Custom EASY TO USE 1-2 Man Aerial Work Platform (Man Basket) For Fork Lift

[Brucker]

2022 is looking to be yet another crazy busy year for us. And coming up soon on the schedule happens to be a couple projects that will require working 8-20' above ground level. While working from a ladder can not be completely eliminated, we'd like to reduce the amount of time we have to be on one. Usually we'd rent a manlift, and we may still for some projects, but have decided to try to save some money by building a man basket, or aerial work platform, that can be used with equipment that has forks. Our main requirements are that it needs to be safe and sturdy yet lightweight, and needs to be can be set up/taken apart quickly and simply for easy transport and compact storage. It would need to be big enough to hold up to 2 men along with tools and materials. It also has to be able to be configured in many different ways to all sorts of different sized materials while still being able to serve as a safe work platform. So we quickly came up with a design and spent a couple evenings putting something together.

We start the fab process by cutting the majority of the required parts after coming up with a chop (cut) list. We do that on our roller chop line with our main swivel mast bandsaw from Baileigh Industrial, which makes mitering cuts a breeze.

The parts are then deburred with a flap disc on a 4.5" grinder and laid out for assembly.

The base goes together quickly secured to the fab table. Once the main assemble is tack welded together, the accessible joints are welded solid, then the base if flipped over, clamped back down to the table, and the rest are welded out.

 

[Brucker]

With the frame of the base completed, it gets skinned with some 1/2" x 14ga flat expanded metal

Then made 6 interchangeable side rails. In addition to the top and middle rail, they have a 3" tall toe kick to keep items from falling out of the basket. And are cross drilled so they can be bolted together insuring a safe place to clip a harness into.

Here are all the finished pieces together

 

[Brucker]

Everything breaks down into the base which is about 72" x 38" x 6" tall.

And assembled:

Sides are bolted together:

We will use chain and/or straps to secure it to the equipment it is being used with. So for storage and transport, it gets strapped together using straps we use for that process. Makes for a nice, neat, clean, compact package.

 

[Brucker]

Here is a short video showing just how quick and easy it is to set up, use, and break down.

[VIDEO]

Just need to add some paint and it will be complete!

 

[RicardoJM]

This is sweet. I think that is something I could use on occasion and it breaks down into a small package for all the time it is not needed.