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Post by Russell Letson on Apr 18, 2020 18:31:54 GMT -5
Speaking of life-threatening activities-- There are a couple modest outdoor chores that require something more than our old-fashioned wooden six-foot step ladder, and our nice 20-foot extension ladder got stolen a couple years back. So I'm looking at getting one of those adjustable ladders, something like this:  The roofers we hired had nice industrial-strength versions, but I can get along with a more modest version, maybe a 12- or 15-footer. Any recommendations? Stability and sturdiness are the primary qualities I'm concerned with. Little Giant seems to be the deluxe brand, but nobody hereabouts carries them, and they're pretty pricey anyway. And they're made in China, which might mean that they're all on back-order anyway. |
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,904 
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Post by Dub on Apr 18, 2020 18:45:12 GMT -5
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Post by jdd2 on Apr 18, 2020 18:56:29 GMT -5
Back when I broke my pelvis in the bike crash, and when I was then exploring that injury on the web, it seemed that falls from a ladder are one of the most common ways to break your pelvis. (undoubtedly other injuries, too)
Be careful out there.
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Post by epaul on Apr 18, 2020 19:13:23 GMT -5
Those things are heavy and (I think) clunky. If you are not going be working around electrical wires (the kind that deliver current to your house, not your light bulb) I recommend a plain jane aluminum step ladder. That design has yet to be beat. If you need more reach (sounds like you do) a 16' or 20' aluminum extension ladder will do the trick nicely. Regardless of all else, think about weight. Where will you be storing it? How far will the haul to the various places you will be using it be? Any stairs involved? With all that in mind, go your hardware store of choice and carry several of the suspects around the store for awhile. A 16' type II duty (you don't need a type 1) aluminum extension ladder will run $90 at Home Depot and will weigh 22 lbs. (a 20' is $10 more and five lbs heavier). A six' stepladder is $60 at Home Depot and only weighs 14 lbs. (8' is just a few bucks and pounds more)' A multipurpose ladder like you are looking at, one with the reach of a 16' extension, will run $436 at Home Depot and will weigh 45 lbs. (and those things aren't as easy to flip open as a Swiss Army knife. Be sure to put it into its different operating positions just to see what you think about it). I have one of these. Got it at Cosco. Love it. www.homedepot.com/p/Cosco-Signature-Series-6-ft-Premium-Aluminum-Step-Ladder-2061AABLD/203642157 |
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Post by howard lee on Apr 18, 2020 19:17:26 GMT -5
Russell, once you find the right ladder, get yourself one of these to wear and hook into it.
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Post by epaul on Apr 18, 2020 19:20:00 GMT -5
(do keep in mind that Dub is a bear of a man. Hauling a 45 lb. ladder up the mountain and back is nothing to him. He skips on the way up and whistles a happy tune on the way down.)
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Post by epaul on Apr 18, 2020 19:21:49 GMT -5
Russell, once you find the right ladder, get yourself one of these to wear and hook into it. That is disturbingly close to the outfit Todd wore at our Glenville gig (the one that got us all arrested). Todd was wearing only the harness and his dainty Daisy bottoms. |
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Post by Village Idiot on Apr 18, 2020 19:29:12 GMT -5
Those things are heavy and (I think) clunky. If you are not going be working around electrical wires (the kind that deliver current to your house, not your light bulb) I recommend a plain jane aluminum step ladder. That design has yet to be beat. If you need more reach (sounds like you do) a 16' or 20' aluminum extension ladder will do the trick nicely. I would agree with that. Unless you're in need of something you can configure for other things and you're just going straight up, stick with what epaul said. For one, they're a lot lighter which means a lot. |
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Post by Russell Letson on Apr 18, 2020 19:37:11 GMT -5
My days of being willing to climb the 18 feet to our eaves are over. And anyway, we have a new roof and new leafproofed gutters, so all that high-altitude maintenance stuff is behind me. I just need to get higher than I can reach on a stepladder in order to replace the outdoor floodlight--and Cezarija spots me anyway. (I was long ago forbidden to climb a ladder unless she's home.)
