telescopic ladders

[jlscjs]

Anyone have any pro or cons on buying a telescopic ladder? Looking for something lightweight but strong, use to carry a multi-fold but the thing weighs a ton and would like to replace it with something lighter weight.

[Tom_N]

jlscjs wrote:

Tom N wrote:
I have and carry a telescoping ladder. Works well for me and is very compact.

My only caveat is to watch your fingers when telescoping down.

-Tom

what brand is it and weight limit? where did you purchase it from?

I can't recall the brand but it's 12.5' and rated at 300+#s. The photo I posted is not my ladder. Mine has many safety and warning labels on the ladder.

-Tom

[Gjac]

I did not what to pay $160 for the telescoping ladder so I made one from an old boat ladder and an broken step ladder. I used the back supporting structure of the step ladder which has 2 in wide steps instead or 5-6 in wide steps on the front. Then added the stand offs from the boat ladder at the top. It weight less than 10 lbs and sides into on of my pass thru compartments.

[Kemahsabe]

jhilley wrote:
Here is one 12.5ft long with a 330lb rating

ANSI 330lb 12.5' Telescoping Ladder

I have one and wouldn't be without it. Much easier to get on roof, vs. ladder on back with hook on extension.

I have one of these and like it very much. Make sure each step is locked (easy to see), and watch your fingers when lowering.

Need a step ladder version? Click here...

[wa8yxm]

I too carry a telescope as well as a convertable (Step/Extension) I replaced the roof ladder on this rig with the step/extension.. Way stronger than the factory ladder.

However for assorted reasons unless I need roof access.. I tend to use the telescoping. it too is way stronger than the factory ladder.

[teddychamp]

I bought a Telescoping ladder on e-bay for $ 75.00 and love it. Campingworld wants $ 160.00 for the same thing.!!!!

[Almot]

mike-uswest wrote:
...one of the buttons to extend the sections from the one below didn't get all the way engaged, and when I got to the top, it let go, breaking one of the button latches and nearly dropping me 10 feet.

This is exactly what deterred me off telescopic ladders. Plastic parts that can break. You are not the only one - happened with others too. Also, it doesn't work as a step-ladder, and this is often necessary. In my folding/telescopic Werner the latches are crude half-inch or 3/4 inch aluminum L-hooks, impossible to break.

[mike-uswest]

I have one that I like very much for the small storage area that it takes, but I did have problems with it once. In very cold and snowy conditions I was using it to get on my roof, and one of the buttons to extend the sections from the one below didn't get all the way engaged, and when I got to the top, it let go, breaking one of the button latches and nearly dropping me 10 feet. I watch to make sure everything is well seated before I climb now.

Mike

[dclark1946]

Bought mine several years ago at Camping World (Telestep or something like that). I use it a lot and works perfectly for getting onto the TT roof. I clean the slide roof when camping under messy trees, roof maintenance and putting up my Davis wireless weather station.

Dick

[DiskDoctr]

jhilley wrote:
Here is one 12.5ft long with a 330lb rating

ANSI 330lb 12.5' Telescoping Ladder

I have one and wouldn't be without it. Much easier to get on roof, vs. ladder on back with hook on extension.

$85 with free shipping and 330lbs rating? I'm in...one is on its way. Thanks!

[MFL]

MrWizard wrote:
I have the "Extend A Step" brand, rated at 250# , 12.5 ft long
Weighs about 28#
I love this thing

I bought this same one. It seems to be good quality, but just didn't work for me. I didn't want to rest it on my rain gutters of my FW, at the roof edge, and didn't like it against the sides either.

I mostly wanted it to clean off my slide out, and my awning, before retracting. I only used it once.

I bought one of the 7' folding collapsible double sided step ladders, that I think will work much better for me. It is 3.5x4.5x87"s, when closed.

Jerry

[jhilley]

Here is one 12.5ft long with a 330lb rating

ANSI 330lb 12.5' Telescoping Ladder

I have one and wouldn't be without it. Much easier to get on roof, vs. ladder on back with hook on extension.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Home Made Madness...
On my bus I fashioned two telescopic aluminum tubes permanently mounted to the rear of the vehicle. They did not serve as a ladder. But when ascending, I extended both and they acted as a hand rail when I reached the top of my ladder. Such extremes are necessary I guess for those of us nervous about high places. I needed to get on top of the roof to swamp down the solar panels.

[Almot]

Don't know what you mean by "weighs a ton". My 17ft Werner foldable/telescopic model MT-17 from Home Depot weighs 40 lbs. Not very light, yes. But it is 300 lb rated, and even with my 170 lb weight it means +200 lb load when I step on quickly or hold something in my hands.

Unlike "telescopic only", it can be used as a step-ladder. Very universal. A shorter 13ft model weighs ~30 lbs, btw.

I looked at those telescopic non-folding models, and they all looked scary. Too much plastic.

[MrWizard]

I have the "Extend A Step" brand, rated at 250# , 12.5 ft long
Weighs about 22# and 28 inches closed
I love this thing

i had one the large multi-purpose folding scaffold extension step ladders
that thing felt like it weighed a TON

strong but very cumbersome to store and use