WILL THIS WORK??????

lenray · Dec 27, 2023

I have a 4x4 JD 410 C BACKHOE---Extend-a-hoe..Could a small man cage be attached to the bucket to use as a ----maybe to trim trees?????

lenray · Dec 27, 2023

I am talking about the rear bucket NOT the front bucket...

Crazy Horse · Dec 27, 2023

Who was the guy who used to hang out here (maybe he still does) that for years cobbed together death-defying inventions in order to cut corners and save money? Some will remember who that was. He could come up with something for you to do yourself (or someone else) in, hopefully he reads this and will reply.

504 · Dec 27, 2023

Hydrolic chainsaw on the boom

Janicholson · Dec 27, 2023

Any info supplied should be considered to be your responsibility. Sure it could be done, but the careful motion and control found in man rated equipment is now going to be placed on the person running the rough hydraulic controls on the ground. Not only daangerous but not smooth or accurate, also subject to misinterpretation from above. Renting or purchasing a used man rated tool is much better. Jim

Hoofer B · Dec 27, 2023

I saw my B I L last night at my Mothers place for a Christmas get together. He had a T shirt on that said.... MY last words might be....SH T, That didn't work. Bill

MarkB_MI · Dec 27, 2023

What could possibly go wrong?

Timmycornpicker · Dec 27, 2023

You could. I don't know if you should. I'd go with a hydraulic shear in place of the bucket just so I didn't need another person.

Jim.ME · Dec 27, 2023

(quoted from post at 13:41:47 12/27/23) I am talking about the rear bucket NOT the front bucket...

Stranger arrangements have been built and used. I am not saying you should do this, but will say:

If you build it right, it would work to lift a person. Now whether or not it is an approved method by any standards is a totally different thing, that is a NO. For your personal use on your property, there likely would be no problem with standards. Having any hired help involved would be another NO.

Who do you trust to lift and swing you around, or who do you plan on being in the basket for you to lift and swing? If you do decide to build a basket invest in a full body harness and retractable lanyard to prevent the person in the basket from being falling or thrown out of the basket. Build an anchor point for the lanyard in the basket.

Depending on how much you need to do. a day or two's rental of a real 4-wheel drive self-propelled aerial boom lift would be money better spent in my opinion.

caterpillar guy · Dec 27, 2023

Man basket on a telehandler would be much more efficient And easier to use for both the operator and the worker in the basket. they will lift to close to 40 feet so would be high enough. That is what we use for trimming fence rows along the edges of fields in summer or winter.

DanielW · Dec 27, 2023

I don't think you'd get it very high, would you? I haven't opened my 410 boom all the way out, but I don't think the tipper arm opens up far enough to be pointing up. It would still be angling down. Even if it did open up that far, I wouldn't want to be in a basket on the end of it. Height wouldn't be my main concern. Rather, it would be sticking out way, way far back behind the cab, and any small movement would be exacerbated tenfold.

I can't say that it would pass any OHSA requirements or that I'd recommend others to try it at home, but I quite frequently pick up one of those metal 4X4 cages with the pallet forks on a tractor loader (the cages that are used on 4X4 totes/tanks/firewood), then ratchet strap the heck out of it to the forks so there's no risk of it coming off. One of us will drive the tractor and the other will be in the cage up front with a chainsaw/pole-saw, to trim trees/brush around the edge of a field. Works quite well. Even with only a chainsaw and no pole-saw a guy can clear up to 14' or so from the ground. Wouldn't want to do it on some of our steep side hills, but works fine on flatter land.

flying belgian · Dec 27, 2023

Just because you can,,,don't mean you should.

rrlund · Dec 27, 2023

You can Leonard, but you wouldn't believe how fast they come down if you blow a hose. Do I get up in the bucket myself? Yes.

rick n ohio · Dec 27, 2023

How about a polesaw I have a stihl that telescopes out pretty far.

wp6529 · Dec 27, 2023

A properly built man basket to mount in place of the bucket would certainly work.

OSHA has rules for using material handling equipment to support people, basically properly built with railings, toe boards and attached to the machine securely, and you de-rate the capacity of the machine 50%.

So if your BH is rated for 3,000# out at full extension (my machine, lookup your specs), then you have 1,500# capacity. If you are replacing the bucket you can subtract that weight from your man basket weight.

At any rate you should have plenty of capacity for a single person. As noted, make sure your hoses are in good condition lets you come down rather quickly.

I haven't done anything with the BH side on my BH, but routinely just stand in the loader bucket with safety harness clipped on and wife driving. Rated 8,200# at full height, doesn't even wiggle with me and a chainsaw and gives 15'+ platform height so 21'+ easy reach with chainsaw, a whole lot more with a pole saw.

Vito · Dec 27, 2023

12 or 16' platform with all the railings works well also. That's what we had when we framed houses.

Vito

Tony in SD · Dec 27, 2023

Anything can work and at the same time anything can fail. I have been involved with aerial communications construction most of my working life after college. What I will tell you is that you need to do whatever you have to do to make this contraption safe. First, know the OSHA rules for aerial maned lifts. You may not think they are very important but your insurance company certainly will. One of the most important OHSA rules is the you must be tethered with OSHA approved fall gear. I have personally seen the results of 4 untethered individuals that fell from a man lift. All come down head first; 1 died, 2 have no noticeable side affects just to look at them but both tell me they are still in constant pain after 30+ years since the fall, and the last one has a plate in his head and walks like one of Jerry's kids (no offense intended just a quick and easy description). Another big hazard are power lines. Best advice is, DO NOT CUT ANY TREES AROUND OR NEAR POWER LINES WITHOUT FORMAL TRAINING AND INSULATED TOOLS. I have no idea what the scope of your work is but whatever it is, be very careful and safe if you choose to do this.

SkipperII · Dec 27, 2023

Spent 90+% of my mechanical career specializing in Digger derricks, and man lifts. Something that most people are unaware of, lift devices that involve personnel working on or very near them, have locking valves on all cylinders, so that a blown or cut hose will not allow the device to drop suddenly. Additionally, as has been mentioned, an OSHA approved body harness, and restraint strap, that is within it's expiration period, and that has no nicks, cuts, oil and dirt contamination are required(to prevent unwillful flight of bucket). That being said. If it's on your property, your equipment, and involving only your family, I doubt OSHA cares.

moresmoke · Dec 27, 2023

Not sure how stable your backhoe is with the stick all the way out. I have a Cat 420. As unstable as mine is with the hoe stretched all the way to the side, there is no way in heck i would even consider what you are. Working off the loader, no problem.

I bought a boom lift a few years ago to get a few projects done. One of the best investments I have made. Just to note, trimming trees is the most nerve wracking thing I use the man lift for. Its hard to be prepared for how the tree is going to react when you cut off a chunk and remove that weight.

ss55 · Dec 28, 2023

It would be difficult to build controls into the bucket/man cage. It would have to be a two man operation, one in the bucket and one at the controls. A 30 to 50 year old backhoe probably has a lot of wear and slop in all the joints by now. I would not want to ride at the end of most backhoes.

For the cost of building a man cage you could probably rent a man lift or hire someone to trim the trees. It is impressive to watch how much a tree trimming crew can get done in a short time.

WILL THIS WORK??????

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads