Combine Stairs Better Than A Ladder For Ease Of Use

Combine Stairs Better Than A Ladder For Ease Of Use COMBINES Accessories Paul Stermer put stairs on the outside of his grain bin years ago and now he has them on his combine too The heavy-duty stairs unfold for easy access from the cab or ground “My wife and I put stairs on our grain bin 10 years ago and we appreciate them more every year ” says Stermer “As we get older the issue often is getting up onto equipment The ladder on my combine was getting pretty rickety so I decided to replace it instead of just reinforcing it ” Stermer admits he may have overbuilt the stairs which he fabricated with 2 by 6-in channel iron for the frame He mounted 5 corrugated metal steps to the frame with 1/8-in diamond plate for the deck He ran a support from the combine frame to the stairs It attaches just above the lower 2 steps which fold over center allowing gravity to hold them in place when up A rope runs down the combine side of the stairs for retracting the steps from above “We’ve had 3 large men on the stairs with no problem ” says Stermer “I’m confident the stairs could hold 900 lbs ” Stermer says the biggest challenge was just deciding to make the stairs He estimates local fabricating shops would have charged him $2 500 plus He ordered needed material and had it delivered for a total cost of $1 100 “I don’t know why the farm equipment companies don’t put stairs on new equipment instead of ladders ” says Stermer “Worked into the price of new equipment the added cost would be pennies ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Paul Stermer 67 County Route 115 Lindley N Y 14858 ph 607 329-6518; stermerfarm@gmail com

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