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.