How to stiffen up a wobbly ladder?

[keegs]

My neighbor bought a new extension ladder and gave me his old one. He said the old one flexed too much even when it was only moderately extended and that it feels unsafe. So I have a wobbly 24' aluminum extension ladder in pretty good shape. I was thinking I could run a few lengths of steel angle iron along the sides to stiffen it some.

A fools errand? Any thoughts?

 

[jinman]

My feeling about ladders is that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. I would not try to cure a wobbly ladder by anything less than replacing it with a newer more substantial ladder with a higher weight rating. If you are wrong on whether this ladder can be strengthened, you could be the one who suffers the most. It's just not worth it in my book. I'd use that ladder for less than its maximum extension or get another ladder. It won't look like a good deal if you are lying on the ground with a broken limb after it collapses or causes you to fall. For what its worth, that's my opinion.

 

[Egon]

Got a Friend to give it to?

You could use it to hang washing on to dry.

You probably should not mess with ladders trying to make them stronger but that's your choice.

 

[Ductape]

I'm with those before me........ I don't see a point in trying to stiffen it up. I've got a cheap 16 footer I inherited, wobbles a fair amount, especially when extended all the way. I either use it only partially extended (so its not quite as wobblt), or use a heavier ladder.

 

[Duffster]

New ladders are CHEAP!

 

[George2615]

I had a similar aluminum ladder that flexed a lot. especially when you got half way up it. It was an old ladder and rather than give it to someone else who might get hurt using it and sue me I destroyed it and bought a new one.

I doubt you can tighten it up. Adding steel to re-enforce it would probably make it too heavy to carry around. If you have a hydraulic press you might be able to compress / recrimp each rung to tighten it up but is your safety worth the risk?

 

[roadhawk]

I was thinking I could run a few lengths of steel angle iron along the sides to stiffen it some.

That would turn it into a pretty heavy ladder. Like a truck you'd probably have to reduce the weight rating by the amount of the steel's weight you're putting on there.

Take it to the recycling center and use that $ for a start on a new "tight" ladder would be my suggestion.

 

[keegs]

New ladders are CHEAP!

so am I.

 

[bcp]

Take it apart and have two good short ladders. One section often has a step or two missing. Cut that end off. A 24 foot extension ladder ought to make a 12 foot ladder and a 8 or 9 foot ladder.

Bruce

 

[Greenmountain Farmer]

New ladders are CHEAP!

so am I.

But doctors bill are not cheep!