Didn't "build it," but definitely DIY Man Basket...

4570Man · Nov 24, 2020

Didn't "build it," but definitely DIY Man Basket...

In any hose failure regardless of speed you’re probably going to end up dumped off your platform. But I still stick to my belief this is much safer than a ladder. Add a pressure washer or chainsaw in the mix and the man bucket is by far the safer option.

pokey1416 · Nov 24, 2020

"Trust me honey - I work for the government" :laughing:

mikester · Nov 24, 2020

pokey1416 said:
Yep works great have had the wife up in it many times. I put yellow safety chain on the entry side and I have chains at each corner bottom (visible in the attached photograph) that prevent the tote from sliding off the forks. I used the ratchet strap to tighten everything down.

View attachment 676876

New word of the day - Dichotomy. Did you quietly up the wife's life insurance policy or did you realize she's a keeper because she's willing to risk life and limb for you climbing in that basket to clean your eaves troughs?

mikester · Nov 24, 2020

dieselcrawler said:
In 35+ years of tractor operation myself, and adding the experience of several other close friends and family, I do not know of one single 'hose burst/loader or implement fell' incident. Hoses started leaking, yes. Cylinders leak down, slowly drop, yes. Bumped control valves, yes. Not saying it never happens, it does. Just saying the likelyhood is low, and the flipside of overall safer work conditions using this basket, is higher. I have access to the IBC totes mentioned earlier, and would be willing to let my 12yo son climb in that basket with me operating, sooner than I'd let him climb an extension ladder on sketchy footing. I'd do the ladder climbing myself before I'd let him. I understand the risks involved, and as is the case in life, compromise and choices are made daily. Be safe, yes. But you still gotta get the job done in a reasonably efficient manner.

I blew a loader boom hose on my case 580 TLB while carrying a load of gravel in the bucket. Hit the ground in under a second and my windshield was completely coated in hydraulic oil. Just a wee little hole in the hose. I know you have ZERO chance of getting out of the way if something goes wrong, don't kid yourself.

I managed to survive childhood even though my parents had a car without rear seat belts. That doesn't mean a lot of people didn't die in car accidents without seat belts.

Frankenkubota · Nov 24, 2020

Peter 315 said:
I was joking...

Yea, i get the joke but.

A close friend has a similar work platform that he uses on a skid steer with forks, same deal. He's been doing it for 20 years. He has built an entire 1840 Western Town, I do not exaggerate, an entire town. If you want search, Circle M City, Tramway NC. The web page does not do it justice. He does cowboy weddings and parties. Degreed EE, hardest worker i know, never really had a job.

He knows it's not safe.

He's in good shape but has to climb up to the basket. With cherry pickers the controls are on the platform.

So, my question was, if you can't climb up, does someone else run the controls?

Peter 315 · Nov 24, 2020

Frankenkubota said:
Yea, i get the joke but.

A close friend has a similar work platform that he uses on a skid steer with forks, same deal. He's been doing it for 20 years. He has built an entire 1840 Western Town, I do not exaggerate, an entire town. If you want search, Circle M City, Tramway NC. The web page does not do it justice. He does cowboy weddings and parties. Degreed EE, hardest worker i know, never really had a job.

He knows it's not safe.

He's in good shape but has to climb up to the basket. With cherry pickers the controls are on the platform.

So, my question was, if you can't climb up, does someone else run the controls?

Yes you would need two people...I would put the wife in the basket she's not that great on the tractor......:laughing:

pokey1416 · Nov 24, 2020

mikester said:
New word of the day - Dichotomy. Did you quietly up the wife's life insurance policy or did you realize she's a keeper because she's willing to risk life and limb for you climbing in that basket to clean your eaves troughs?

Yep, I risk my life driving her around "shopping" so we can have her "time together". Least she can do is help me out. :confused3:

defranks · Nov 24, 2020

I'm going to get one of those baskets! I usually wire a couple of metal loading ramps to my forks, so doing this would definitely be a big step toward more safety. We take risks every time we get out of bed, it's all relative.

Lunk · Nov 24, 2020

Lunk said:
If you have a set of pallet forks, buy one of those caged 270 gal totes. You can usually find them on CL for 35-75 bucks. Remove the 4 bolts holding the top bars on and pull the plastic tank out. Strap the cage (I use a 2" ratchet - way overkill) to the forks. You now have a man basket for trimming limbs, cleaning gutters or siding, or I'm my case helping pick apples before they drop. Not OSHA approved I'm sure, but as safe as you want to make it for sure.

If this has been posted before, my apologies. Just thought I'd post it after using it the other day.

Lunk

Just to be clear, I accept no liability for anything stupid that happens as a result of my sharing my experiences. It works for me. It's safer than a ladder, or sitting in the bucket, and it's as safe as you want to make it...

For future reference, I will no longer be sharing such ideas, as the potential for being sued apparently exists in this litigious world, where personal responsibility is something no one will own up to.

My apologies to the wounded.

My .02