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]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

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]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

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.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by TheRealBadger

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]

Originally Posted by Datawiz

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.

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[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.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

Lars ran over it on the freeway.

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.

[Dan47]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Mick

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]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

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 . . .