When to replace extension ladder and with what?

[Beemer]

Our aluminum extension ladder has been stored outside since 1983 and had some things showing issue.
The fly endcaps are gone, the rope needs replacement and a bit of light rust on steel parts like the rope pulley hanger, feet brackets and extension locks but none are visibly shocking and all move. The feet rubbers are hard. The aluminum appears ok.
I know where I got it and think it's a name brand by where it came from but the label is long gone so I don't know what it is other than 28 feet long so buying parts may be hard. The rails are 3"x 1 1/4" but I haven't found a source to figure out what Type it is.

Are the fly endcaps of importance as they are long gone? The rope and feet are an easy replacement.

Any opinions if they routinely need replacement?

I need the length but am not able to heft much weight anymore so I was also wondering the difference in stiffness between Type 1 (250#) and Type 2 (225#).
I am not thrilled about heights so I don't take ladder bounce in stride.
This stain job might be the last time I need to use a tall ladder so I am hedging. They surely don't cost what that did in 1983!

If it gets replaced, Werner vs Louisville? And opinions on Type 1 or 2 (I'm 180# plus paint brush or hammer).

 

[Nick Rivers]

The price of ladders is pretty high. I'd clean it up and find a way to cover the end caps. I've seen rags, socks and rubber sheets secured to the rails as bumpers. Maybe a ball hitch cover over the ends or split and secured with zip ties... For the rope, use something that does not stretch. This will likely need to be covered so UV does not break it down.

Aluminum ladders will be lighter than fiberglass by about 3 pounds and are less expensive.

or you could go this route for easier carry/placement:

 

[Stelzer]

We have well over 30 ladders sitting outside for decades now. Rope is the first to go. After that, it's just the little things like flippers, pulleys, etc. Almost everything is replaceable. Difference in weight between Type 1 vs. Type 2 32' aluminum ladder is nearly 10lbs. Difference in cost is around $80. Unless you're well over 225lbs, there's probably not many practical purposes to get a Type 1 for your situation. Both Louisville & Werner make great ladders. Werner's replacements parts are a bit easier to source, but other than that, I'd choose whichever offers the lower price or easiest to get.

 

[RTM]

I need the length but am not able to heft much weight anymore so I was also wondering the difference in stiffness between Type 1 (250#) and Type 2 (225#)

I’m only about 200#, but the type 2 bow way too much under my weight, if I was buying, I’d pay the extra. But any more, I’m not excited about high work as I used to be, too many people around me having issues.

 

[Beemer]

Since posting I took a ride to HD and they had a Werner Type 1, 28 feet.

I was unfavorably impressed by the fact that the rails are much thinner material and the flanges are 1" wide vs my 1 1/4". My rails are shaped like I beams (like the current type 1A) and if I recall correctly the new ones (Type 1 and 2) are like Cs. My rails appear like they may have been extrusions and the new ones perhaps thick sheet material, but that's presumptive on both parts.

The comparison seems to have given me new confidence in restoring mine as needed and less confidence in the current design, but then again chasing parts might be hard.

 

[four.cycle]

My 16-foot aluminum extension ladder was a cast-off from our warehouse. The bottom legs were bent. I sawed them off. The top ends are bent a bit, but they're okay. There are a lot of dings at the upper end where it's been hit with the chain saw. It's wobbly as hell. The rope and pulley stuff was yanked off long before I owned it.
I see free ladders on Craigslist all the time, but I am just not motivated to go pick one up for free. I like my wobbly old ladder, partly because it's so beat up I don't have to worry about somebody stealing it.

My oldest sister shelled out over $400 bucks two decades ago and bought one of those "Little Giant" things that folds up into a 6-foot high mess of aluminum and hinges and pins. Heavy. Bulky. Really difficult to jockey into place when you're cleaning out second-floor rain gutters with the ShopVac. She loved it. I hated using it and usually hauled my own over there to do her gutters.

YMMV.

 

[neophyte]

Pulley rope, and end caps are standard replacement parts.
Decent ladder suppliers will likely have replacements, and decent ladder manufacturers will offer the replacements.
You can probably even get replacements for rusted steel components, but replacing those properly would be harder.
There are also various leg leveling systems available, meant to be retrofitted to older ladders, or attached to newer ones, that can replace worn out or missing ladder feet, and offer ladder keg leveling for unlevel surfaces.
The leg levelers would add weight, but on the bottom of the ladder, were it’s less of an issue for setting up a ladder.

If you want a stiffer ladder, you would need to switch to a Little Giant “Wing” type multipurpose ladder, or clone.
These Wing type ladders aren’t available in as tall a ladder as extension types though, so you would be limited to two stories at the most.