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

[TnAndy]

It痴 not perfect but it痴 a heck of a lot better than using a ladder. I値l take the chance of hose blowing under fairly light load vs falling off a ladder any time.

Too bad this forum doesn't have a "like" button to save posting "yep....you're right !"

 

[TnAndy]

My L48 TLB is now officially 14 years old, and appears to have all original hoses.

Replaced one on my 2011 Yanmar, because I damaged it. Had a hose blow on a backhoe once, due to extreme pressure of trying to dig something it wasn't capable of digging.

 

[dieselcrawler]

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.

 

[downsizingnow48]

When I work out of the basket I usually have a couple 5 gal buckets with tools and materials in it. A lot easier and safer than juggling stuff on a ladder. For bigger jobs I set up scaffolding. But for a lot of things the fork/basket solution is just right.

 

[shooterdon]

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.

Good points for sure.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has had a hose blow while doing "light" work. I doubt the IBC, person and tools will weight more than 400 lbs. My loader is rated at 2700 lbs so a 400 lb load sounds light to me.

If a hose does blow, I wonder how fast the load would drop. I expect it would not be instantaneous like falling off a ladder.

 

[KennyG]

If a hose does blow, I wonder how fast the load would drop. I expect it would not be instantaneous like falling off a ladder.

If you had a complete rupture of the hose, the drop would be gravity less the resistance of the friction in the cylinders and joints of the loader and the limitations of how fast the fluid could be forced out the rupture. My guess it would be fast enough to be scary but unlikely to cause serious injury unless it jolted you out of the platform. I've been intending to build one of these and I think it's pretty low risk.

 

[p0diabl0]

If you had a complete rupture of the hose, the drop would be gravity less the resistance of the friction in the cylinders and joints of the loader and the limitations of how fast the fluid could be forced out the rupture. My guess it would be fast enough to be scary but unlikely to cause serious injury unless it jolted you out of the platform. I've been intending to build one of these and I think it's pretty low risk.

Do you think it would be similar in speed to putting the loader in "float" mode? Or is that likely a bigger flow than a ruptured hose? Obviously depends on the size of the rupture/break.

I've admittedly been up in the air on a pallet only. It was pretty sketchy. I used the loader to climb up but a ladder would have been better.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Some refinements I made that might be useful to know about. A piece of plywood makes a flat comfortable floor. A chain attaches the basket to the forks so it does not wobble when you step in. Another chain is across the opening to guard against accidentally stepping off. A third chain attaches the ladder to the basket so it cannot fall away and leave you stranded. An all-weather receptacle so you can plug in several corded tools. The 4x4s top and bottom prevent scarring of house siding, and the top one can be easily swapped from side to side to get close to the work.

 

[grsthegreat]

the only hose i have ever seen ruptured in 30+ years of tractor work were on excavator and a backhoe. i too dont see the loader falling very fast even if it did rupture. but the cage would definately need to be strapped onto forks. ive been up in man cages on forklifts over the years, and on telehandlers. never felt at risk. oh....i ALWAYS had my osha approved fall restraints on....ya, ya, sure did. i swear judge

 

[buck12]

On my last tractor, I managed to tear the hydraulic filter off with a log. The bucket hit the ground instantly. This released far more fluid in a shorter time than I would I think a burst hose would. I to have a homegrown man lift. Given the risk of a burst hose verses a ladder I will take my chances using the man lift.