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rockies
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2017 19:58
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Saw this on a late night infomercial.
https://www.littlegiantxtreme.com/
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 10:20
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I have one of those "click-clack" ladders at the cabin. Its a totally frustrating POS to use. It's heavy, cumbersome, and drives me nuts. 99% of the time, I just need a stepladder, but all I have is that beast, so I have to risk hernias and pinched fingers just to haul it out and set it up. If it is "24 in 1", that means for each job, there is 23 ways of setting it up wrong. I swear I have threatened to throw the thing in the lake many times, I hate it so bad.
Until I need it to do something that no other ladder can do. For instance, putting up the T&G in the stairwell would have been an nightmare with the standard ladder. But I unfolded my click-clack into a big "L" and set the horizontal part on the top landing and the other part on the lower landing and used it as a walk board. I guess there is a reason its in my shed and not at the bottom of the lake.
Tim
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Jabberwocky
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 11:11
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As a fellow owner of a Little Giant, I can't agree with Tim enough. 
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95XL883
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 12:22
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I've got a Little Giant as well and have a love/hate relationship with it.
The pluses: There are places that being able to adjust one side to one height and the other to another is very beneficial. The other nice plus is the wide base with the wide top makes it very stable. It is nice to have one ladder that I can adjust in height for a particular job (although that can be done with an extension ladder.) In one of those three instances, it is very beneficial.
The negatives: First, you do have to watch that you don't pinch your fingers while folding and unfolding it. Second, in my untrained, just a user, opinion, it is particularly hazardous if you adjust the height when it is standing. To my untrained eye, it would be possible to cut off a finger, hand, etc if it got away while adjusting the height. For that reason alone, I'm surprised it is made. (Yes, I do it but I watch very carefully where my hands and fingers are.) Third, it is very heavy. (You can lighten it by removing one of the extending legs. I do that fairly often
and it has worked well.) Fourth, it flexes enough when you move up or down that some wonder if it will collapse even though it is a 300 lb rated ladder. Fifth, it is over sold. Yes it has a some nice features but it is not the greatest thing since sliced bread. And forget the add-on options. I got the standoff but have never used it.
Would I buy it again? Yes, if I was a young man and could deal with the weight. As I get older, maybe not. The weight gets to be a big issue. (At 61, I have to have help setting up the 40 foot extension ladder. I don't look forward to when I can't move the Little Giant even if it is separated.)
Of course, if you want to complain about heavy ladders, I used to have a 32 foot wood extension ladder. That beast weighed more than my 40 foot aluminum ladder. What a chunk! I was glad when it got old enough that I didn't trust it to hold my weight. Took a saw to it and used it as a 16 ft, a 10 ft and a 6 ft but eventually I didn't trust it even in the shorter lengths.
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Jabberwocky
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 13:26
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.... Another complaint I would add is that the ladder rungs are very narrow - painful on the feet if you are on it for very long.
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 14:12
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Quoting: Cowracer I swear I have threatened to throw the thing in the lake many times, I hate it so bad.
My wife bought one of these at a yard sale and thought it was the greatest - until it broke one of her fingers.
It's now folded in half (and stays that way) and is the seasonal ladder to climb out of the lake onto our dock. So, I literally did toss it in the lake.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 21:55
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I have a couple of the Werner equivalents. They are well made and simple enough to use. The Werner don't have some ofthe features or options of the littlegiant but they have been solid and used for maybe 3 years now, a 17 and a 26 foot. Less money.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2017 23:11
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I often considered buying one untill last weeks build .The cabin owner said we could use his ,well I will be keeping my 250$
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rockies
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2017 19:40
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And.......here's the link for Werner ladders.
The main reason I start threads on this forum is to start conversations about products, methods of construction or design. If you know of a better or similar product to the one I'm mentioning please post the link.
http://www.wernerco.com/us/en/products/climbing-equipment/multi-purpose-ladders
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2017 22:17 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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You couldnt give me one of those over priced, ultra heavy overweight ladders that about amputates your fingers when you extend them or fold them up. Anyone ever use one? Ever carry one around? I am surprised they are still in business. The sooner they go out of business, the better off everyone will be. I'd rather play with sweaty dynamite or hit myself in private parts with a hammer then use one of those piles.
Edit: I see I am not alone. 
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jun 2017 09:31
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Quoting: Cowracer I have one of those "click-clack" ladders at the cabin. Its a totally frustrating POS to use. It's heavy, cumbersome, and drives me nuts. 99% of the time, I just need a stepladder, but all I have is that beast, so I have to risk hernias and pinched fingers just to haul it out and set it up. If it is "24 in 1", that means for each job, there is 23 ways of setting it up wrong. I swear I have threatened to throw the thing in the lake many times, I hate it so bad.
That gave me a chuckle. Never tried one myself, but it reminds me of my 3 part folding aluminum ramp that when unfolded is no longer than a 6 foot plank anyway. It has a strap with a snap that holds it shut and is guaranteed to unsnap itself the moment you pick it up, pinch a finger and smack into whatever is in the way of it unfolding.
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Jabberwocky
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jun 2017 09:51 - Edited by: Jabberwocky
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Actually there is a market for these dumb ladders: My wife, and insurance adjusters.
My wife runs our painting business, www.pacificgrovefinishes.com,
and she uses one of these abominations because it folds up and can be hauled easily in her work van. Her van is a Dodge Grand Caravan that has the ability to fold all of the seats down and use as a cargo van. I swear, as much as I hate the idea of driving a mini-van, that thing is one cargo-carrying son of a gun (I just hauled a refrigerator in it last night). Half the time I actually prefer to take it over the pickup truck because it's easier to load and you don't have to tie stuff down. 
... But I digress... The other use for these ladders are insurance adjusters... Insurance companies buy their property adjusters small or mid-size cars because of fuel mileage, and get these compacto-ladders so they can still be hauled. They are also popular with independent catastrophe adjusters for the same reason.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jun 2017 18:25
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I bought my first one, the 17 footer, because I had a staircase to paint. That had several flights and landings about 36x42 with 90 degree turns and being able to adjust the height after getting the compact package in there was great. I look at them as a specialized tool, not something I use where I can use a standard extension or step ladder.
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Jebediah
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jun 2017 16:07
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Airport Firefighters use a similar ladder on their crash trucks, it's called a WAKU ladder.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 2 Jun 2017 16:24
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I have the Werner MT-17. Works very well.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2017 23:33
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No good experiences with those click-clack ladders
I’m not big on step ladders
But they have their place
I have one that just plain rocks
The tool/pail holding platform rivets finally rotted away
Thought, no prob, I’ll just get another
Can’t find ‘em with five steps
So, bolted mine back together
I love (must have) the deeper steps, not rungs or thin steps.
The only ones I can find are these three step ones;
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2017 19:35 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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That first muti ladder is a POS.
Hubby and Son both have pinched their fingers and have told me it's the most dangerous ladder they have ever used.
This coming from two men whom used ladders all day every day for a combined total of 80 years.
We bought it because it was compact and easy to transport to the cabin.
It's still being used but with extreme caution.
Looks like I'll be on it at the cabin since the last time up Hubby almost broke his leg on the ladder when his knee locked up and he fell off.
This is the ladder I use at home. I am a person that does not like climbing and has a fear of heights. This ladder helps a little, not enough.
I do not allow my Husband to climb ladders anymore so he stands down at the bottom and "holds" the ladder for me, lol.
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