Telescopic Ladder

[annieigma]

Anyone tried one of these telescopic ladders that is tubular, and folds down to about a metre. Are they safe, and would they be wobbly? Don't want o.h. to buy one if they are dodgy.
Thank you,
annie.

[carrust]

Unless you're confident working on ladders i'd stay clear of them. They are very wobbly and feel unstable, when in fact they aren't. I'd go for foldy down ladders if I were you.

[RATTER15]

We had a surveyor her using one a few days ago, I was very impressed, very sturdy and solid.

Just make sure it is a good quality one!

[carrust]

Did you go up it ratter?

[RATTER15]

No but I gave it a good going over as I was very interested in it, very good quality.

[The Builder]

Ladders are usually divided into three classes.
Class 1 the best - used by hire companies
Class 2 Trade - the type builders usually use
Class 3 Light use - Diy - wobblers (better thrown away)

[ELVIS68]

The wooden double ladders we use at work cost £750 each and if they have so much as a tiny nick in them we have to cut them in half and chuck them in the skip, health n safety gone mad!

[annieigma]

perhaps one of those foldable ones would be safer?

[thumper93]

clas olsen sell them very sturdy too

[mikey4444]

I have seen them and they are very heavy ! I was going to but one for my caravan, as they fold up into quite a small size. But they are far too heavy, much heavier than a normal aluminium step ladder.

[SexySally]

It is, as always, a question of the most appropriate tool for the job. The telescopic ladders we use are in the £50-£100 range, and for our purposes are the only suitable tool. They collapse down to the size of a mediun suitcase, allowing us to get them into places a normal ladder or stepladder won't go, then extend to a desired length instead of a set full length. They are perhaps 50% heavier than cheap stepladders but will goin the boot of a car or carry on their shoulderstrap. They're not particularly unsafe, but I don't recommend them for e.g. pensioners as collapsing them can require dexterity and thay are not particularly wide. As for 'foldable' ladders, stepladders have their uses but require more floor area, and the sectioned bendy ladders are very good for decorating stairwells. Otherwise, they don't help much. So, consider what you need to do and choose appropriately.