I'm in the market for a GOOD quality extension ladder, I figure ~20' is good. I've been trying to do a bit of research and keep coming across review sites that simply are over the top, in their reviews of the Little Giant, I must admit, their quite impressive and multi-functional and their build quality looks good...but are they really worth the $$$. I'm looking at a 22' model for ~400.00
I'm hoping that someone out there has one or has direct working knowledge of these ladders and their thoughts on them. Or, if anyone out there knows of a similar/better product, by all means please post up!
Thanks!
I own a Little Giant 13' model.
Best ladder purchase I have made (second best is a Werner heavy duty 3' stepladder). Tall enough to do what I need most of the time and small for storage and transporting in my car.
I have also used the Gorilla 17' version. While it *looked* like a Little Giant, it did not operate as smoothly as one. Big thing to consider if you actually plan on using this type of product more than once or twice a year.
Then there is the whole China/USA thing. There is quite a bit of markup on those Chinese made Gorilla ladders. I have not seen a USA made Little Giant knockoff at any retailer. The Gorilla was the closest carbon copy knokoff, but pay attention to the construction detals of the other knockoffs- crimped and riveted rungs for example.
I also own a couple of 24' extension ladders and dedicated 8' and 6' stepladders- all of which are Type 1A.
Yes, the Little Giant ladders are heavy. Due to the wide base and top, they are also very stable when used as an extension ladder.
Go pick up a comparably rated (weight capacity and extension length) standard extrension ladder and it isn't a whole lot lighter. Now, try to fold that extension ladder and use it for something else. Try and put that extension ladder on anything without a ladder rack, or in a small SUV. Where will you store that extension ladder?
Now that you have a nice dedicated extension ladder, you need another ladder for lower stuff... and a place to put it.
Sounds like their infomercial, but it is true.
One of the coolest things you can do with a Little Giant is use it as a regular A frame ladder *right up against* a wall. This is done by having the wall side one rung lower than the climbing side. It is nice to work on stuff right in front of you instead of using a regular ladder parallel to the wall and twisting your body to face the work. The ladder angle isn't what you are used to, but you adjust to that.
Using a regular ladder leaned up against a wall can lead to the bottom kicking out and a quick gravity assisted ride down. Not a good thing.
The other nice thing with the Little Giant is the lack of spreaders. This comes in handy when there is a table or short wall right where you need to set up a ladder (if you earn money working off a ladder, this happens more often than you think).
If I was on a job where a dedicated 8' stepladder would do for the the tasks needed, then I wouldn't want to use the Little Giant because of the weight difference.
However, if you need more than one ladder around the house or on the job frequently (and even infrequently around the house), then the Little Giant is pretty hard to beat.
This site:
www.demoladder.com sells "scratch and dent" Little Giant products for a discount. You also give up the longer warranty.
I don't see how the locking and latching mechanisims could ever fail on a Little Giant product, as long as said latches and locking mechanisims were used properly and the ladder itself is in serviceable condition.
Lot of people out there using ladders that should be destroyed, but are too cheap and stupid to do so. Or they are too cheap to buy a contractor grade ladder. Then they blame the ladder when it fails.
A ladder is not the place to try and save some money on the purchase.
