Storing Extension Ladders

[D45]

Looking for suggestions on how to store long extension ladders......walls or ceiling?

I was thinking outside also but that's a last resort

 

[CharlestonJoe]

Depends on how often you use them. I use mine maybe a dozen times a year. So I have mine up on a wall high as I could go in my space. Look at #13 on my condo project in my signature. My step ladders just fit over my garage door on the ceiling, with a quarter inch of clearance.

 

[big.jim]

depends on material never hang wooden ladders on their side for long periods they end up like bananas

 

[D45]

I have aluminum and fiberglass extension ladders

 

[Jmatlock88]

Here's mine stored outside on the fence. It's just too long to store in a standard depth garage. I shot a level laser line, pre-drilled holes in the posts, and installed standard screw-in brackets.

 

[mmb617]

Here's mine stored outside on the fence. It's just too long to store in a standard depth garage. I shot a level laser line, pre-drilled holes in the posts, and installed standard screw-in brackets.

I have a half dozen extension ladders I inherited from my dad. They are aluminum and range from 16' to 36', too long to easily store. I don't use them often so I store them just as described above. They've been stored that way since he died 16 years ago and it doesn't seem to have hurt them any.

 

[Jmatlock88]

A couple of tips if you're going to mount brackets to the fence. Keep them low on the fence to reduce the load on the fence but high enough where you can easily trim and mow below the ladder. I brought my mower up against the fence and marked the highest part of the deck, then did the math to figure out the locations of the brackets.

 

[SteveCh]

On the back, shady side of my house, I put cheap angle [shelf] brackets on the wall and rest the ladders on them. I put in a couple eyelets and use a bungee to keep them from banging around in the wind.

 

[Architorture]

I keep all of mine inside...it's not worth rungs full of wasps for the convenience. moving the 40' around in doors is a trick sometimes though

 

[Dustball]

I hang my 20 foot extension ladder on the ceiling using J-hooks.

 

[PCO6]

This might help with your third option.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239954

 

[1/2 Cup]

I hang mine from the rafters, it works well they are out of the way and not subjected to the elements

 

[truckin23]

bent #4 = 1/2 in rebar to hang over fence and also hang more ladders from the first one also welded 2 pieces of round bar on flat bar to hang step ladder on side of shed I built

 

[beakie]

if hanging aluminum ladders lengthways, support them from the bottom, DON'T hang them from the top.

hard to explain, so the opposite of this (sorry, nothing towards owner, just quickest example)

Aluminum is somewhat of a "soft" metal, and hanging them like above can cause the wrungs to pull out of the ladder. I don't mean pull out and fall apart, just a bit, and bit by bit they loosen and can affect the integrity/strength of the ladder.


My father has been an arborist for... ever, and is adament about how his ladders are stored since his life is dependant on them at times. He stored his in-correctly for years, until shown a few examples of what can happen if hung that way.

 

[D45]

All good ideas thanks

I've managed to accumulate 4 extension ladders over the years ugh!

 

[shooting4life]

Though I don't have an extension ladder, my 8 foot aframe is similar in size. I made a mount from black iron pipe and have it tucked up tight across the ceiling. I do not have any wall space so this was the only solution for me. I did not want to hand it outside for fear of it walking away.

I took it down this weekend, it is real easy to just rotate the side that holds the base and let the bottom roll down then lift the top off. It make it super easy to put it back up as well, since I do everything by myself this is very important to me.

 

[rslaback]

Ceiling gets my vote.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

The 6' folding Aframe is against the wall in he corner. It gets pulled out semi-often for odd tasks.

The big extension ladder is hanging on the wall. It does not get used a whole lot, mainly where the Aframe can't go. The garage had existing strong hooks drilled into the wall so I just stuck it there. At the previous house, it was leaning against a wall. Never had a solution for it.

 

[shooting4life]

Speaking of ladders, the one ladder that I use the most is my 4 foot A frame. I can get to everything in my garage with it, it is small and easy to put away get out. I could not imagine having to use a 6 foot ladder for everything.

 

[d.swanson]

I put a small set of used lawn mower wheels on one end and wheel it under my low deck or into my crawlspace like a wheelbarrow.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Speaking of ladders, the one ladder that I use the most is my 4 foot A frame. I can get to everything in my garage with it, it is small and easy to put away get out. I could not imagine having to use a 6 foot ladder for everything.

I use a step stool. Same deal, can reach everything necessary without a cumbersome package.

 

[ford33]

I have heard that thieves use ladders stored outside and climb them to get into upper floor of a home. Seems like a lot of work to climb a ladder to break-in to a house.

