Broken ladder - repair or replace?

Ladders are a safety hazard when they are in good shape.

Replacement ladders don't cost an "arm and leg" but DR bills, xrays, surgeons and hospital stays DO.

Found a brand new replacement exterior ladder HERE for $127..

If that won't work, shop around they are not all that expensive and you will have a much more sound ladder..

Hardware store chain I worked for many yrs ago the stores sent back any damaged in shipment ladders and our warehouse had to destroy the ladders.. Some of those were very high dollar heavy duty fiberglass extension ladders..

Was sad to see a $400+ ladder get chopped up and tossed into the dumpster but ladders can be replaced, your life however cannot.

My opinion of those ladders is something you normally leave..er.. behind (when sitting down on a very special "chair")

I had a fabricator make me a pair of "J" hooks (they look like a letter J) lag bolted them to the rear of the RV a few inches apart just below the roof line.

My dad had gotten a convertable Step/Extension ladder, the "J's" were set so that i just fit over them. I hung it on the 'J's put a shower Grab Bar at the bottom and both bungee corded and bicycle locked the ladder to the shower bar.

Extension it was JUST long enough to put me on the roof (I could have used 6 more inches but it was enough) and as a step ladder perfect for the semi-annual wash and wax.

I would opt for an internal pipe if you can find something with the same or slightly smaller OD than the ID of your ladder.

Fixing it internally would be safer. An outside sleeve, in addition to being in the way as you mentioned, could also be something to interfere with climbing it, or possibly cutting your fingers on.

As someone who has been climbing ladders for 45 years, I can say you get used to a certain size pipe on a ladder. You climb without really looking at it. If you suddenly encounter something that shouldn't be there, it could throw you off enough to slip. I know this from experience.

An internal pipe, or the good dowel idea above, could easily be held in place with a few pop rivets. One on each side of the joint and it will never go anywhere, even into wood. Then smooth over the outside of the rivet with some JB Weld or similar to eliminate sharp edges to catch your fingers on.

I repaired mine, it was very time consuming, never again. I wished I had bought a new one

How about a wooden dowel inside and JB Weld? You might have to get one a little large and sand it down to a good fit.