Step Ladder Capacity - Watch out!

[Deerlope]

The Werner(sp) orange fiber glass is rated 300 lbs. Also the Louisville orange fiber glass is a good ladder. Where I once worked my saftey officer told me that any ladder is tested at 5 times what it is rated for. So hence 300lbs=1500 in a test.After I retired I liked the Werner's so well that I bought a 6' and 8' orange stepladders. The Little Giant is and excellant ladder also. It can be configured so many ways.

 

[Bird]

Purchase a Little Giant ladder and you will never overload it and they are as stable as a rock. I have had mine for over 25 years and have never had any problems with it. They are expensive, but what price do you put on your body? I don't like heights on ladders, but I feel totally comfortable on the Little Giant. Here is a link to a website that sells them inexpensively. I believe that the site is owned by the Little Giant Ladder Company .. Dusty

Dusty, one thing I've tried to figure out in the past is a difference between the Little Giant and my Gorilla ladders. They appear to be exactly the same, even when I had the two of them together except for the Gorilla being half price and having black knobs and trim where the Little Giant has red.

 

[1bush2hog]

"Dusty, one thing I've tried to figure out in the past is a difference between the Little Giant and my Gorilla ladders. They appear to be exactly the same, even when I had the two of them together except for the Gorilla being half price and having black knobs and trim where the Little Giant has red"

Bird - Maybe this will help in comparing the two Little Giant Versus Gorilla Ladders - Associated Content

 

[Bird]

That's an interesting discussion and looks like it's much like debating which tractor brand is best.

 

[N80]

I'd seen those TV info-mercials on the Little Giant ladders and thought that they looked pretty good but must be junk since they are selling them on TV. I've since heard from many people that they are quite good, and fairly expensive. I spent a lot of time on various so-so step ladders and extension ladders over the last few years building my cabin. I hate working from a ladder and cheap ones make it that much worse. I wish I'd bought a couple of good ones or even a Gorilla/Little Giant. But ladders are a hard thing to drop a bunch of cash on if you don't use them constantly. However, over a lifetime I think it is probably worth getting the good stuff even if you use them fairly infrequently....as in anything else.

 

[1bush2hog]

"However, over a lifetime I think it is probably worth getting the good stuff even if you use them fairly infrequently....as in anything else."

I agree, especially where safety is a concern. A good ladder, no matter how expensive, is much cheaper than hospital bills.

 

[3RRL]

I'm not familiar with the Gorilla ladder you mention Bird, but I can attest to the Little Giant ladder Dusty is talking about. I have several of those ladders txdon had break and they are not nearly as strong or stable as he found out. I'm glad you didn't get hurt. I inherited Loretta's Dad's Little Giant ladder and it is one sturdy ladder with a million useful configurations. I especially like that it extends or contracts to so many useful heights. The other feature I really like is when one end is up on my deck and I can extend the other end to the ground. I can put that step ladder where others won't work. I also used it to build my 20' tall tree house for Wesley.

 

[Marlowe]

I had an aluminum extension ladder fold up with me a few years ago. It was rated 200 lbs. I'm close to that, but I was putting in some boards around the top of Mom's carport. One of the boards was a bit warped so I started a nail, then pushed it into position. The extra stress on the ladder from pushing obviously exceeded what it could hold, and it folded. Left me hanging to the pole that held up the carport. My wife suggested that I drop the hammer so I could hold on with both hands. Seemed like a real good idea to me when I looked at that useless hammer in my right hand while I held on with the left. I shimmied down the pole and threw the ladder away. I like heavier ladders these days.

Tom, happier on the ground anyway.

 

[patrick_g]

I have fiberglass ladders rated at 325 pounds. They cost more and are way more stable with me on them. I have a 8 ft and 12 ft painter's ladders and a 24 ft extension.

Dressed with a tool in my hands I weigh at least and probably over 250 lbs.

I prefere F/G over aluminum even though the aluminum is lighter beccause I am not always safe with electricity and F/G helps keep me alive. F/G doesnt dent like aluminum and after getting enough dents the aluminum ladder can be weakened.

Pat

 

[IslandTractor]

My wife suggested that I drop the hammer so I could hold on with both hands.

Who ever said women don't give good practical advice?