the bottom had one that was broken.

In simple terms, I simply unbolted the aluminum frame from the plastic base and threw away the plastic tank. Took a 36" x 48" pallet, decked it with 3/4" plywood and mounted the aluminum fame. Cut out a doorway and added safety chains, put wheels on the pallet for easy moving around when not on the tractor, and added a couple of healthy D-hooks on the side to prevent dropping the rig accidentally. My total cost was about $50; $35 for the tote, $8 for D-hooks and used salvaged chain and casters.

Here's a picture of my "finished" product. Comments regarding additional mods needed are welcome.

 

[flyerdan]

About the only thing it needs would be toe boards at the bottom, not so much because OSHA says so, but it might prevent a dropped tool from escaping.
It's always gratifying to repurpose something that would be staggeringly expensive if you had to buy the "approved" label.

 

[zzvyb6]

Chains thru sections of plastic water pipe make it easier to hook then up. Maybe a tool tray to hold nails, tool bits, extra natteries for cordless stuff, paint sprayer parts and supplies. and a carpenter's level visible from the operator's seat to save time (use with a truck mirror). Is that an IBC tote frame ?

 

[Gem99ultra]

Chains thru sections of plastic water pipe make it easier to hook then up. Maybe a tool tray to hold nails, tool bits, extra natteries for cordless stuff, paint sprayer parts and supplies. and a carpenter's level visible from the operator's seat to save time (use with a truck mirror). Is that an IBC tote frame ?

I'm sorry but I don't know what an IBC tote is. Its one of those that you see with the plastic tank inside the cage on a plastic pallet. I bought two 330 gallon size that had been used for food grade products for $35.00 each, delivered. I had both filled with potable water "in case of a power outage" since we didn't have a generator that put out 240v for the well pump. Now that we picked up one of those DuoMax generators for $650 that does put out 240v, we really don't need two tanks in reserve. So, I took one to make a man lift.

The toe board is definitely a great suggestion. I will do that el pronto. I have canvas tool bags for tools that I plan to hang onto the rails via 'S' hooks. Hopefully that'll suffice for my tool box, however if not, I'll build a nice wooden box for such as the items you mentioned.

I'm not totally satisfied with the chains either. An expanded metal gate might be safer, or something like that, especially since my operator (Significant Other) doing the lift control is totally inexperienced. I can just see myself getting dumped out.

The main uses planned are for power washing the workshop outside walls which are 27' to the peak, and for trimming trees. I would, of course, much preferred an OSHA approved lift, but that just isn't in the budget.

Many thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I find these apple boxes to be the perfect solution,

AND with the grapple that's on my pallet forks to "positively" hold it on, it's NEVER going to slide off,

and with the bottom all plastic, it won't rot being left outside on the ground.

That's another thing that a dedicated grapple won't do...

SR

 

[4570Man]

But it’s a real crisis to have to put a ratchet strap around my pallet fork basket. It’s got a chain and clevis to secure it but I like the strap better.

 

[mcfarmall]

IBC=Intermediate Bulk Container. Fancy name for a tank that's bigger than a 5 gallon bucket and smaller than a semi truck tanker.

 

[CincyFlyer]

One think to note when lifting humans with a tractor FEL (or lifting above humans, which isn't recommended either): most will drop that load immediately if a hose pops.

 

[ericm979]

Does that happen often? The one time I have had a loader hose fail it was a small leak. The loader did not crash to the ground and I was able to get the tractor back to the barn.

It seems like a more common problem would be the tractor operator accidentally operating the loader and either dumping the person in the lift or crushing them against a tree or building. When I build mine I think I won't have my inexperienced wife operate the tractor with me in the lift. Setting the tractor and loader in position, locking the loader controls and then using a ladder to get to the lift sounds safer though less convenient.

 

[texasranger556]

It's risk management. Say it's one in 1 million chance which might seem like low odds unless you're the one it happens to and the consequence is death or permanent injury. We all take risks every day, walking down steps, driving a metal can at 65+ mph, climbing a ladder, etc.

In the case of working from a FEL a few times a year, in my opinion you're far less likely to get hurt than doing the same activities on a ladder. To minimize risk, you'd want to avoid extending the loader all the way to the top of travel with someone in the bucket to the point that the hydraulic system goes over relief. If a hydraulic line is thinking of failing catastrophically, that would be the time.

 

[4570Man]

Does that happen often? The one time I have had a loader hose fail it was a small leak. The loader did not crash to the ground and I was able to get the tractor back to the barn.

It seems like a more common problem would be the tractor operator accidentally operating the loader and either dumping the person in the lift or crushing them against a tree or building. When I build mine I think I won't have my inexperienced wife operate the tractor with me in the lift. Setting the tractor and loader in position, locking the loader controls and then using a ladder to get to the lift sounds safer though less convenient.

People here like the find some non existent safety issue and talk about it like it’s another 9/11. I challenge anyone to find a single accident cause be a hose blowing on a tractor manlift, pulling above the axel on a modern tractor with a FEL or drilling a hole in the ROPS. I’ll take my man basket on a tractor over a ladder any day of the week. 1.3 million people die in car crashes in the United States each year and nearly 4000 people drown, but that man lift is scary stuff.

 

[Will_C]

I'd feel a lot safer to coming to the ground in a man lift that had blew a hose, than falling off a ladder. Let's face it, there is risk once we get out of bed in the morning!

