DeWalt's Lift Pod Is Designed For Places Ladders Aren't Allowed

Ladders are familiar sights at just about any kind of manual labor site. You could always use a quick way to get a leg up, and certainly, there are plenty of different ladders available from retailers like Harbor Freight. That said, modern job sites have started to become more cautious about ladder use due to their inherent safety hazards, with some limiting or even prohibiting their usage entirely. In such a circumstance, you need a tool to lift you up in a safe, stable manner. That's what DeWalt is looking to provide with its new Lift Pod.

The Lift Pod, which is being developed in a joint operation by the DeWalt power tools brand and JLG Industries, is a compact elevation device designed with a greater emphasis on worker safety and stability. It's kind of like a midpoint between a ladder and a scissor lift, something that can raise you up with reduced risk of falling, but without the heavy-duty, power-hungry nature of a full-on electrical device. It's designed to be used in indoor spaces and job sites, and can be operated free-standing, as opposed to a ladder that needs to be leaned against a wall or surface.

This unique product from DeWalt and JLG is a fully manual elevation tool that's designed to provide both helpful degrees of elevation and work-safe stability. As the name implies, it's a small pod that you stand in rather than something you have to climb up. All you do is enter the little booth, closing the folding doors behind you. Then, you turn the large crank on the inside to raise the pod up to a max of approximately 4 feet. This provides up to 10 feet of working height depending on the person using it. 

The manual crank eliminates the need for heavy engines or batteries, which makes the Lift Pod easier to transport, while still allowing you to set your preferred height without sacrificing usability. Once the pod has risen, the user may experience a small amount of wiggle, but according to DeWalt, this is a result of a built-in damping system. If the base were completely rigid, the pod would be top-heavy and topple over easily, so allowing it a bit of wiggle room helps to keep it steady. 

Despite the wiggle, the user can freely use their hands to work, and there's even a built-in tool tray above the crank. Once the user is back on the ground, both the pod platform and doors fold up into a smaller configuration, and the wheels on the base allow the whole device to be easily relocated and stored. No word yet from DeWalt or JLG when, exactly, the Lift Pod will be commercially available, but it's projected to have an MSRP between $8,500 to $9,000.