Which General Purpose ladders are best

[Numb-nuts 1]

I am about to buy some new ladders as I normally use the main contractors ladders and travel in their vehicles to jobs.

I have just bought my own van and need to buy some ladders. Unlike the big contractors, I haven't unlimited resources

to get hold of all types of ladders, scissor lifts and cherry-pickers when I need them for my own jobs.

 

I have been looking around and I have seen the ladders they call combination ladders. These work as a straight 3 piece slide

ladder to the maximum height, but they also can act as self supporting ladders where the highest working point is above the apex. Does anyone know how stable these are and are they a good buy in terms of versatility?

 

This is the main ladder I am considering. The Seller is in my home town fortunately so I can go try the ladders (I think) before I buy. I think they are actually very well priced considering their versatility. There is a taller one too but I am nervous enough of heights and i think this one is at my freestanding height limit. Anything significantly higher and I would hire a cherry-picker and charge accordingly. Also the price breaks my budget by about £50.00.

 

My criteria are that they have to be versatile, they have to be lightweight and a maximum of 3.5m fully closed for transportation purposes and they have to be by a well known manufacturer and lastly they have to be within my budget of £250.00. These are made by Zarges a good manufcaturer in fact almost every tradesman's ladders I have seen on their vehicles have been by Zarges.

 

What do you think and what ladders do you use?

 

[Soundy 1]

I think I'd be a little leery of one that extended up like that... doesn't seem like there'd be a lot of strength to that section, with no upper support.

 

I'd love one of these, personally: http://www.littlegiantladder.com/ - I know several trades that have them and swear by them.

 

My co-worker and I have a couple different designs of articulating ladders (this style: http://www.rona.ca/shop/~articulated-ladder-featherlite-64698_!ladder_shop), similar styles but with different locking mechanisms... both are a pain to work with, and one of them has round rungs that are painful to stand on for more than about 5 minutes, unless you're wearing construction boots with thick, hard soles. Still, handy to be able to fold it up to a 3' height to go in the back of a van or car.

[Numb-nuts 1]

The Little giant is a great little ladder and very popular with decorators and builders who have large vans where they can roof rack all types of ladders. Me, I like to travel as light as possible. The drawback with the little giant is it's working height. Can't fault it for versatility, fact is they are very popular in the UK now.

 

I have a remedial job booked for late january, all the dome cameras are mounted up high in a warehouse on the steel frame on little wooden angles. These is no support for a leaning ladder and a little giant ladder just wouldn't reach.

The picture illustrates very well the function I need, at height in an open area without walls close by and nowhere to

'tie off'.

 

I need to work at height outside where I can lean a ladder fully extended at height, to fix either cameras or floodlights,

I also need some for of freestanding ladder indoors for industrial units or to access ceiling heigh for false ceilings. I already have a reasonable step ladder with hand hold if I ever need it and an 18 Ft lean to ladder wooden which I got really cheap £30.00 from a neighbour. Where I fall short in capability is the freestanding at height function which the ladder I illustrated seems to meet as well as the other functions. The rungs (which as you rightly point out are important) profiles are semi-round at the top and quite deep( an accessory plate to stand on is available, but safety rules dictate if the job is to take more than 30 minutes 'continuous use' a platform should be used. I NEVER spend more than 30 minutes up a ladder in one continuous period. I prepare as much as I can on the ground before I ascend any ladder.

 

You have again rightly made the point that these ladders look precarious as a freestanding ladder, I echo your opinion but they apparently are very stable and if that concerned, a pair of telescopic stabilizers can be added for extra stability. Not cheap but if they improve confidence it's gotta be worth it. But according to others I have spoken to, they are very stable.

[rory 0]

I have a remedial job booked for late january, all the dome cameras are mounted up high in a warehouse on the steel frame on little wooden angles. These is no support for a leaning ladder and a little giant ladder just wouldn't reach.

 

Warehouse normally supplies the lift, such as a forklift with a cage.