My days of humping around a 20-foot extension ladder are also long gone, even though the garage is all of ten feet from the house. I intend to test-lift anything I do buy--and to examine the hinge/locking mechanisms as well.
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Post by Village Idiot on Apr 18, 2020 19:48:37 GMT -5
Sounds like you just confirmed that you just need a regular ladder.
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Post by drlj on Apr 18, 2020 19:51:23 GMT -5
My advice is hire a guy with a ladder to do the work for you.
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Post by aquaduct on Apr 18, 2020 19:55:35 GMT -5
I've got a Werner 8' fiberglass step ladder in the house and it always works great. Outside I've got a 20' Werner fiberglass extension ladder with a window standoff gizmo and an add-on leveling foot that clips on to one side or the other and extends whatever the long leg is on a tilt which we've got in spades (a full story difference between the two ends of the house). Wife long ago freaked out and won't let me anywhere near the roof on the high side of the house so I "let" her contract any work over there.
The nieghbor has a really cool old house that's really tall and he's got this really cool rack thing that goes in a trailer hitch on the front of his F150 so he clamps the extension ladder in that and drives around the lawn to put the ladder up to the roof. THAT is so cool! I've been trying to figure out a reason I need that for a couple years now but just can't. Damn.
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Post by aquaduct on Apr 18, 2020 20:00:58 GMT -5
Oh, and I've worked around guys working on ladders in places like dropped cielings that have discovered electrical surprises contained within. Fiberglass is always the way to go.
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Post by drlj on Apr 18, 2020 20:08:41 GMT -5
Russell, once you find the right ladder, get yourself one of these to wear and hook into it. Right, wear this parachute pack so if you fall you can count to 10, pull the ripcord, and drift safely to earth. Be sure to count to 10 or it won’t work. |
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Post by theevan on Apr 18, 2020 21:11:31 GMT -5
I have the Werner version of that ladder that was left at the house we bought and I hate it. Ladders are very much apart of my business and a regular extension ladder with a standoff is probably the best thing that you can do and they're generally cheaper and certainly easier to climb and extend.
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Apr 18, 2020 21:30:19 GMT -5
Speaking of life-threatening activities-- There are a couple modest outdoor chores that require something more than our old-fashioned wooden six-foot step ladder, and our nice 20-foot extension ladder got stolen a couple years back. So I'm looking at getting one of those adjustable ladders, something like this: The roofers we hired had nice industrial-strength versions, but I can get along with a more modest version, maybe a 12- or 15-footer. Any recommendations? Stability and sturdiness are the primary qualities I'm concerned with. Little Giant seems to be the deluxe brand, but nobody hereabouts carries them, and they're pretty pricey anyway. And they're made in China, which might mean that they're all on back-order anyway. As others said, those are heavy! The latching mechanism seems very awkward to me. I gave mine to my strong son. |
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Apr 18, 2020 21:41:00 GMT -5
I got the little giant ladder from Costco. It’s a bit heavy but it’s the most stable, safest ladder I’ve ever used. It’s pretty much al, I want to use. And I have had a lot of ladders, fiberglass, wood, and aluminum.
Mike
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Apr 18, 2020 21:41:23 GMT -5
Before we converted the high track lights in our kitchen to LEDs, I changed dozens of spotlights with a suction cup extension pole like this: www.amazon.com/DocaPole-Extension-Extendable-Ceilings-Telescopic/dp/B07N1YL755The one I had also had an alternate head that grabbed the bulbs. A handyman service would change the bulbs for maybe $50. Go with quality LEDs and they'll probably outlast you. |
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Post by Cornflake on Apr 18, 2020 21:55:32 GMT -5
One concession I've had to make to aging is to stay off ladders. My balance has always been fine and generally still is but when I'm on a ladder and look up, I'm at risk of toppling down. I don't like having to pay young guys to trim our trees but it seems unavoidable.
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Post by fauxmaha on Apr 18, 2020 22:15:26 GMT -5
I've got one just like the picture.
Indeed it is heavy. Awkward to deploy. A general PITA.
The only thing good I have to say about it is that one ladder will do anything reasonable you have to to around the house. In that way, storage space is minimized.
I wouldn't buy it again, but I don't hate it enough to spend good money replacing it.
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