Extension ladder

Aluminum or fiberglass extension ladder

  • Aluminum

    Votes: 15 65.2%

  • Fiberglass

    Votes: 8 34.8%
  • Total voters
    23
RatLabGuy said:
45 vs 52 might not sound huge but that's > 15% heavier.

And - I totally missed earlier that this was about extension ladders o_O
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For your skinny ass, that 7# is probably a deal killer.
 
kaiser715 said:
FWIW, just looked at ladders on Lowes...

24 foot 300-lb type 1A -- Aluminum weights 45#, F/G weighs 52#.

BTW, Methheads can't sell fiberglass.

(Edit, typo in weight)
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I have a 24ft aluminum one that can easily be thrown around with one hand, and a 24ft fiberglass one that is so annoyingly awkward and heavy that I don't want to bother carrying it across the driveway. I'd get the 225lb rated class II that only weighs 33lbs unless you just need the 300lb rating. Also, how tall you are makes a difference. Anything taller than a 24ft becomes really awkward for my short self because I can't reach above the midpoint to get it vertical.
 
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Thanks for all the replies. I will probably go with a 20ft aluminum one then. I'm 6'2" and weigh 205lbs right out of the bed in the morning, so probably 215 with food in my belly and boots and winter clothes on. I am thinking I need to step up to at least a 250lb rating if not the 300lb in case I am carrying something heavy up the ladder.
 
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Go with 24ft. A 20ft only extends to ~17ft (and is wobbly as heck when extended that far). If you need to get to a second story roof, a 20ft will not extend far enough to reach the roof.
 
rockcity said:
I'm a fat ass so I have to get the fat boy ladders
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Me too. If you work off either you're going to pick the stronger more stable one even if it's heavier. Every aluminum ladder I've been on wobbles too much for my taste.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Go with 24ft. A 20ft only extends to ~17ft (and is wobbly as heck when extended that far). If you need to get to a second story roof, a 20ft will not extend far enough to reach the roof.
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According to my wife, I have no business being on a roof, especially a 2nd story roof, LOL.
 
Look at the at ladders with the leveling legs, very handy if it's not entirely flat around your house. A little more pricey but better than digging a hole in your yard or stacking a few 2x4s. Get a pair of ladder boots while you are at it if you don't already have some.

You guys are the engineers, so if a ladder is rated for 225 how much can it actually hold?
 
ramjo said:
Look at the at ladders with the leveling legs, very handy if it's not entirely flat around your house. A little more pricey but better than digging a hole in your yard or stacking a few 2x4s. Get a pair of ladder boots while you are at it if you don't already have some.

You guys are the engineers, so if a ladder is rated for 225 how much can it actually hold?
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Yep, thinking about this one right now:
Werner 24 ft. Aluminum D-Rung Equalizer Extension Ladder with 250 lb. Load Capacity Type I Duty Rating-D1824-2EQ - The Home Depot

1,000 lbs if it was something I designed and we tested here at my work to our normal standards, LOL.
 
ramjo said:
Look at the at ladders with the leveling legs, very handy if it's not entirely flat around your house. A little more pricey but better than digging a hole in your yard or stacking a few 2x4s. Get a pair of ladder boots while you are at it if you don't already have some.

You guys are the engineers, so if a ladder is rated for 225 how much can it actually hold?
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At least 225lbs depending on ladder angle, loading direction, speed of impact (step), wind, number of pancakes eaten, etc.

Stiffness is another matter, which is why many people prefer fiberglass. Generally, something else will go wrong (ladder fall over or person fall off) before the ladder fails. And I'm not a ladder engineer, just and internet engineer.
 
I just used mine to put up Christmas lights this weekend. Aluminum extension ladder, no leveling feet, just ladder mitts for the ends. I can barely reach the peak of my second story with the entire thing extended. I forgot what how long it was, til now...28ft, 250lb max, 21ft2in max stepping height. Didn't think it was that long, but that probably explains why I must look like a drunk monkey trying to set it up at full extension, and it feels like a rope bridge when I'm halfway up. Got it at Home Depot or Lowes, stickers say mfg in 2000.
 
Fiberglass Werner...love 'em.
 
GotWood said:
Not sure if it will work for you, but a Little Giant ladder is the bomb for around the house.
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kaiser715 said:
x10 on the Little Giant being great unless you want to get really high up. Got one in the M/H.
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RatLabGuy said:
There is this. I don't have one... and have borrowed a buddy's many times.
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I have a 22' fiberglass Little Giant. Stands 6' tall collapsed and can get me on the second story roof of an average house when opened and extended. It weighs in a few pounds more than the aluminum version and is a little flexier. I bought it for electrical work.
 
the easiest way I have found to work an extension ladder is to set the feet where I want them, then use the rope to raise to working height. Then lean it. There's a way to lock your arm against the ladder to be able to carry it upright or hold it upright while raising or lowering. (! Use caution carrying upright!) To stand up a ladder with more mechanical advantage than me, I put the feet against a stop and walk it up then move it and raise it. Never hurts to ask for help. Never had a problem unless it was a 32' or taller. Then help was solicited. Last two pennies I've got for this thread. :D
 
a_kelley said:
then use the rope to raise to working height
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When I was on the FD a hundred years ago, we were setting up for training at the station. I was on the building side of the ladder bracing it upright, another FF was extending using the rope. He had sneakers....footing the ladder....rope parted....extension came down like a guillotine...nothing broken, but he had 2 black big toenails that fell off later. Better to happen in training, I guess.... Check that rope!
 
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Just borrow Tonys.
 
Here's how you do it, and it's only about a 10' ladder....whole video will make you draw up, best part starts at around 5:00

 
If you want to learn how to use a extension ladder and all about ladder safety get a job with utility company i.e.... power company, phone company, some cable companies. I do spend a good part of my day every day at work on extension ladders in mountainous terrain on phone poles.
 
kaiser715 said:
Here's how you do it, and it's only about a 10' ladder....whole video will make you draw up, best part starts at around 5:00

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Made me wanna puke. Camera perspective turned me tummy.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Made me wanna puke. Camera perspective turned me tummy.
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I can't stand those fish-eye distorted views from cameras. Just give me a regular old square image.
 
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