What load capacity should a ladder have for A/Cs?

I’ve done it several ways. Hardest was carrying it up on my shoulder. Too old for that now. Second-hardest was sliding it up ladder jammed into open truck tailgate and to a roof corner (needed help on ground). Third was two men on two ladders.

In all of these the ladders need to be tied off. A 15k A/C is 105# ship weight. The weight is not ever the problem, it’s the balance. (Vantage point never exists).

Have seen an RV tech tie off a Little Giant and use an ATV winch with a tackle block to lower/raise along vertical ladder atop a tall Moho. Remote controls. Set up and take down was tedious. Rope nest around ship box was tedious to assemble.

Hired an RV tech who had two men use two ladders just alike and a cross piece “clamped” to both at both ends. It cleared the roof by several feet then they cranked the unit up/down between them with a Manual boat winch (went quick; screw electric).. That crossbar high enough they were on ladders whole time and could swing on/off the roof the old/new units. Third man (boss) was on roof

Some fab skill, but he’s doing it regularly. This was steadiest I’ve seen (given no tractor or other lifting equipment). The cross bar and DOUBLE LADDER FOOTING replicated each other. (Ladders free for normal use once attachments dismounted).

AC unit stood up momentarily to travel vertically. That’s where two men made things easy: the partial flip onto the roof (packing case still closed). Didn’t need third man.

The attachments just traveled on vans roof rack with ladders.

Good to hear, that ya got er done!!!

Ya, those nylon ropes can be nasty for sure! I know those inch lbs are recommended, but I just like snug um up, for my gauge. You just need to crush the new gasket a bit, maybe 1/3 of the thickness. In time, you may need to snug the bolts a little, as the gasket takes set.

Good on your wife, for giving it a try!! She's a keeper for sure!

Jerry

Thanks for all of the replies! I actually finished the job and learned a few things. So mounting bolts sometimes get seized in the thread of the nutcerts so turning the head of the bolt also would turn the nutcerts. I'd recommend anyone reading this to not rely on the manual's recommendation of the torque which is like 40~50 in lbs. It literally will start bending your thin wood roof panel since it's beneath a duct most likely if your trailer/RV is as such. I think mines is about 30~35 right now. I bought another A/C seal for the base just encase untightening it the same day made it unreliable. So ya I ended up borrowing my next door neighbor to help me lift the A/C lol. He used his head as I pulled with the rope. So anyways back to the bolts. I cut the 2 heads off & as I lifted I accidentally placed it with the 2 bolts on the roof. Thing is I had a pretty hefty fabric on top & no puncture or bending was present. I think I got a little lucky. They were pretty soft and malleable. It's just the old A/C would freeze up so they got like that. Another thing I learned was for the love of god please use some non slippery thick gloves when pulling it up with nylon rope. My fingers started bending on their own and it hurt like hell(might be a personal disease not sure). This was like 3 hours after the installation though. Bringing the old one down was actually pretty darn easy. I used 2 ladders as well to prep things. I think the biggest mistake of the whole experience was not wearing gloves. I love the new extension ladder. Feels way safer than the step ladder due to height reach. So anyways I appreciate all of your concerns and ya try to get as much people to help as possible, but if you can get by without that many go for it. Just have all the safety measures in place. The person that said it would be a disaster, well I hate to break it to you I actually tried it with her and we were pretty darn close. There was no imminent potential for danger though. It was more of a combined strength issue when the A/C needs to turn at the top. But hey if you think she can't handle it for sure then don't even think about it.

Here's a longshot. Go to a local heating and air conditioning shop and see if they would be willing to lend you a duct lift like in the #3 post. A duct lift would be the safest way to get the units up and down. Call a couple rental places to see if they have them. I know it's more expense but it's better than getting hurt or dropping it.

MFL wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
What is the technical definition of "average woman"?

Asking for a friend.

Good question! Maybe we can get an EXPERT answer from our Osha safety expert, Arborist/lumberjack. He may have 25 years experience as a designer of women's clothing?? :B

I've had some experience with women, but most were extreme, as opposed to average.

Jerry

Ohhh, I have soooo many things I could say, but I know better, I think.

:S

valhalla360 wrote:
What is the technical definition of "average woman"?

Asking for a friend.

Good question! Maybe we can get an EXPERT answer from our Osha safety expert, Arborist/lumberjack. He may have 25 years experience as a designer of women's clothing?? :B

I've had some experience with women, but most were extreme, as opposed to average.

Jerry

What is the technical definition of "average woman"?

Asking for a friend.

^^Wow...Lol, can't argue with that level of expertise! :) :)

MFL wrote:


Gde...Thanks for being Debbie the downer! My lady friend just threw this out, when I asked her, if she'd be willing to push an AC up the ladder. I thought her quick response was noteworthy, while we all know to be careful, and a rope not being best choice, compared to a winch.

Kind of like using a crane, but most have more trees, than cranes.

Jerry

Not being a "Debbie the downer", more like 22 yrs of safety training and working around forklifts and heavy materials just waiting to kill you when you least expect it at work has smartened me up.

Not to mention 30+ yrs cutting trees for personal firewood has given me a few lessons of what not to do with trees.

The object of the discussion is how does one get a heavy, bulky item 8+ ft in the air without damaging the item or personal life in the process?

Tree branches are not called "widow makers" for no reason.

midnightsadie wrote:
just find a dealer or some one who,s done this. if it cost you $500.bucks whats your life worth. better yet injuring your wife or yourself for life.always done my own maint, but not this. p.s you could rent a scaffol and slide it in place.

ROFL.
How do you get it 10'-12' up on the second level of scaffolding?
Pull it up with a rope? lol