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I keep a folding hand truck in the van for heavy stuff (it’s fun getting old enough to be a big sissy!) turns out that it’s perfect for moving these ridiculous ladders. Just set the top on the dolly and it stays on by itself and now it’s got wheels.
As long as i don’t have to set it up or go up stairs i can carry the 16 on flat ground. But yeah anything else just hurts my back thinking about it lol
I did it everyday almost for a year never had a problem. In and out of finished homes never broke or damaged anything. My genetics don’t get paid extra so it Wasn’t worth the money I’d rather pay two guys to do it and go to the gym instead.
Y’all resi guys are a different breed of animal. I’ve climbed some make-shift bs scaffolding, but seeing yall on top of 16+ ft ladders is nuts to me. Just give me my lift, because I don’t trust these busted knees for all that balancing. I type this halfway impressed, and halfway concerned for y’all’s safety lol
Depends on the ladder, I actually feel more comfortable on our 16 ft than the 12 foot because the second set of rungs is more stable than the backside of the 12 ft. Having rungs on each side also means it’s often easier to get two people on it working together than trying to position two ladders to do the same. It’s a beast to move around though, especially if you’ve got to get it around things like hvac or plumbing hanging lower than the top of the ladder. We try really hard to find an excuse to bring or rent a lift rather than drag out the 16’, but sometimes it’s the more cost efficient option.
Oh it’s not that I wouldn’t trust the ladder broski, it’s that I wouldn’t trust myself. Knee buckles or locks up as I reach into my back pocket for a tool and suddenly I’m falling 12+ ft. I just respect what yall do, because someone has to work the job. I’m just not a contortionist anymore after not taking care of my knees. I’ve also never been a fan of heights, but outgrown it for the most part. I’d rather be in a boom lift 60ft+ up than trusting myself on top of a ladder at that height.
I’d be fired after a week working in residential. The amount of times I forget to grab something and climb down my 6’ ladder is too many. I’d never get anything done on this behemoth. 😂
I worked in an assisted living facility a month or more ago.
The attic access was in the center of the hallways, and multiple staff moved the ladder out of their way each time. There were 4 access's per hallway. I had to sit and wait a few times for someone to move the ladder back so I could get down.
Twice in my life I was stuck on a roof because of ladders. One was the wind. It was loud enough the neighbors heard it, saw me, and helped. The other was the homeowner, I went up over the ridge on a steep pitch. The front of the house was on a hill, the front wasn't accessible. I had to go up over. The homeowner thought I had left, even with my truck still in the driveway. He was leaving, I knew that, I was doing a quote for skylights. He didn't see me, layed the ladder down, and I was stuck. Really stuck, the gable over the garage on the side, was 35+ ft high. The front was also about 30+ft up. Where I set the ladder, it was about 20ft up. Cell phone in truck, I was using a digital camera. Those was 05-06(?). Almost 3 hours up there. Late October, cold, getting dark early. Good times.
The homeowner was a guy I was coaching a pop Warner football team together with. The actual worst part, was letting 30 12yr Olds know I was stuck. They can be REALLY BRUTAL sometimes!
That type of ladder is the best for sturdiness and two guys can climb it at the same time to hold the fixture while doing the joints and the bracket. Heavy is the only downside.
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I hate loading and unloading those ladders more than anything.
I keep a folding hand truck in the van for heavy stuff (it’s fun getting old enough to be a big sissy!) turns out that it’s perfect for moving these ridiculous ladders. Just set the top on the dolly and it stays on by itself and now it’s got wheels.
Carrying it a few flights up and down a narrow twisted stairway. You’re blessed if someone helps.
What? you can carry a 16ft without help? i mean i don’t think i am weak by any means but the length plus the weight i just can’t do.
I can manage a 16ft by myself. On flat ground. I wouldn’t even dream of trying to manage a 16ft up steps by myself lol. Nooooo thank you.
As long as i don’t have to set it up or go up stairs i can carry the 16 on flat ground. But yeah anything else just hurts my back thinking about it lol
I'm an eavestrougher, I do 42' ladders all day
Extensions are lighter than A frames
42ft A-frames? Lol
A 42’ extension ladder probably weighs the same as a 16’ A frame
a "Sturdy" 42 extension ladders are 300lbs...
Probably not. Maybe it was a smaller ladder. I just remember getting stuck in the stairs.
