Combine Cab-Access Stairs

For those who have difficulty climbing vertical combine ladders, Combine Cab-Access Stairs are a relatively inexpensive alternative vs. a powered lift. Bolted to the machine’s deck-plate, the stairs slope at a 45 degree angle behind the drive tire to facilitate ascending/descending. With handrails on each side, it usually has seven steps, the bottom two or three being retractable for proper ground clearance. Henderson custom-builds access stairs for any make/model but specializes in John Deere combines; a 12-volt seat-activated reversing switch is provided to raise/lower the bottom two steps. Stermer’s homemade access stairs consist of a 1/8-inch diamond plate for the deck, five corrugated-metal steps mounted to a 2- x 6-inch channel iron frame, plus support bar running from the staircase to his combine’s frame. The bottom two stairs are retracted by pulling on a rope that runs down from the cab entrance. Eicher modified a rolling shop ladder to become combine access stairs.

Cost: Henderson custom-made-$2,800; Stermer homemade-$1,200

Impairment Category: Back, Lower extremity, Strength/endurance, Upper extremity