What is the condition of your tall ladder?

[Bill]

I've got a 32' aluminum, been stored outside. I'm worried that the years of being outside have degraded the integrity of it, especially as I've gotten heavier.

[GTOguy]

Well, you can lose weight or get a new ladder. I recommend smoking meth to lose the weight. You'll have more hours on this forum as a side-bonus. I once knew a guy who weighed 365 pounds and had a Harley. He was complaining that he couldn't give any women a ride because he'd exceed the load limit of the bike. We all told him to get a 60 pound girlfriend....someone like Celine Deon.

[Mick]

I've got a 32' aluminum, been stored outside. I'm worried that the years of being outside have degraded the integrity of it, especially as I've gotten heavier.

The aluminum should be fine outside for decades, but most of the fasteners are some kind of steel. Cheap ladders use mild steel, expensive ones use stainless, so the expensive ladder should last longer. I have found that the rope to extend it only lasts several years, regardless of the cost of the ladder.

My personal experience is that although I have not gotten significantly heavier in the last few decades, my large ladders definitely did. I don't think my biggest one was 32', I think it was 28', but either way, it eventually got heavy enough that I didn't feel like moving it around any more, and had trouble lifting it up into its storage space. A neighborhood guy asked to borrow it, and I agreed. Honestly, if it comes back, I will cut it up with a sawzall and bring it in for scrap.

Lots of other shit around here has been getting heavier for years too. If anyone has any suggestions for lessening or eliminating that, please let me know.

[Datawiz]

I've got a 32' aluminum, been stored outside. I'm worried that the years of being outside have degraded the integrity of it, especially as I've gotten heavier.

I have 4 very large ladders stored on the side of my house, tallest is a 28' one. I purchase an F150 truck cover every 2-3 years and cover them up (with weights for the wind). They are all just fine.

[LATB]

Got rid of all my extension ladders a few years ago including the 40 footer.
My ladder days are reduced to a 6' step ladder.

[IrishSpuds]

I have a tall two piece that I used to keep in the shed. Damn thing weighs a ton even though aluminum. Leave it outside behind the shed for last four or five years. It’s just fine, and not like I’m going to put ppf, zano and display at cars and coffee.

[Vandelay Industries]

I've got an aluminum 32 footer too. The thing has to be 45+ years old... it used to belong to my grandfather. I don't use it often, but when I do I start to think about getting a new fiberglass ladder. But then I remember how I just don't have much desire to work off a ladder anymore. :Jeff '79:

[Steve_R]

100% on this. Maybe an 8’ if I’m feeling frisky. But only people getting on a 32’ ladder at my house would be the hired help.

Hell nah.


Link?

[Onebadcad]

I have three ladders at my trailer home.
One is 24' heavy-duty, top-of-the-world, cost me $400 fifteen years ago.
Hung on hooks on wall of third garage, has not been off hooks in ten years, as wifey said I do not have enough life insurance to get on it.
PM if you want, no shipping, cash only, NOT A BUDDY PRICE!!

[Egnalf]

ever see trades guys taking their extension ladders off the top of the cargo van and storing them inside at night?

[snide]

I have 4 very large ladders stored on the side of my house, tallest is a 28' one. I purchase an F150 truck cover every 2-3 years and cover them up (with weights for the wind). They are all just fine.

I don't need a ladder. :shrug:

[69camfrk]

Well, you can lose weight or get a new ladder. I recommend smoking meth to lose the weight. You'll have more hours on this forum as a side-bonus. I once knew a guy who weighed 365 pounds and had a Harley. He was complaining that he couldn't give any women a ride because he'd exceed the load limit of the bike. We all told him to get a 60 pound girlfriend....someone like Celine Deon.

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Go directly to hell...don't pass go or collect $200.:D

[Aerovette]

I have a 34 foot fiberglass ladder that I wish would get borrowed and never returned. It is 100% unmanageable. I hate it with a passion.

[dvarapala]

Lars ran over it on the freeway. :leaving:

[Steve_R]

I have a 34 foot fiberglass ladder that I wish would get borrowed and never returned. It is 100% unmanageable. I hate it with a passion.


