FEL/pallet forks as scaffolding

[FTG-05]

I use the FEL as scaffolding all the time. It works great. Anyone who would rather set up scaffolding by themselves on an outdoor project is crazy. I used this setup for my roofing repair and to pressure wash the whole house. When it warms up I値l use it again to paint the house. Good luck lifting bags of shingles to the roof with scaffolding and making 5 second height changes. People like to focus on the very minor chance of a lift hose blowing while ignoring the chance of falling off the ladder. View attachment 535860

Same here!

Safety vs. using a ladder to work off of: Not even close.

Pics tell the story:

$25, IBC container with container removed and 1 minute with a sawzall:

You still have to use a ladder, but at least you have something to grab onto while going up and down. Note the 2x4 vertical support. Usually I use a 4x4 but it didn't fit in this situation. Being able to either support the platform or lock the cylinders is important and this is where most of the safety ****'s go nuts on.

Note the tool box; that way you can bring all of your supplies and tools and it's very handily available and totally safe. No dragging crap up and down ladders. Also note the anti-skid rubber mat; reduces the chance of slipping or tripping. Even if you do, the cage protects you falling off the platform.

The only real downside to using a work platform off a tractor is if you can't get a tractor where you need to work (inside a building, a roof over a patio etc.)


I hope this helps!

 

[Einthewoods]

FTG - that is really cool. Is that one of those liquid container cages?

 

[kco]

I can't possibly be the first think of this, so I am looking to see if ya'll have found a good platform to use when using your pallet forks as scaffolding.

I will be insulating and putting plywood up for my ceiling in my barn and was about to find some scaffold to buy until I realized I could just use the tractor. The ceiling is only 14'.

I would likely put a ladder next to the forks to get up and down should I not have someone around to lower /raise the fel.

Thoughts?

I drilled holes through the forks webbing to run a round bar to support the ladder through the top rung. I lift the end of the ladder with a sling when changing positions. The bar extends through either side of the forks and I keep in in the forks when not in use.

 

[rhunt]

FTG, pretty slick!! Bob

 

[zzvyb6]

What's the problem ? This guy didn't think of a parachute for the 35' drop. What Me Worry ?

 

[FTG-05]

FTG - that is really cool. Is that one of those liquid container cages?

Yep:

 

[quicksandfarmer]

When I'm working on a ceiling I like my head to be 6" to a foot below, depending on the task. So for a 14' ceiling you want to be 7-7.5' off the floor. That's not that high, although you could still hurt yourself falling.

I've used the bucket as a scaffold, but I don't like it, it tends to move under my weight. You want something rock solid below you. Especially if you're pushing around sheets of plywood. For putting up insulation I think it might be quicker to use a step ladder, I think you could go up and down a step ladder and move it quicker than moving a tractor and getting in and out of the bucket.

If you're putting up plywood, how are you getting the sheets up? I'd think of some way of using the tractor bucket as a panel lift to put the panels in place against the ceiling, and then go up on a step ladder to fasten them in place. Step in the bucket as needed to put fasteners in.

 

[MickeyDBC]

We use our forklift with a dumpster chained to it to change light bulbs in the shop on a regular basis. We just don't drive around with a person in the up position, just lower it and then move to where you need to be and then lift it again. Only thing with a tractor is I would be more comfortable with a self leveling loader.

 

[OnekamaFarmer]

You should be able to rent a simple drywall lift? Won't be much.

 

[Einthewoods]

You should be able to rent a simple drywall lift? Won't be much.

Yeah, but I will likely do the project over many weekends or whenever I get time so rental won't really work. So, I'll end up buying some scaffold or try one of the methods posted by others to see how it works.

 

[OnekamaFarmer]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

Ebay and Amazon are full of ones in the sub-$150 range.

I think getting the materials up and down is going to be a bigger challenge in this job than getting yourself up and down.

To me using the bucket as a man lift only makes sense if either you're going to be working in one spot for a long time and want something more comfortable than a ladder to stand on, or if you have a helper who can operate the lift so you don't have to climb. If you're going up and down a ladder anyway just use a stepladder.

 

[civilian]

I bought my drywall lift for $150 at Menards for that very same reason as I usually do projects over an extended period. I figured I could sell it on Craigslist after I was done but I have held into it. Mine only does 11' high ceiling though.

Here is a 15'' one for $300:
Troy Drywall Lift 15-Foot Panel Hoist Dry Wall - - Amazon.com

Here is a 19' one for $500:
Red Line RLP916 Drywall Panel 19' Hoist Lifter Dry Wall Lift Tool: Amazon.com: Home Improvement

Nice to have the extra height capacity, usually more stable. Mine is good at about 10' but beyond that it is shaky.

But with the extra height capacity, check out the loading height. You might have to lift the sheets higher to load the drywall lift. A friend and I went together and bought one from Northern Tool. Jon

 

[hslogger]

I had to use a pallet for a platform, working alone, using the ladder alongside it. Not the safest but I did work safe
The yellow man basket is a actually a double decker. Top section can be removed with four c clamps opened up and taken off.
If I had the smarts and access to one at the time, I would have used one of those totes. I don't think you can do it any better or cheaper than one of those.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Harbor Freight item 63050, $179.52 scaffold. I have one and they are great. Dry Wall Panel Hoist item 69377, $214.99. I have always been of the philosophy, rent something 3 times you might as well buy one. My life is worth more than $300. With a tractor you will be doing a lot of up and down and moving on a very unstable platform. I have done it once or twice for a one time thing. Would not relish doing it for several days.

Ron

 

[Doofy]

Two points.

Plywood on the ceiling is not the best idea. It will cost a little more but liner panel metal sheets are lighter, easier to install, permanently painted in white. In a few years you will wish you used metal if you put up plywood.

Scaffold is much safer and easier to use than the FEL. I bought to used sections of rolling bakers scaffold and a high lift drywall lift to do my pole barn. I clamped the two sections of scaffold together to give a larger working platform. You may need to sections to get the height you need. My ceiling is just 12 feet. I'm not the most comfortable person with heights so I found having a larger working platform to be much more secure.

As an alternative, you might consider building a platform on your truck bed. I would do that before I used the FEL.

Ditto on the platform on the truck. Much safer. I spanned across the bed with 2x4s and a 3/4" piece of plywood and was very comfortable working at 12 feet. My old truck was a F-350 and was tall to begin with.

 

[cat fever]

I guess I fit into the unsafe category. Here is how I built my barn. Used the homemade platform on the pallet forks every day.

 

[4570Man]

I guess I fit into the unsafe category. Here is how I built my barn. Used the homemade platform on the pallet forks every day.

View attachment 536409

I’m still waiting for proof it’s actually not safe. I know it’s not a certified lifting device, but I guess when we start looking for “proof” a lot more people have been injured by ladders. Which brings the question can someone find a single reference of someone getting hurt by doing this and were using a basket with a railing. Heck you can make it any combination of events you want as long as the injury was caused by malfunction of the machine and not falling off the platform.

 

[cat fever]

I never did feel unsafe nor did it bother me that my son's were on the platform either. Of course, we were careful since no side rails were used. Heck if I followed all the OSHA rules I'd still be building it.

 

[Einthewoods]

Thanks for all of the replies, very helpful. I'll check out a couple of the scaffold that you pointed out.

Final question: when using your tractor pallet forks as scaffold/ladder, did you leave the tractor running while you were up? I assume so to keep hydraulic pressure but thought I'd ask.