Anyone using Pallet Forks with a Man Cage?

[flashhole]

I bought my Kubota 2501 with a quick disconnect bucket. Pull the two levers up and unhook.

I need to cut back trees and wild grape vines that have overgrown my access road and I need to trim the trees in my Pecan orchard.

My thinking is to use Pallet Forks and a lift bucket to gain access to branches and such.

Anyone done this and can you tell me what equipment you used?

A scissor man lift is not in the picture. I have to properly outfit my tractor.

 

[ZTMAN]

For branches/vines under ten feet in the air, I started using a chain saw pole attachment on my string trimmer. Works great on limbs and grape vine, and your feet are on the ground.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I've done that in the past (pallet on the forks) but certainly not a recommended thing to do. I'd get as pole trimmer (Harbor Freight) has an inexpensive one and be safe instead.

 

[baronetm]

I know this is raining on your parade and I understand sometime the job needs to be done and this may seem like a viable option. I have never done as you suggest, I have use many man lifts. This just my two cents.

After spending over 40 years in industrial maintenance and using man cages attached to fork trucks that were far more stable than a Kubota tractor in an orchard and on a solid flat concrete surface they were still a bad idea, we outlawed and scraped them and moved to scissor, hydraulic lifting or boom man lifts which all have their issues.

I can think of a lot of reasons why this is a bad idea in the best of circumstances, and can see Murphy’s Law coming into play here.

Attached to pallet forks on a removable platform such as a SSQA, the tilt ability of a tractor hydraulic system, uneven ground, possible tip over while possibly moving with a raised load, an adequate solid attachment point for the man basket to the tractor bucket lift assembly so it will not slide off the forks, safety harness and adequate attachment point capable of safely restraining the occupant if he or she were to be ejected. The higher the load the more pronounced any movement felt at ground level will be, as I said possibly enough to eject the occupant. If you have never been in a man cage you will be surprised at how unstable they are and feel and how much they move compared to the ground movement, everyone I know that has used one hangs on tightly whenever they are moving in any direction.

If you are running a business and employees are operating this equipment and you come under OSHA, they may have an issue with your plan, since the man cage has to be approved for use with the individual vehicle you are using it with and labeled so by the vehicle manufacturer, along with many other rules.

In any event if you do, be safe, only move with the load at ground level, and use very slow calculated joy stick movements, etc. Everyone want to go home at the end of the day the way they came to work.

I would opt for the previously mentioned pole saw. Or hire an all-terrain qualified lift and operator.

 

[Fordtech86]

I’m with flip, I definitely don’t recommend it, but I am guilty too. I have a buddy that is an ex logger. Had him in just the loader bucket as high as it would go with an 11 ft pole saw trimming branches around my power lines to the house. A cage and forks sounds like a much better idea but if you can get by with a polesaw that would be the way to go. In my case the pole saw wasn’t enough reach alone. I also have a crazy friend that wasn’t afraid. I think I was more nervous running the tractor then he was hanging out of the bucket with the polesaw.

 

[Dunbar]

I'm looking at an IBC tote with the plastic tub removed. Ratchet strap it to the fork back and access with a ladder. I see lots of manufactured work platforms that are much heavier and more expensive but basically the same thing. Just make sure it's on a stable base and don't let those other posters see you.

 

[mdhughes]

I have seen a couple of work platforms that you can move with pallet forks that have adjustable legs. I would think that would be a lot safer than just relying on the hydraulics of the tractor to hold the platform up.

 

[torch]

I have seen a couple of work platforms that you can move with pallet forks that have adjustable legs. I would think that would be a lot safer than just relying on the hydraulics of the tractor to hold the platform up.

This sounds like a much better option to me.

Over the years I've seen way too many people seriously injured and even killed after falling from improvised scaffolding and improper use of ladders. Funny how often I hear the phrase "I never thought it would happen to me."

 

[mickeyd]

I bought my Kubota 2501 with a quick disconnect bucket. Pull the two levers up and unhook.

I need to cut back trees and wild grape vines that have overgrown my access road and I need to trim the trees in my Pecan orchard.

My thinking is to use Pallet Forks and a lift bucket to gain access to branches and such.

Anyone done this and can you tell me what equipment you used?

A scissor man lift is not in the picture. I have to properly outfit my tractor.

I have done what you are looking at but will tell you that there are many safety features I implemented with it.

1. A lift platform with railings on 3 sides is chained to the forks and back plate to prevent platform movement.

2. The tractor is NEVER moved with platform in the air.

3. The person on the platform is tethered to prevent falling.

By using a battery operated pole saw we can reach about 25 feet in the air.

 

[200mph]

I made a man lift and use it as you desire. It has railing on all four sides, with one being hinged and pinned to allow easy access. Of course multiple straps/chains are used to hold it to the fork carrier.

It comes in real handy.

 

[shootem604]

The metal pallet/cage from chemical totes does a dandy job as a man cage.

 

[Freeheeler]

I just stand in the bucket, or on the lip of the bucket if I need to get a little higher. I do turn off the engine, lock on the brakes, and use the outriggers on the backhoe so she doesn't wiggle on me. Not an OSHA approved method, but substantially safer than most of my hobbies.

 

[rentthis]

Needless to say, I have a bias toward rental. I as well as most general rental stores rent towable and drivable man lifts. Done right, that and a good pole saw will get you past any OSHA concerns. I have a 51 ft drivable lift that will amaze you with how much you can get done in a day. It works in places a scissor lift never would. On the other hand, if I had a job that only involved me and I didn't have access to a lift, I would probably do what you are doing as long as I felt secure doing it.

 

[Poohbear]

I bought my Kubota 2501 with a quick disconnect bucket. Pull the two levers up and unhook.

I need to cut back trees and wild grape vines that have overgrown my access road and I need to trim the trees in my Pecan orchard.

My thinking is to use Pallet Forks and a lift bucket to gain access to branches and such.

Anyone done this and can you tell me what equipment you used?

A scissor man lift is not in the picture. I have to properly outfit my tractor.

A lot safer with a pole saw. My Sthil will go 16ft if I was man enough to hold up fully extended.

 

[hookd]

The metal pallet/cage from chemical totes does a dandy job as a man cage.

That is a killer idea! The old man used to raise me up in the bucket to change light bulbs, funny how he was never in the bucket with me driving

 

[GBJeffOH]

4'x8' platform.

You want a good operator.

I don't move the tractor unless it is low to the ground.

I used it a lot when I was building the barn.

 

[flashhole]

Thanks for all the safety tips but at the age of 65 and having owned/used tractors for 40 years this is not my first rodeo. No use whatsoever for a pole saw.

Using a chemical tote pallet is thinking out of the box. I like that.

Was thinking of welding up my own design if I can find the time.

I like some of the ready made cages but they seem a bit pricey for what they are.

 

[Dunbar]

Yes Chemical tote - IBC tote from my post above. I got the idea from Mike Morgan of Outdoors with the Morgans Youtube tractor show, who uses them to store firewood. They are about $75 around here but I have seen them as cheap as $35 with contaminated tanks. Good only for septic draining or something. But since your throwing away the tank that's not a problem.

 

[flashhole]

Thanks for the video link. Craigslist Dallas has lots of totes available cheap.

 

[shootem604]

$25 for totes here locally, been used for liquid fertilizer and cleaned. Here's my man cage.