Ship it here. I’ll borrow it and never return it. :seasix:

[JRD77VET]

Lars ran over it on the freeway. :leaving:

Coming back from a fishing trip in Ontario with my 24' pontoon boat. Outside of Syracuse just as we crested a bridge was a 32' + aluminum ladder fully extended in my lane on a slight angle while in traffic. Luckily I was able to straddle it without hitting it with either the Suburban or the trailer. :cuss:

[Dan47]

Got rid of all my extension ladders a few years ago including the 40 footer.
My ladder days are reduced to a 6' step ladder.

Same here. My Dad lost his leg to a ladder mishap.

Fear of being mistaken for a pirate and division of labor has made ladders obsolete in my space. :)

[tjfontaine]

I HAD a 30' fiberglass extension ladder I had maybe 30 years? Except I kept mine hanging in the garage. I used it last summer when prepping my all CEDAR sided MN house for sale. My new house is all brick with aluminum fascia will never need outside maint (and if it does it will no longer be me). I figured once I hit 70 maybe I should stop going up TALL TALL ladders although I still do the 8' and 10' for interior stuff. I gave away my tall extension ladder to my young neighbor across the street when I moved.

[Tikiman]

The aluminum should be fine outside for decades, but most of the fasteners are some kind of steel. Cheap ladders use mild steel, expensive ones use stainless, so the expensive ladder should last longer. I have found that the rope to extend it only lasts several years, regardless of the cost of the ladder.

My personal experience is that although I have not gotten significantly heavier in the last few decades, my large ladders definitely did. I don't think my biggest one was 32', I think it was 28', but either way, it eventually got heavy enough that I didn't feel like moving it around any more, and had trouble lifting it up into its storage space. A neighborhood guy asked to borrow it, and I agreed. Honestly, if it comes back, I will cut it up with a sawzall and bring it in for scrap.

Lots of other shit around here has been getting heavier for years too. If anyone has any suggestions for lessening or eliminating that, please let me know.


Climate change is causing gravity to become stronger. We all need to buy shitty electric cars to save the planet and make things lighter again.

[Mick]

Climate change is causing gravity to become stronger. We all need to buy shitty electric cars to save the planet and make things lighter again.

Damn climate change . . .

[6spdC6]

As a construction worker used all sorts of ladders my whole work life.

Now have a 24' and a 36' hanging on the outside wall of the back garage.

Now 78 and have balance problems the only ladder I carefully use is a 8' step ladder. That one is also going to be only for my sons helping out or hired help.
My climbing days are over.

The big outside ladders are in decent shape. One thing to remember ladders are rated for 2/3 of what they can actually hold.

Be carefully out there!

[Frankie the Fink]

I stayed off of ladders too in my 70's until I found this one, rock steady on any surface and adaptable to nearly any need....hang curtains, get in the attic, clean out gutters, I wouldn't store it outside though. Not cheap but now I have just one ladder instead of 3 for different purposes.

[Bruze]

Got rid of all my extension ladders a few years ago including the 40 footer.
My ladder days are reduced to a 6' step ladder.

I have a 24' aluminum extension. I need to clean my chimney once a year and sometimes I have to maintain the TV antenna, and clean the gutters while I'm there. But I only use the one twelve-footer, I'm only going up one story. That's scary enough when you're old.

I hate doing it, especially since 2017 when the wind blew the ladder down, but at least I have to clean my chimney around November or so.

My buddy's (worthless) kid asked me a couple of months ago if there were any odd jobs he could do here (for money). I said sure, clean the chimney and gutters. 2-3 weeks later he never called back so I did it myself.

He's a nice kid otherwise (he's 45) but is completely full of bullshit, his word is worth nothing. Quite different from the old man.

[Bruze]

Climate change is causing gravity to become stronger. We all need to buy shitty electric cars to save the planet and make things lighter again.


93501


93500

[04 commemorative]

I stayed off of ladders too in my 70's until I found this one, rock steady on any surface and adaptable to nearly any need....hang curtains, get in the attic, clean out gutters, I wouldn't store it outside though. Not cheap but now I have just one ladder instead of 3 for different purposes.

Was thinking of getting one of these

[sublime1996525]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.

[Unsuspicious]

I stayed off of ladders too in my 70's until I found this one, rock steady on any surface and adaptable to nearly any need....hang curtains, get in the attic, clean out gutters, I wouldn't store it outside though. Not cheap but now I have just one ladder instead of 3 for different purposes.

