Ladders

[teejk]

Werner heavy duty....great ladders. Little Giant .....great ladders. Depends on use. Little giant very versatile. I would not want to get in a fight with the pretty girl that they use to use for their commercials.......she must have been a body builder in her spare time......yes little giant very heavy.

Werner introduced their own version of the "Little Giant" about 10 seconds after the patent expired on the latter. I bought the 14' model and can say it is very versatile (stair steps, using the pieces as scaffold ends with the supplied brackets and being able to convert it from a step ladder to an extension ladder) and sturdy (which speaks to its downside...weight). I use it when it makes sense to drag that beast around. If you will ever be working around electrical you will want a good quality fiberglass ladder. There are a number of good manufacturers out there and the industry is controlled pretty closely for obvious reasons...never really noticed much difference between brands other than "nifty" innovations...e.g. a few years ago Werner changed the top tray on their step ladders to incorporate a hole that would hold a cordless drill in addition to the holes that hold screw-drivers and the trays to hold screws, etc.

 

[Oldtink]

I like the L.G. for a versatile step ladder when needed outside or odd places like on steps and I like it for use with that aluminum platform they sell. It's nice for cutting it at the ceiling when painting in a room. I don't like it as an extension ladder, anywhere or anytime. It is heavy but that equals stability and strength. I'll grab an aluminum or fiberglass step ladder if I working on a smooth floor inside in a heartbeat.

 

[bcp]

It is like comparing an adjustable wrench to a wrench set. Both have their places.

Bruce

 

[Al Mac]

I have a little giant 17'. As others have said they are a little heavy. That is really the only complaint that I have. It is very versatile and stable to climb. I have a 6 & 8' fiberglass ladder also. I mainly use the LG for an extension ladder and for stairs and slopes.

+1
With my job I am on ladders a lot. I carry 4 in and on the truck (5 foot step, Little Giant, 10 foot step, 28 foot extension) and some others at the shop if needed. the LG get used the least but when it is needed, it is nice to have.

Al

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

appreciate the replys, my thinking was one general ladder for painting, trim work, etc, would never be more than 10-12' high though. Havent looked at LG type ladders yet but was unaware that they are pretty heavy to tote around.

 

[kcflhrc]

I guess it kinda depends on what you are primarily going to use the ladder for. I have a 4' step, 6' step, 8' step and a 24' extension ladder. All fiberglass.

 

[teejk]

appreciate the replys, my thinking was one general ladder for painting, trim work, etc, would never be more than 10-12' high though. Havent looked at LG type ladders yet but was unaware that they are pretty heavy to tote around.

Remember your extension ladders are measured fully extended. You don't have to extend it at all if you don't need it (e.g. your 32 ' ladder is a 16' ladder) or you can extend in increments from none to full height. Fiberglass is relatively light, commercial grade aluminum a little heavier. And I would stick with commercial grade (that be orange in fiberglass ladders) because I think they are sturdier and better able to handle the stress of getting moved around. If you go extension, maybe not needed for your planned heights but for longer ladders make sure they make a stabilizer attachment for it. I prefer step ladders because of the top tray and that feeling of balance but for your heights you might find the big ones a bit clumsy to move around. I had a 14' once and that was my experience.

 

[Ed of all trades]

We were taught in the fire department to set up a ladder and stand with your feet between the feet of the ladder, stand up strait and hold your hands-arms out from your body at 90 degrees and you should be able to grip the rung in front of your hands. If not the ladder is ether to steep or not steep enough. Thought I would through that in. Ed

 

[Gem99ultra]

I have a L.G. look-alike and just love it! It looks SO good over in the corner, out of the way, in a place where it will NEVER move. Although it is heavy and relatively expensive, I'll admit, it is totally useless.

Lots of better options out there if one needs a decent, useable ladder. But - I will say, L.G. does have great commercials.

 

[teejk]

I have a L.G. look-alike and just love it! It looks SO good over in the corner, out of the way, in a place where it will NEVER move. Although it is heavy and relatively expensive, I'll admit, it is totally useless.

Lots of better options out there if one needs a decent, useable ladder. But - I will say, L.G. does have great commercials.

Hardly useless to us. The Werner clone did get used a lot when we built this house and still gets used from time to time when we need more than our 6' step ladder. I think ours can be up to a 14' step ladder. The components can be separated and converted to two scaffold ends with the supplied brackets. It will convert to a tall extension ladder. One leg can be extended differently than the other for working on stairs. Many people have commented already on the weight factor. The other downside is it can pinch.