 

[4570Man]

I'd feel a lot safer to coming to the ground in a man lift that had blew a hose, than falling off a ladder. Let's face it, there is risk once we get out of bed in the morning!

A real man lift isn’t coming down with a blow hose. A forklift is going down but it’s going in a vertical path but not very rapid. A tractor is going to dump you out, but at least you made it 1/2 way down first.

 

[PILOON]

Did not notice but perhaps some method of 'hold back', like a chain just in case the operator dumps or tilts the forks downwards. (like hits the wrong valve)

 

[Gem99ultra]

Did not notice but perhaps some method of 'hold back', like a chain just in case the operator dumps or tilts the forks downwards. (like hits the wrong valve)

Yes, I do have two 500# work load rope pulleys, one on either side, going to 10K D-rings. Each is independently connected to the bucket.

Re Working in a man lift being safer than off of a ladder, one of my most important uses is for tree trimming, and power spraying the house and workshop outside walls. I've personally seen my neighbor using a power spraying while on a ladder 2 stories up, get absolutely pushed off of the ladder as soon as he pulled the trigger. That was an ugly sight for sure. Put him out of commission for 6 months, with permanent disabilities. I think I'll take my chances with a man lift over a ladder.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Built myself a man lift out of a 1-ton cargo container frame. I ditched the plastic base because 1) the floor wasn't solid nor smooth and 2) the cross rails on the bottom had one that was broken.

In simple terms, I simply unbolted the aluminum frame from the plastic base and threw away the plastic tank. Took a 36" x 48" pallet, decked it with 3/4" plywood and mounted the aluminum fame. Cut out a doorway and added safety chains, put wheels on the pallet for easy moving around when not on the tractor, and added a couple of healthy D-hooks on the side to prevent dropping the rig accidentally. My total cost was about $50; $35 for the tote, $8 for D-hooks and used salvaged chain and casters.

Here's a picture of my "finished" product. Comments regarding additional mods needed are welcome.

View attachment 539620

Clever build! I can see it being quite useful as long as you have a second person to operate the FEL.

Since I usually work alone and would have to access the platform via a ladder, I would make a another "door" opening in one or both sides. I would also add ladder stops to keep a ladder from sliding side to side.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Clever build! I can see it being quite useful as long as you have a second person to operate the FEL.

Since I usually work alone and would have to access the platform via a ladder, I would make a another "door" opening in one or both sides. I would also add ladder stops to keep a ladder from sliding side to side.

The pallet is a 4-way pallet, so lifting can be from any sides. My original thought was to have the door facing the tractor. I don't know... any thoughts on which way is best?

I saw an earlier post from someone that made a fixture for their ladder to tractor, to carry the ladder with them. That's an excellent idea. I've been trying to find that post to copy their system.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The pallet is a 4-way pallet, so lifting can be from any sides. My original thought was to have the door facing the tractor. I don't know... any thoughts on which way is best?

I saw an earlier post from someone that made a fixture for their ladder to tractor, to carry the ladder with them. That's an excellent idea. I've been trying to find that post to copy their system.

Since you can lift the pallet in any direction, another door isn't necessary. You just have to arrange it so the door is ladder accessible at the work site.

I once had an old pallet I used as a platform for tree pruning. The pallet was a bit smaller than the 48" forks I had so I just hung the ladder sideways on the protruding fork tips. It was a bit awkward maneuvering around trees and buildings though.

 

[RBA50]

The pallet in your picture is not a true four way pallet. If you lift from the "sides" there are no cross boards under the forks. Those boards help prevent the pallet from being able to tumble off the forks. Imagine you have the pallet on the forks, and you are leaning over the front of the cage. Your weight combined with the leverage of the cage top will tend to lift the back of the pallet off the forks. Without the cross boards, it will keep going. Be safe, and don't lift the pallet from the sides. The forks need to be between the top boards and the bottom boards. Also be sure the bottom boards are well secured and strong.

I like your idea and may adapt it for myself, possibly with a steel pallet or frame, and a foldable/pivoting ladder attached at the opening, since I tend to work alone most of the time.

 

[Gem99ultra]

The pallet in your picture is not a true four way pallet. If you lift from the "sides" there are no cross boards under the forks. Those boards help prevent the pallet from being able to tumble off the forks. Imagine you have the pallet on the forks, and you are leaning over the front of the cage. Your weight combined with the leverage of the cage top will tend to lift the back of the pallet off the forks. Without the cross boards, it will keep going. Be safe, and don't lift the pallet from the sides. The forks need to be between the top boards and the bottom boards. Also be sure the bottom boards are well secured and strong.

I like your idea and may adapt it for myself, possibly with a steel pallet or frame, and a foldable/pivoting ladder attached at the opening, since I tend to work alone most of the time.

You're absolutely right about the pallet NOT being a 4-way. It only appears to be, looking at it from the sides. My bad. I will definitely take your precaution seriously. I also like your idea on finding a metal pallet; perhaps my friendly local Kubota dealer might have something... I sure liked the apple crate idea too, although I've never seen any of those around here. I'm not likely to find such a good base for my man lift.

I did get an opportunity to use it over the weekend, trimming 3 - 30' tall River Birch trees. Wow! It was rock solid and 10x safer than my 12' step ladder. I love it, and will continue to improve it. Its definitely a keeper idea, although not my original.

Thanks for the input - good ideas seem to grow to be great ideas with contributors like yourself.