Show your man baskets ideas

[ns_in_tex]

See if I can show mine.
2nd picture is for one man operation, but before we painted it.

 

[Smokeydog]

See if I can show mine.
2nd picture is for one man operation, but before we painted it.

That’s an interesting build with many features. Homemade fork lift? Is that your high lift tree trimmer? How is it secured to the forks when spaced like that? Why ladder behind the platform instead of to the side? Sorry for the many questions but often have to make or modify equipment when you can’t buy.

My Kubota M59 has a factory loader lock on a lift cylinder when raised like most construction equipment. Easy to deploy and store makes using easy. Think safety under a suspended load.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Forks have holds near end to put pins through, to keep it secured to forks. The pipe portion of the ladder inserts into the frame of the steps and pins hold in place. Steps are much nicer (for an old man) than a ladder, especially when high up. When total height is not needed, can be used lower with only the steps down, or steps will fold up flat with forks, or fold over and lay on floor of man lift for storage. We like for the steps/ladder to be facing the tractor for ease of navigation in the woods. If the lift will go, the ladder will go. Just drive straight into work zone.
Yes, the forks are homemade, about 48 years ago. They have been adapted to fit on rear and front of 3 tractors. Recently used them on the rear of our larger tractor to move 4 ea 12'x12'x4" concrete slabs, about 1/4 mile.

 

[deuskid]

I haven't made one yet but was thinking recycling an IBS skeleton for this purpose.

 

[jjeff]

The unsafe way I used before was a pallet as a platform which I forked I'd raise it and raise an extension ladder to it. Imo it's better than a bucket provides a little more platform when your in a bind.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Pretty strong removing bottle after cutting a door?

Pretty strong..

 

[mmranch]

Here's my lift basket. I use this setup for many different things... one of the most useful implements I have.

Since I work alone... safety is my first priority. It is setup to use a ladder to get into the basket with removable ladder brackets for both sides of the basket. There are safety chains which hold the ladder in place and I wear a harness which is attached to the basket when working in the basket. The mount is a Titan forklift mount and the basket is a Titan man basket. I built the special forklift forks for this configuration.

Only problem is... I use this setup so much that it's undesirable to disassemble the lift setup to use the normal forklift setup. I need to buy another forklift mount to have a regular forklift available to me.

 

[Sonny580]

My neighbor used a tote, but he left the plastic tank in it and just cut his door and added a few more irons to make it stronger. Has plenty of room in it for apple containers, tools, whatever he needs.
I never trusted loaders, so never use them for people lifts!
Another neighbor has this----- 42'+ reach tele. He goes up on it but I wont so I have to run the Lull M-10 for him! --- (still dont like the idea!)

 

[Smokeydog]

Here's my lift basket. I use this setup for many different things... one of the most useful implements I have.

Since I work alone... safety is my first priority. It is setup to use a ladder to get into the basket with removable ladder brackets for both sides of the basket. There are safety chains which hold the ladder in place and I wear a harness which is attached to the basket when working in the basket. The mount is a Titan forklift mount and the basket is a Titan man basket. I built the special forklift forks for this configuration.

Only problem is... I use this setup so much that it's undesirable to disassemble the lift setup to use the normal forklift setup. I need to buy another forklift mount to have a regular forklift available to me.

That’s just cool and may have to barrow your inspiration. I agree safety is paramount. The older I get the more chicken I become. Have a fall protection reel I can attach on the basket and run to the ground. Tethered all the way.

I bought several of these equipment frames surplus from the lab 15 years ago. 2x2” sq tube, 1/8” wall, 32”x40”x 9’7” long.
Like your idea to raise the platform. Don’t need the first 6-7’ anyway and gives you more reach. Permanently mount a platform like a tote cage or Titan basket on top of the frame. Build a ladder attached to the frame. Would give considerable reach on the ground while the tractor is just a heavy anchor. Might just attach a HD extension ladder? Ladder attached might take bounce out by touching the ground? Bottom base attach a ssqa plate? Or forklift pockets. Welding a ssqa to your high rise forks an option? Backhoe outriggers to plumb the lift and stabilize.
You got my gears turning.

Looking for some grating to weld to a frame laying horizontally like in the picture. Forklift pockets near the middle for a T-bone basket. Ssqa mount on the end to have an extended basket. Could also use it atop scaffolding as a walkboard with handrails.

 

[Smokeydog]

Work in progress in fabricating lift basket.

Just the pallet weighs 300#. 60’ of tubing ~180#.

Side toe kicks will have 2” receiver type tubes vertically to support two, i1.5” square tubing 10-12’ legs that are adjustable with 3/4” jam bolt. Don’t know if the platform really needs them but extension tower to be built will have the same feature. Be a test.

3/8” grab hooks for chain and ratchet binder to secure to fork lift.

Hooks for tool buckets, rubber grabs and loops for polesaws.

Chainsaw holder being built.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Is there a way to secure your loader with a jack stand or chain or something else? I am not super concerned as I have had a loader hose rupture and the loader fell but not dangerously fast.

 

[AWSubie]

Is there a way to secure your loader with a jack stand or chain or something else? I am not super concerned as I have had a loader hose rupture and the loader fell but not dangerously fast.