 

[JRobyn]

My Little Giant is the only practical way I have to get to my great room ceiling fan (12 ft up in the middle of the room), or my stairwell chandelier (15-light, 2 tiers) that's 9 ft up from the closest stair step.

Else, I could use two sections of the SCAFFOLDING I bought to deck in the great room ceiling, but heavy doesn't even begin to describe that!

 

[teejk]

My Little Giant is the only practical way I have to get to my great room ceiling fan (12 ft up in the middle of the room), or my stairwell chandelier (15-light, 2 tiers) that's 9 ft up from the closest stair step.

Else, I could use two sections of the SCAFFOLDING I bought to deck in the great room ceiling, but heavy doesn't even begin to describe that!

Being able to do what they can do means they have to be "over-engineered". I personally don't like ladders and it is getting worse with age (something about aging and the inner ear leading to increasing balance issues). That said when I do get on a ladder I don't want one that flexes/moves. Maybe just me. Btw, our great room ceiling is 18' high at the peak. When we built here I bought a section of that yellow "painter's scaffold" (great for taping drywall on 9' ceilings because the platform is 4' long and it has wheels). When it came to the high ceilings I used that in conjunction with the 14' Werner LG clone (secured with ratchet straps). OSHA would have had a fit but it worked.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

Being able to do what they can do means they have to be "over-engineered". I personally don't like ladders and it is getting worse with age (something about aging and the inner ear leading to increasing balance issues). That said when I do get on a ladder I don't want one that flexes/moves. Maybe just me. Btw, our great room ceiling is 18' high at the peak. When we built here I bought a section of that yellow "painter's scaffold" (great for taping drywall on 9' ceilings because the platform is 4' long and it has wheels). When it came to the high ceilings I used that in conjunction with the 14' Werner LG clone (secured with ratchet straps). OSHA would have had a fit but it worked.

age/agility is my concern too, this is why i was wondering about the LG ladder but like you too I am looking at these 6' scaffolding you can get at lowes or home depot, heavy and cumbersome yes but i am looking for stability and something to stand on.

 

[grnspot110]

I have one of the 11' Home Depot models, don't remember the brand name, It's my "go to" ladder! Handy to store & move around, plus the leg adjustment for steps. Also have a yellow fiberglass 6' step ladder that I seldom use and a 24' orange extension ladder that gets little use anymore.

 

[dickfoster]

I have a look alike also. As others have said, it's heavy, awkward and very uncomfortable to stand on. It is the last ladder I choose for anything. If another ladder will work, I'll use it before the flop and fold thingamajig. I'd never spend the kind of money they want for one. I figure most of it goes to advertising instead of into the product anyway. If a product is good enough, after a point it will usually do enough selling on its own.

 

[crackerjack222]

I can't add anything new, just re-enforce what others have said. The LG is heavier and more expensive than the clones. I have both the LG and the clone in 8' models. I like being able to stand with one foot on each side (but not on the top rung). I prefer the clone because of the lighter weight and the lower price.

 

[aczlan]

I have extensive experience with the LG ladders (Dad used to work in the factory making them back in the 70s and we had one growing up) and the Werner clones (have had two of them, one at home and one at work). Also, there is (IMO) no comparison between either a LG ladder or the Werner version and one like the triple jointed ones on the shopping channel.
Apparently, they (the workers) would test some of the ladders that were pulled for QC by putting it into "extension" mode, putting the ends on supports and having a bunch of the guys stand on the middle.
They are not as light as a fiberglass ladder, but for versatility, durability, etc they are hard to beat IMO.

Aaron Z

 

[JRobyn]

Anyone considering actual scaffolding, check with scaffoldmart.com. They did great by me. Have some nice "package" deals.

 

[twes36]

I have been using a Werner aluminum folding ladder for 10 years. Same qualities a Little Giant but a heck of a lot lighter. Originally bought it at Lowes but they have not sold them for some time. Just checked and found one on eBay.

 

[outinthetalgrass]

Ok, I'll chime in. Yes heavy. But in this picture while building a new covered deck on the back of the house you will see all 3 of my LG clones set up. I admit it was probably over kill but I had them and found it nice to be able to have them on different sides, instead of lugging one back and forth. At one point had one on each side and one on the front side. I cheated and loaded all 3 into the loader of the tractor, and drove them to the work site.