FEL carrie all, and work platform

[NewLight]

That is a sobering thread. Thanks for shearing, all the more proof we need to take safety seriously. I certainly do and will put cylinder locks higher on my list. Nice setup with those forks by the way.

 

[ishiboo]

I think it's a good idea and much safer than a lot of options. But there are two important changes I would make:

1. If you are to be standing on this, the low sides and bucket back are a huge hazard. They provide an easy way if anything happens for you to flip over "head first" towards the ground. I would raise those up to railing height, plus they're really easy to trip over.

2. I would use plywood on the 2x4 sides to reinforce them. It doesn't see like racking would be a big deal with the ratchet straps, but it will stiffen them up a ton and prevent any issues from developing.

 

[NewLight]

A couple of good cylinder safety lock ideas here. I think I like the second one the best.
Patent US4529215 - Hydraulic cylinder safety lock - Google Patents
Cylinder Locks

 

[NewLight]

I think it's a good idea and much safer than a lot of options. But there are two important changes I would make:

1. If you are to be standing on this, the low sides and bucket back are a huge hazard. They provide an easy way if anything happens for you to flip over "head first" towards the ground. I would raise those up to railing height, plus they're really easy to trip over.

2. I would use plywood on the 2x4 sides to reinforce them. It doesn't see like racking would be a big deal with the ratchet straps, but it will stiffen them up a ton and prevent any issues from developing.

The low sides have been mentioned, and I will likely make some removable extensions that I can lock in place when I need them for safety sake. This is already what I'm going to do with the back panel (by the bucket).

The plywood idea is good. I don't think they need the extra stiffness, but it wouldn't hurt. My main challenges with this build is trying to keep it lite enough for one person to be able to get it in and out of the bucket (it is a REALLY tight fit). And being able to still see while transporting it or stuff with it, thus my intention to make all of the other parts removable.

 

[jim44]

It wouldn't do much for the bucket roll cylinders, but locking the loader lift cylinders is pretty simple. Just get a piece of angle iron, maybe like 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 and cut it to whatever length it needs to be to hold the loader at the chosen height. Just lay it on the cylinder rod and lower the loader till it is held there by the cylinder. This assumes of course that you're dealing with a set height for the loader, or perhaps cut a couple different lengths of angle and use whatever is needed.

 

[drajj5]

I was thinking that if you want to create some simple cheap locks to inhibit a disaster if hydraulic failure occurs. I would find some schedule 80 PVC that could be cut to 'snap' around the 'cylinder ram' at the desired height. measure for length, cut vertically to perfectly semi-encapsulate the rams- and voila' !!

Note: this is just thinking-out-loud; I have no idea if this is feasible or not. Thought's? I do- think that they would support the combined weight of the loader and it's human cargo though.

 

[NewLight]

It wouldn't do much for the bucket roll cylinders, but locking the loader lift cylinders is pretty simple. Just get a piece of angle iron, maybe like 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 and cut it to whatever length it needs to be to hold the loader at the chosen height. Just lay it on the cylinder rod and lower the loader till it is held there by the cylinder. This assumes of course that you're dealing with a set height for the loader, or perhaps cut a couple different lengths of angle and use whatever is needed.

That is were the idea for the support legs mounted to the bottom of the platform would come in. The trick is what to make them out of and how to make them adjustable.

 

[jeff9366]

Get a removable lift platform for your pickup truck where you can work SAFELY and efficiently.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sWWtZIPEqM


Lipstick on a pig does not change the pig.

 

[NewLight]

I was thinking that if you want to create some simple cheap locks to inhibit a disaster if hydraulic failure occurs. I would find some schedule 80 PVC that could be cut to 'snap' around the 'cylinder ram' at the desired height. measure for length, cut vertically to perfectly semi-encapsulate the rams- and voila' !!

Note: this is just thinking-out-loud; I have no idea if this is feasible or not. Thought's? I do- think that they would support the combined weight of the loader and it's human cargo though.

I like this idea. Cheap, widely available, light, it would be easy to make and store many sets of different lengths for various working heights. Good thinking. The question is would the PVC support the weight.

 

[NewLight]

Get a removable lift platform for your pickup truck where you can work SAFELY and efficiently.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sWWtZIPEqM


Lipstick on a pig does not change the pig.

Thanks for the link, that is just flat out awesome. If I had a truck and the extra money lying that is a tool I would diffidently have. However, I have neither. This project is only coasting me time and four boxes of screws so far.