Nobody is going to have a 30-40 foot ceiling without a way to get up and change the light bulbs.

[Numb-nuts 1]

I'm not keen on relying on other people to provide my access equipment and to consider my safety.

With all respect to your pinion and in all honesty, my safety is something I would rather have full

control over myself.

 

I am not keen on working at heights but I do feel confident that these combination ladders will

fulfill their role adequately and give me the best possible all round access and versatility.

 

My reason for asking the question is to see if there is anything better on the market that perhaps

I haven't considered, I have done a good few days on the internet researching and this seems to be

for me at least a good all round solution. I may well invest in an additional pair of stabilizer arms though.

 

You do make a good point though Rory, 'they do need a method of access to maintain the building' so that

is a question I will address when looking at and estimating a job.

[Soundy 1]

The Little giant is a great little ladder and very popular with decorators and builders who have large vans where they can roof rack all types of ladders. Me, I like to travel as light as possible.

We have both 12' fiberglass and 10' aluminum ladders that I can rack on top of my van... what I like about the articulating ladder is that I can fold it up and carry it inside the van. I also have one of these that rides inside: http://www.coscoproducts.com/eng/Products/Work-Platforms/All/Details/2759-11003ABL2-Cosco-Worlds-Greatest-Step-Stool-Three-Step-Aluminum-Work-Platform - very nice, with a big tray and a number of slots for screwdrivers and tools in the handle

 

The drawback with the little giant is it's working height. Can't fault it for versatility, fact is they are very popular in the UK now.

They do have some pretty tall models... http://www.littlegiantladder.com/little-giant/skyscraper.html "The SkyScraper is indeed the world's tallest a-frame ladder with a maximum height of 21-feet, making ceiling-height work simple and safe."

 

I have a remedial job booked for late january, all the dome cameras are mounted up high in a warehouse on the steel frame on little wooden angles. These is no support for a leaning ladder and a little giant ladder just wouldn't reach.

The picture illustrates very well the function I need, at height in an open area without walls close by and nowhere to

'tie off'.

Rory's right, a lift of some kind is appropriate past a certain level... especially if you have to take an assortment of tools and equipment up with you.

 

Most areas, in fact, a lift is *required* over a certain height, except for specific conditions (eg. an extension ladder that can be tied off at the top). Worksafe BC mandates no higher than 3m (feet from ground) on a stepladder without fall protection; the oil companies in Canada have a stricter limitation of 1.5m

[rory 0]

Best thing to invest in for jobs like that is a harness of sorts, at least down here they always have some kind of life but never any safety harness .. tying yourself off with a rope is risky in itself .. but least it makes you feel like you wont fall, least that works for me

[Soundy 1]

I'm not keen on relying on other people to provide my access equipment and to consider my safety.

With all respect to your pinion and in all honesty, my safety is something I would rather have full

control over myself.

 

...

 

You do make a good point though Rory, 'they do need a method of access to maintain the building' so that

is a question I will address when looking at and estimating a job.

Rent your own lift, have your own control.

 

Most warehouses I've worked in have a manlift of some sort on-site... typical scissor type or small boom that you control yourself, so you're not reliant on another operator.

 

I've also worked from baskets slung from cranes, 50' up or more... that's one case I'd definitely trust the operator's safety sense more than my own, as they have specific training and extensive procedures to follow.

[Numb-nuts 1]

Well I'm definitely calling you in next time I get a bucket job then ...

 

but realistically, it's not that often I have to install a camera at that kind of height

which is different to when I used to maintain repeater antennae on huge masts where we were

provided with a runner and arrest harness built into the mast itself. That used to frighten

the hell out of me and I doubt I could make it these days (age) as we had to climb all the

way up and usually had to take a ten minute rest before getting to our work.

 

No bathrooms up there, so a routine was absolutely necessary before starting a climb.

 

If you are ever in London. try and view the radio mast at the top of Hampstead Heath next to the boating pond.

You'll see what I mean.

