Added Steps & Hand Holds for Tractors Resource Sheet

Overview:

Individuals with limited mobility may have trouble safely climbing on and off a tractor. Given the height and location of the operator's seat, added steps and hand holds can help increase the safety and usability of farm tractors. Given the variety of sizes and configurations of tractors, there are no "universal" steps and hand holds, or plans for either.

Who benefits:

Individuals with lower body weakness, amputations, gait irregularity, balance difficulties, low grip strength, arthritis.

Commercial Resources*

Deere & Company
One John Deere Place
Moline, IL (USA) 61265
1-800-503-3373

Deere & Co. fabricates a line of "Step-Kits" with integrated hand holds that is available for their 10-55 Series Row Crop Tractors. Ask your local dealer about the "Dress up a Deere Friend" brochure.

K & M Manufacturing
308 NW 2nd St
Renville, MN 56284
1-800-328-1752

K & M fabricates a line of bolt-on added steps and hand holds for some models of John Deere and Case/IH tractors.

M. D. Products, Inc.
1998 215^th Street
Humbolt, IA 50548.
Phone: 515-332-3550
Fax: 515-332-3770

M. D. fabricates a line of add-on steps for John Deere Model 7000 and 8000 Series tractors and also sells individual steps.

Considerations:

If a commercial supplier of steps and hand holds for your model tractor does not exist and the equipment needs to be fabricated locally, be sure that the fabricator follows the American National Standards Institute and/or American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ANSI/ASAE) minimum standards for access and egress (ASABE S318.16, Section 8). Check with your library for a copy of the ASAE Standards. Individual copies of just the access/egress section are available from: ASAE Order Department, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 USA E-mail: martin@asae.org, Phone: 616-429-0300 Fax: 616-429-3852

Steps and hand holds should be placed to assist the operator who has a disability to easily and safely mount and dismount the tractor without losing balance or creating a secondary injury.

Steps should be made of steel with non-skid, non-slip tread materials that can be purchased from steel and welding supply companies.

Hand holds should be fabricated and secured in a manner that allows the user to maintain continuous contact with them during mounting and dismounting the tractor.

Hand holds and steps should be placed to maintain a clear pathway for entering and exiting the tractor.

Hand holds and steps should be welded or bolted to the tractor frame or existing steps. When possible, avoid adding or attaching steps or handholds to fenders or sheet metal.

Hand holds and steps should be created in such a way that they do not interfere with tractor function or future value, such as obstructing valves or controls or interfering with the clearance (ground or row) of the tractor.

Check with your state AgrAbility Project for assistance in locating fabricators, or check the yellow pages under metal fabrication, or custom welding shops.

*NOTE: Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Wisconsin, Easter Seals, or the AgrAbility Project, and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.

The AgrAbility Project is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture CSREES. Funding for this document was provided under project number 00-41590-0932.