tall extension vs multiposition ladders

[1990C4S]

Lift your ladder before you buy it. I have a couple, the 'safe' fiberglass ones are super heavy and hard for me to use alone. I can do it, but I struggle.

The sketchy ladders (thin aluminum extension) are very light, and my 'go to' ladder for anything quick.

My multiposition ladder is pretty dusty. I've used it in stairwells and for a few odd jobs, but if I had to get rid of one, it would go first.

[masraum]

Lots of good info, thanks.

Standoffs look like a nice option.

[Baz]

I never liked those Little Giant ladders. I have an assortment of ladders here - step ladders and extensions.

If I were you Steve, I'd get an extension that went high enough but wasn't extended all the way. When you are up high on a ladder you want something sturdy, for sure.

I've been up high to prune palms and when it gets to a certain point in height I always use a ratchet strap to secure the ladder to the tree trunk. Not sure how you'd do that for a house.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

I never liked those Little Giant ladders. I have an assortment of ladders here - step ladders and extensions.

If I were you Steve, I'd get an extension that went high enough but wasn't extended all the way. When you are up high on a ladder you want something sturdy, for sure.

I've been up high to prune palms and when it gets to a certain point in height I always use a ratchet strap to secure the ladder to the tree trunk. Not sure how you'd do that for a house.

Probably what Scott Douglas mentioned with a rope over the roof tied to something on the opposite side of the house.

[URY914]

It seems that most ladder falls start with the ladder sliding off the wall/tree. Yes best to secure the ladder somehow first before climbing up.

[porsche4life]

Skip all the Fiberglas ladders. If you aren’t working with power, you will enjoy moving an aluminum ladder around way more! Lighter and no fiberglass fuzzies as it ages.

I have a multi postion Werner and I love it, but I only use it in a frame mode. If you are going to be way up, you want an extension ladder.

[masraum]

Just out of curiosity, and because I'm a numbers guy, I thought I'd check some weights.

28' (27' reach, 25' max length) Werner 250# rated Al extension ladder 50.5#
28' (27' reach, 25' max length) Louisville 300# rated Al extension ladder 55#
28' (27' reach, 25' max length) Werner 375# rated Al extension ladder 65.5#

23' (26' reach) Werner 375# rater Al multi-position ladder 50#

It looks like the multiposition ladders are the same weight or lighter for the nearest max reach for an extension ladder.

IE, 26' reach multiposition is 50# and 27' reach extension is 50.5#, but the multiposition is rated for 375# and the extension is only rated for 250#. If you increase the capacity of the extension up to 375#, it ends up being over 15# heavier (30%) than the multiposition.

So I'm not sure weight is much of a deciding factor other than that when it comes to getting something that long up where you need it. Would I want to stand a 50# ladder up when extended to its max length vs standing up a 50# ladder that's only 14' tall and then using a rope to extended it up to 25'.

I can see standing up a 23' long, 50# ladder being a lot harder than standing up a 14' long, 50# ladder and then using a rope to extend that ladder up to 25'

[cabmandone]

Here's the thing, I haven't found a good way to extend the aluminum ladder other than to fully open it and then stand it up. The FG ladder you just pull a rope and up it goes! That! is where the weight comes in. Outside of that though, I'd take the multi position ladder all day. Just too many other uses for it.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Here's the thing, I haven't found a good way to extend the aluminum ladder other than to fully open it and then stand it up. The FG ladder you just pull a rope and up it goes! That! is where the weight comes in. Outside of that though, I'd take the multi position ladder all day. Just too many other uses for it.

You don't have a rope and pulley on your AL ladders? Mine do, or did.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You don't have a rope and pulley on your AL ladders? Mine do, or did.

I'm not talkin aluminum extension. I'm talking the aluminum multi position.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'm not talkin aluminum extension. I'm talking the aluminum multi position.

Extend both sides all the way out in the storage mode, then flip it on its side and pivot it out to 180. It’s really the only way to do it.

[rusnak]

You'll understand the logic of an extension ladder the first time you try to lean a ladder as tall as a light pole against your house.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Skip all the Fiberglas ladders. If you aren’t working with power, you will enjoy moving an aluminum ladder around way more! Lighter and no fiberglass fuzzies as it ages.

I have a multi postion Werner and I love it, but I only use it in a frame mode. If you are going to be way up, you want an extension ladder.

Good point. I didn't think about the weight difference. My extensions are all aluminum and my step ladders fiberglass.

[Bugsinrugs]

I have three 26 ft extension ladders. One is aluminum with the outriggers. That’s a ladder I feel confident on. The fiberglass ones are to bouncy. That being said, I can barely handle standing these ladders up. I brace the feet to the house then stand it up rung by rung. I do the reverse to take it down.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Skip all the Fiberglas ladders. If you aren’t working with power, you will enjoy moving an aluminum ladder around way more! Lighter and no fiberglass fuzzies as it ages.

I have a multi postion Werner and I love it, but I only use it in a frame mode. If you are going to be way up, you want an extension ladder.

This.

[Bill Douglas]

I've really cut back on my tall ladder use these days - old and wise of maybe just old and scared. I use mobile scaffold towers for anything high up, or trestles and aluminium planks for lower stuff.

[rwest]

I have a Little Giant and I really like it- yes, very heavy, but very rigid as well.

Had a friend helping me on my roof years ago and he had a Chinese made multi purpose ladder that the middle hinge had a lot of play and would freak you out climbing it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rwest

I have a Little Giant and I really like it- yes, very heavy, but very rigid as well.

Had a friend helping me on my roof years ago and he had a Chinese made multi purpose ladder that the middle hinge had a lot of play and would freak you out climbing it.

Yeah, definitely don't want that. I used to have a cheap 16 or 18' ext ladder from HD. I think it was the cheapest they had. It flexed and bounced around. I wasn't a fan. That's why I figure whatever I buy will be rated at 375 or maybe 300 (I weigh about 190).