Make sure you lock the ladder to a strong post if you store it outside so someone does not steal the ladder.

 

[SCWOOD]

this is mine! used two pulleys to pull bottom of ladder to ceiling.Working so far!

 

[deter]

i hang mine on the outside of my garage, under the eave overhang.

 

[Vvmvbb]

i hang mine on the outside of my garage, under the eave overhang.

That's what I want to do, but what about wasps?

 

[deter]

That's what I want to do, but what about wasps?

that wall of my garage faces south, they dont seem to like the constant sun

 

[GirlnAgarage]

that wall of my garage faces south, they dont seem to like the constant sun

IME, constant sun, maybe not. But a protected/shaded area on the south side, yes. I've had paper wasps build nest under the corner siding cover piece on the SE corner of the house in N.TX. Also they nest in the south side soffitt that runs E to W.

My guess is because it is warmer than the north side. Bees get too cold and die. (Best way to kill a nest you can't reach, wait for winter)


Here's a question, on outside ladders with hollow rungs, is it worth spray foaming the inside so nothing can nest? Will the weight added be considerable?

 

[D45]

Definitely not storing mine outside......thieves would have them all gone in a week

 

[gatchel]

That's what I want to do, but what about wasps?

I use spray foam and put just a bit in each end or each tube. It covers the hole, stops bees from easily entering, and when I put it on the vehicle to to take somewhere, it stops the tubes from humming a tune as you drive down the road.

 

[driftpin]

I have a 28 ft fiberglass and aluminum extension ladder that's in our son's garage for now. I'm thinking of storing it outside on the side of our house, on the wall. Because of the exposure to the elements and possible sunlight damage to the fiberglass, I'm thinking of having-made some-sort of cover that would be over the ladder and that would be fastened to not flap in the wind.

Sure, I could just use a tarp but they're ugly, and probably only last a year, if you're lucky. Getting something made at a canvas shop might be a good idea, but would probably be expensive. I don't want a $300 canvas for a $300 ladder. Maybe just replace the tarp once a year, and since the side of the house really isn't visible to the street, or the neighbor, it wouldn't be that-much of an eyesore.

The shelf brackets under the beams instead of hanging brackets for the top beams is an interesting theory. I would like to observe that in the fire service, thousands of ladders are hung from their beams, on the sides of the apparatus, and last for years under very arduous conditions of operation.

 

[metschers]

My extension ladder serves multiple purposes, obviously a ladder but it's attached to the wall with quick release pins and is used to reach the storage area above my office.
Works great.

 

[tarmy]

Mine lift with a winch up against the ceiling...

 

[jd_1138]

Mine is aluminum. I just keep it leaned up against the rear of the shed in the backyard. No one's stolen it yet (decent neighborhood).

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Mine is aluminum. I just keep it leaned up against the rear of the shed in the backyard. No one's stolen it yet (decent neighborhood).

I can’t believe all the potential thefts of 10’+ ladders. It is not like they can stick them in their pockets. Mind you I have neighbours on all four sides of my home. I place mine between me and my neighbours house on the fence. I would be more worried of the kids turning it into a monkey bar setup and hurting themselves on my property. We sometimes have our vehicles rifled through. I don’t believe I’ve locked my back garage overhead door in probably a year.

 

[kbs2244]

I have orange 32 and 40 footers
They are side by side on "J" hooks above the opened garage door.
The hooks hang on short prices of dog chain to make it easy to position them.

It was a tight fit and I have to put the feet at the end away from the door to keep it from hitting them when it is opening.

But it has been just fine for over 15 years.

 

[PhantomEB]

My little 4’ one is hung up by the man door as I need it for my cupboards. The big one that rarely gets seen is hidden away hung up on the fence where it’s out of sight out of mind.

 

[Algoma56]

I store mine on the garage door tracks, on either side of the ceiling supports. The tracks are long enough that door doesn't ladder when opened, and I can step up on a step stool to get the ladder down.

 

[D45]

I should have updated this post...........I built a storage rack for them and its perfect, high up on the wall and out of the way, but still have easy access

 

[morsetaper2]

Have my alum 28 ft extension ladder stored on the long wall inside of my garage, up high and out of the way.

 

[engineer2]

For you guys with open trusses, a simple way is to make a couple of "U"'s out out 1/2 EMT with a conduit bender. Make it wide enough for the ladder. Drill two holes at the ends of the "U"'s and screw them to the bottom chord and space them appropriately for the length of the ladder. Simple and cheap. I'll try to post up a pic when I get a chance.