Oh ok i was really impressed thinking you were not o oh carrying a 16fter by yourself but also upstairs lol. My mind was blown thinking about that
I did it everyday almost for a year never had a problem. In and out of finished homes never broke or damaged anything. My genetics don’t get paid extra so it Wasn’t worth the money I’d rather pay two guys to do it and go to the gym instead.
Hey i got that light changed out but your gonna want to hire a painter for the stairwell lol.
So much fun on hardwood floor and finished walls
For real. Navigating the doorways in a home can a real pain. Sometimes loading through a window is the best option haha
Getting them into position is worse than actually being on them to work.
Y’all resi guys are a different breed of animal. I’ve climbed some make-shift bs scaffolding, but seeing yall on top of 16+ ft ladders is nuts to me. Just give me my lift, because I don’t trust these busted knees for all that balancing. I type this halfway impressed, and halfway concerned for y’all’s safety lol
Depends on the ladder, I actually feel more comfortable on our 16 ft than the 12 foot because the second set of rungs is more stable than the backside of the 12 ft. Having rungs on each side also means it’s often easier to get two people on it working together than trying to position two ladders to do the same. It’s a beast to move around though, especially if you’ve got to get it around things like hvac or plumbing hanging lower than the top of the ladder. We try really hard to find an excuse to bring or rent a lift rather than drag out the 16’, but sometimes it’s the more cost efficient option.
Oh it’s not that I wouldn’t trust the ladder broski, it’s that I wouldn’t trust myself. Knee buckles or locks up as I reach into my back pocket for a tool and suddenly I’m falling 12+ ft. I just respect what yall do, because someone has to work the job. I’m just not a contortionist anymore after not taking care of my knees. I’ve also never been a fan of heights, but outgrown it for the most part. I’d rather be in a boom lift 60ft+ up than trusting myself on top of a ladder at that height.
I’d be fired after a week working in residential. The amount of times I forget to grab something and climb down my 6’ ladder is too many. I’d never get anything done on this behemoth. 😂
Until someone borrows the ladder
Take a nap on the floor at the bottom of the ladder. If anybody comes in, they’ll think you fell. Life hack.
My back hurts just looking at that ladder.
I quit residential because of these ladders. The shop had a yellow 14’ Featherlite ladder. Fuck that ladder.. fuck it hard
The ladder: Hawk Tuah! Sorry.
Boss - but it’s feather light. What’s the problem using it?
That's a funny place to go look for a broom.
Maybe he saw one and got scared and ran up there to hide from it.
Until someone takes the ladder.
I worked in an assisted living facility a month or more ago. The attic access was in the center of the hallways, and multiple staff moved the ladder out of their way each time. There were 4 access's per hallway. I had to sit and wait a few times for someone to move the ladder back so I could get down.
Twice in my life I was stuck on a roof because of ladders. One was the wind. It was loud enough the neighbors heard it, saw me, and helped. The other was the homeowner, I went up over the ridge on a steep pitch. The front of the house was on a hill, the front wasn't accessible. I had to go up over. The homeowner thought I had left, even with my truck still in the driveway. He was leaving, I knew that, I was doing a quote for skylights. He didn't see me, layed the ladder down, and I was stuck. Really stuck, the gable over the garage on the side, was 35+ ft high. The front was also about 30+ft up. Where I set the ladder, it was about 20ft up. Cell phone in truck, I was using a digital camera. Those was 05-06(?). Almost 3 hours up there. Late October, cold, getting dark early. Good times.
woof, that last one had to suck
The homeowner was a guy I was coaching a pop Warner football team together with. The actual worst part, was letting 30 12yr Olds know I was stuck. They can be REALLY BRUTAL sometimes!
Too bad there aren’t pics of the old wood ladders like this
Back then, the men were men, and women were men. They'd just lasso the rafter, and rope climb their way up
This shit is why my shoulders and knees hurt every day.
I thought 14’ was the max on an A frame. God bless you for swinging that thing around!!
Why bring the fiberglass 1? I got the 10,000lbs wood ladder.... We good.
Yep I used to be on one of these installing cans at least 3-4 times a month..carrying them and getting into position is the hardest worst part of it
Go-go, Safety sneakers engage!
That type of ladder is the best for sturdiness and two guys can climb it at the same time to hold the fixture while doing the joints and the bracket. Heavy is the only downside.