[NotoriousBRK 0]

Most warehouses I've worked in have a manlift of some sort on-site... typical scissor type or small boom that you control yourself, so you're not reliant on another operator.

 

I've also worked from baskets slung from cranes, 50' up or more... that's one case I'd definitely trust the operator's safety sense more than my own, as they have specific training and extensive procedures to follow.

 

Agreed. It's good to be safety-oriented, but I don't think there is any free-standing ladder that is going to reach warehouse ceilings that I'd trust *and* want to carry around a jobsite all day.

 

If they *don't* have a lift, then rent one, and it goes into the job cost. If they don't have a lift and the job won't permit the ~$1200/day cost (at least here), this might be a good job to refer to your least-liked competitor...

[Numb-nuts 1]

I dislike all my competitors equally

[shockwave199 0]

I have a little giant and it is indeed a great ladder but it doesn't extend too high. The only thing I suggest is do NOT cheap out and get a light duty ladder for height. I did that once and I avoid that ladder at all costs. Nothing but a wobble fest half way up man. I have no problem at all with firm footing no matter how high. I've rigged up many a casino in vegas with fireworks on skinny ledges on the very top. But a wobbly ladder makes me wanna ****e my pants every time- cannot deal with that. I would only extend any ladder so far before using a bucket, but if it's extension ladders you need- get heavy duty for high extensions, imo. Bucks...but worth it.

[Numb-nuts 1]

I have a little giant and it is indeed a great ladder but it doesn't extend too high. The only thing I suggest is do NOT cheap out and get a light duty ladder for height. I did that once and I avoid that ladder at all costs. Nothing but a wobble fest half way up man. I have no problem at all with firm footing no matter how high. I've rigged up many a casino in vegas with fireworks on skinny ledges on the very top. But a wobbly ladder makes me wanna ****e my pants every time- cannot deal with that. I would only extend any ladder so far before using a bucket, but if it's extension ladders you need- get heavy duty for high extensions, imo. Bucks...but worth it.

 

Well the ladders I have noe decided upon are rated Heavy Duty Industrial use. I am insecure about height as it is, so would not chance a wobbly ladder. These combination ladders can be either a high step ladder or an extendable ladder. They have 3 section upto12 rungs (I am buying the 3 x 10) I don't relish working at much higher than 6 meters and rarely have to, when I can then cost in hiring a lift or similar. It also has a set of accessories that make it increasingly stable, level stand offs and comfort rung extenders (for longer tasks). Someone already mentioned rung profile being a 'fatigue factor' and these have half rounded rungs.

 

You mentioned wobble, I think the rigidity and rung width have a lot of bearing on that, something I will have to satisfy myself on. I was also advised that the way ladders are handled has a bearing on their rigidity and strength.

 

The ladders are the Skymaster range made by Zarges as pictured earlier in this thread and are one of the best rated ladder manufacturers. The other ones I quite like are Hailo, but I decided against those as I believe them to be less durable or strong.

 

I wanted to stay in budget and buy the safest strongest most versatile ladders I could for the money. I think I have chosen well. I already doubled my budget thinking that I owe my personal safety as much as I can reasonably afford.

You guys have just helped me to realize that I am very comfortable with my choice of ladders. I'll let you all know how I get on with them at the end of January

[Numb-nuts 1]

Well I did just buy some ladders, I bought the Abru combination ladder. I wanted to buy the 3section x 12 rungs that would have allowed me to work at a height of about 25-27 ft. When I went to see these at a place that had them in stock, I tried the 10 rung set and I couldn't lift them by myself. That was a shock to my ego but nevertheless a fact I could not ignore.

Therefore I tried the 3 x 10 and was able to maneuver it into place and lift it. Okay it only gave me a working height of 17 - 20 ft but what choice did I have? It was also about £90 cheaper than the 3 x 12. It is very stable indeed, I was very pleasantly surprised. The ladder rungs are rounded over when the ladder is inclined, and they are quite wide rungs,

making this a very comfortable ladder. The ladder has a 900mm wide stabilizer bar which is very good but restricting when moving the ladder about. I could replace the nuts holding the stabilizer on with wing nuts I suppose but they'd only get lost.

