Kinda OT, Safety platform for grain bin

This old bin is the kind that you have to take a section of roof out to get inside. I added extra rings and steps to the roof when I put it up. The ladder is between the steps and the section that comes out. I want to add a platform to stand on for safety. They were going to throw this almost new rolling ladder away at work, so I bought it for $25. How about some ideas on how to mount it on the bin. I want to leave the steps intact and cut off the top section of railing next to the bin so I don't have to extend my ladder all the way out to get there. I'm thinking stilts fastened to the bin wall. Treated wood or used 1 1/2 or 2 inch water pipe? I want the platform about 18" to 24" below the roof edge. Fire away, Chris

The handyman's secret weapon,Duct Tape.

Remember,smooth Duct Tape is the sign of a fine craftsman.

I could see it getting difficult to bend that platform to conform to the bin wall. I think that I would get something like 2 inch square tube and use it for two uprights, about four foot long, that would bolt into the bin. I would have them attached together by one cross piece that would space them about 2 feet apart. I would build on a platform and maybe two steps and rail that would get me 16 inches from top, so that platform would be about four feet from top. The platform, step and rail would be pre-built then taken off and assembled in place once the uprights and one cross piece were bolted to the bin. There would be diagonal braces to give the platform strength of course.

From your bin pic, I can"t see what the problem is......"take a section of the roof out to get inside?". I certainly wouldn"t cut up a nice rolling ladder to just get a platform to mount on the ladder on the bin.....or do you need to add to the ladder to get it down to the ground...eliminating the need for a ladder at the lower end? Just get some angle iron and make a lower ladder section to bolt onto the bin. yup!!! I"m a bit confused!

The roof does not have a manhole to get inside. The next section of roof to the right of the ladder has a bolt with a wingnut at the bottom to hold it in place. You must remove the wingnut, raise the bottom of the section a few inches, then pull the roof section down and then must be lifted and moved to lay on the next section of roof to the right of it. So, you have to stand near to top of the ladder, raise roof sheet up over the bolt, pull down a few inches, pick up the roof sheet and lay it on the next section to the right, remember, you are standing near to top of a fully extended ladder reaching a couple of feet to the right to do all of this. Then climb to the top rung of the ladder to get on the roof to get down inside the bin. The roof ladder is on the section to the left of the extension ladder, if it was fastened to the section next to the removable sheet, you couldn't remove the section. If it's windy, I don't even consider opening it up. I don't want to cut up the rolling ladder, I want a platform to fasten it to at the height I want so I can stand on the platform to remove the roof section to get into the bin. I will then shorten the extension ladder and set it to the bottom steps of the now fastened down rolling ladder. I was think about 4 legs, cross braced, fastened to the bin with a platform on top for the rolling ladder to be fastened to. Clear as mud? If it's not too windy this today, I will climb up the ladder and take a picture of the roof close up. Chris

I wasn't thinking about bending the ladder to conform to the bin, I just want it on a platform so the roof edge is about knee height, or the height of the lower railing on the rolling ladder. Then I can cut the top part of the railing next to the bin off so access to the roof is easier. This would give me a place to stand and move around when getting into the bin.

Have you explored putting a man hole in the roof? Not that hard to do. You can fabricate your own or maybe find one out of a salvage bin. Pulling a section of roof out sounds like a magic carpet ride if the wind catches you off guard or balance.