When the cylinder is extended place a piece of 3/16 angle iron, cut to length, over the piston rod (tie wrap in place).

 

[Smokeydog]

I think there is a potential hazard with a loader hose bursting in an inopportune time. Small risk given the loads the FEL sees routinely especially transporting loads. Dynamic load much higher than static load. Hope my wife goes slow when I’m on the platform keeping within the static range. I have installed a Kubota soft ride accumulator system which greatly dampens the shock shock loads to loader and tractor. Don’t know yet if the added suspension would be helpful with me on the platform. Also monitor hydraulic pressure via a gauge real time.

The loader has a OEM boom lock when fully raised.

The idea of the legs is to transfer some if not all the load. That’s a feature yet to be tested. The idea is to help stabilize and only provide a safety net if hydraulic failure occurs. Worst case the legs might might not survive a hydraulic failure much like a shear bolt but protect the vitals (me) from serious harm.

Using dedicated chain fixtures instead of using ratchet straps to secure platform to fork frame. Have both. Chain has less wear or cut problems. Mitigate potential hazards where you can.

 

[FTG-05]

I'm two ways on these. Love to have one, and having used the bucket as a "man" lift, but after having a hose blow on my FEL and it dropping so fast that it looked like i'd bungeed it to the ground, i'd be less likely to modify my FEL so that it didn't drop like a ton of bricks, to the ground, so less likely to use the FEL as a "man" lift.

That's why I always use some sort of FEL lock or support. Still tons safer than a ladder.

 

[FTG-05]

the IBC tote manlift is a 2 person shindig, one working up in the bucket, the other running the tractor/fel and taking pictures for the internet lol

I've never used my manlift with anyone else. I'm strictly a one man operation around here!

 

[Smokeydog]

Made some progress. Many thanks to those who shared their ideas and working models.
15 minute paint takes days to dry in this humidity.
Stall mat on floor.
650 lbs. That’s about 400lbs heavier than a Titan 4’x4’ similar basket. The galvanized steel pallet weighed 300lbs. Made a combination basket, tool holder, carryall, sawhorses etc.

Loops and grips for chainsaw, polesaws, tools, and fall protection straps.

These are sleeves for adjustable legs. Plan on using 10-12’ length of 1.5” square tubing. Legs will hopefully help prevent the sudden fall from a hydraulic failure. 3/4” bolt in sleeve for friction grip on legs. This part still needs some testing and evaluation.

Like the idea of some height of tower below the platform from several folks. Greater height while less distance to drop if hydraulics spring a leak. Have many jobs lined up to get some experience before going taller.

 

[hslogger]

This started out as the steel shipping pallet that my Woodmaxx chipper arrived in. I liked it and then made a duplicate that is c clamped onto the original to give me added height.

 

[Smokeydog]

This started out as the steel shipping pallet that my Woodmaxx chipper arrived in. I liked it and then made a duplicate that is c clamped onto the original to give me added height.

Like the extra height.

Riggers use clamps similar to c-clamps but are heavier and have cup point screws that bite into the metal. Still not for overhead or personal lifting. A couple of thru bolts would be safer. My railing is attached to the metal pallet with 11, 1/2” Grade 8 bolts.

The leg clamp bolts are 3/4”x11 Stainless steel bolts. Ordered some square head alloy cup point bolts if I needed better grip.
Tried to order a stick of 1.5” square x 1/4” wall tubing for the legs. None to be had with no ETA. Low inventory of steel supply problems. So might have to try thinner wall.

 

[Smokeydog]

With my wife as the tractor operator and me in the basket trimmed trees for several days. She did very well. Her First time on the M59. Has considerable expertise on mowing on the B26 which helped. Very comfortable in the basket using an battery polesaw.

Safety leg test.
Legs are 1.5” square tubing 12’ long. 27”, 2” square tubing sleeves with 3/4” jam bolts on the basket.
Tested with 2’ off the ground. With hand tightened T-bolts, tractor turned off relived pressure on loader so all weight on legs. Then got in and jumped up and down. Solid! Loosened one leg. One leg would support the load but would rock a little when jumping up and down. I’m 370#.

Played a little how tight the bolts needed to be. Doesn’t take much pressure to lock down. Plan B was cup point set screws and longer lever.

While Nice safety feature to have not sure how much I’ll end up using the legs. Can’t fit in my tractor shed or barn easily. Still can use the OEM loader cylinder lock when up. Wanted to test the idea.

Like the heavy duty railings stall mat floor. Built my own because I couldn’t buy what I wanted. Loader soft-ride system
Makes being in the basket smooth riding. Loader lift pressure about a 1,000psi with basket. Have real time pressure gauge plumbed in. Less than half the max pump pressure. Going to be much used attachment for the farm.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm quit impressed with the great ideas for a manlift. I've been using the IBC tote type for a good while now without any problems other than it requiring an additional person, one in the lift and one on the tractor. Having that extra person around is rare for me.

That's got me thinking: Would an attic ladder fastened to one side of the manlift work for a one-man access system? Has anyone given that a try yet?