 

I bought two sets of ladder securing brackets for roofbars, one for my step ladder and one for the new ladder, and I bought one set of wall hooks to store the ladders on overnight. I bought a set of 3 'keyed alike' padlocks to secure the ladders when on the van roof and when on the wall brackets. I fixed the wall brackets to the wall with shear nuts which break off at a certain torque, leaving a conical nut that cannot easily be removed. An angle grinder would be needed.

 

I Can't wait for the next opportunity to use the ladders. I think I'll clear out the gutters tomorrow.

[Soundy 1]

I Can't wait for the next opportunity to use the ladders. I think I'll clear out the gutters tomorrow.

That's the problem with getting new tools - you actually go LOOKING for work to use them

[Numb-nuts 1]

I Can't wait for the next opportunity to use the ladders. I think I'll clear out the gutters tomorrow.

That's the problem with getting new tools - you actually go LOOKING for work to use them

 

It's a rare day I get to install any system without using ladders. Buut you are right those guters will never have been so clean. I am considering making a cover for the ladders while they are stored on the wall outside. I know this may sound a bit daft but I am worried about the support straps stretching. They are nylon or similar webbing but are not detachable.

 

Does anyone have any tips for reducing wind noise while ladders are on the roof bars, Anything over 50 mph and they whine like a wounded animal. I was thinking of wrapping the fronts in plastic tarp or making a kind of sock out of a plastic tarp and pulling it over the front of the ladders. The bars on their own don't make a sound.

[rory 0]

I tried the 10 rung set and I couldn't lift them by myself. That was a shock to my ego but nevertheless a fact I could not ignore.

 

Im at a job site now and their ladders are so long and heavy they almost break your back, almost pull the shoulders and neck out the socket too .. trying to lift them from one place to the next .. at least all by my lonesome. End up having to drag them most the time. Luckily they have a fork lift so been using that - but again, it takes one person to operate it and another to go up. Fork lift isnt exactly safe either though as they dont have a cage, just have to make sure you dont accidentally move too close to the edge

[tomcctv 190]

Im at a job site now and their ladders are so long and heavy they almost break your back, almost pull the shoulders and neck out the socket too .. trying to lift them from one place to the next ..

 

 

 

thats a thing of the past in the UK. most places dont allow ladder work and if they do you need paperwork as long as your arm. insurance for ladder insurance for employer day insurance to cover the location you are working at. certificate to use.

 

its cheaper to hire a platform or to buy hydraulic hoist.

[rory 0]

its cheaper to hire a platform or to buy hydraulic hoist.

to mount a $100 camera?

[Soundy 1]

Cost of the camera is irrelevant - if it needs to go up high, it needs to go up high.

[tomcctv 190]

its cheaper to hire a platform or to buy hydraulic hoist.

to mount a $100 camera?

 

 

 

it can be a $20 camera if the location your job is at does not allow ladders then they pay the cost.

[rory 0]

Cost of the camera is irrelevant - if it needs to go up high, it needs to go up high.

10 feet?

[rory 0]

its cheaper to hire a platform or to buy hydraulic hoist.

to mount a $100 camera?

 

 

 

it can be a $20 camera if the location your job is at does not allow ladders then they pay the cost.

Never heard of a place that didnt allow a ladder ... except maybe a china shop

[tomcctv 190]

some places do allow ladders ..... but you cant just take them off the roof of your van and get to work. like i said insurances ... risk assesment all sorts of stupid crap ....... same as if you use a ladder you have to wear a hard hat..... whats that about.

[rory 0]

never heard having to wear a hard hat to use a ladder.

Do they wear a helmet when they drive a car? Cause sounds like they need to

What kind of heights are they mounting these cameras at?

How does one fit a hydrollic lift in a liquor store to mount a camera at 8 feet?