Home Depot had a gorilla ladder like that for $100 on black friday. I bought one, they shipped me two, I returned one and kept a free one :hurray:

[Rodnok1]

I stayed off of ladders too in my 70's until I found this one, rock steady on any surface and adaptable to nearly any need....hang curtains, get in the attic, clean out gutters, I wouldn't store it outside though. Not cheap but now I have just one ladder instead of 3 for different purposes.

I picked one of those types up few years back. Better quality than I expected. I use it alot where it will reach. I prefer y aluminum extension ladder for most outside work with the spreader bar attachment.

[Onebadcad]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.

Find a tall, skinny, high schooler in the hood looking for weed money.

[04 commemorative]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.

Stand on top,you must be taller than 5 feet :willy:

[Yadkin]

My 32 footer and it's stabilizer bar have been outside for 15 years. I don't use them myself anymore- those days are over. But most contractors don't have a ladder that tall so I let them borrow mine when the high gables need staining. The steel hardware seems to be fine. I got rid of the rope long ago- it's just not necessary.

[Bruze]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.

Call The High Hanging Light Guy.


93524

[Unsuspicious]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.

Combining with 5 foot stilts should do the trick

[Yadkin]

I need to replace a hanging light in my entry way that’s 20’ up. Anyone have a ladder they want to loan me? My tallest is 15’.https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7d/30/b5/7d30b50a8ead1b73a4e39660fdd58959.jpg

[slewfoot]

I've got a 32' aluminum, been stored outside. I'm worried that the years of being outside have degraded the integrity of it, especially as I've gotten heavier.


https://i.imgur.com/yAXWgxQ.jpg


I have a Little Giant. My other extension ladder is defective. Has too much space between the steps. :D

Last year, about a month before the new roof was installed, I was up on top getting the A/C in order for the summer. As I was coming down, I missed the step and my leg went right on through it up to my nuts.

As the force swung me around flipping the ladder over sideways, Then off I went. That hole you see is where me ass went. Wife heard the boom and Ricky went off barking.

They came outside, wife came halfway up the bottom ladder and saw me laying their screaming "I'll call 911, I'll call 911, you want me to call 911?" I really wanted her to shut the hell up but it came out 'no, just let me lay here for a while."

I wanted to make sure I didn't damage either of my new hips and just moved around a bit before I got my ass out of the hole.

Finally getting up and coming down, we ended up going to the VA because my elbow apparently broke the fall before my ass did. Just had surgery on the elbow a couple months ago.

[LATB]

You have bars over your windows?

[slewfoot]

You have bars over your windows?

Only lower level. Wife wanted them when we bought the place back in 97.

[LATB]

Only lower level. Wife wanted them when we bought the place back in 97.

Damn, y’all live in the hood or something?

[slewfoot]

Not really, nice area but crime gets around. There are 5 of us homeowners here that are originals since the subdivison was built and we watch out for each other.

[Stangkiller]

Ive got this Werner ladder, it serves me well. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-5-in-1-Multi-Position-Pro-22-ft-Reach-Aluminum-Telescoping-Multi-Position-Ladder-375-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IAA-Duty-MT-22IAAXTHD/313982721

You’re welcome to it if needed.

[slewfoot]

I stayed off of ladders too in my 70's until I found this one, rock steady on any surface and adaptable to nearly any need....hang curtains, get in the attic, clean out gutters, I wouldn't store it outside though. Not cheap but now I have just one ladder instead of 3 for different purposes.



Not sure if it is at all Costcos but here in NM, that Little Giant with the extending legs is on sale at $149 until Thursday

[sublime1996525]

Stand on top,you must be taller than 5 feet :willy:

Call The High Hanging Light Guy.


93524

Haha

Combining with 5 foot stilts should do the trick

Lol

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7d/30/b5/7d30b50a8ead1b73a4e39660fdd58959.jpg

I should say I want to replace the entire chandelier with a different one. I don’t really want to stand on the top of a folding ladder while trying to keep it from falling over.

[Rodnok1]

Scaffolding is your best option for that repair, not horrible to rent a double height. If have it consider painting the ceiling also.

[sublime1996525]

Scaffolding is your best option for that repair, not horrible to rent a double height. If have it consider painting the ceiling also.

Didn’t realize they were that cheap to rent. $55 for 4 hours at Home Depot. Thanks!