Posted By Carl on 05 Sep 2011 10:03 AM
I bought an Extend and Climb model 780P. It is a type 1A ladder rated for 300 lbs. When it is fully extended, it is 12 1/2 ft. The locking tabs have colors on them so that you can tell if they are set. If you see red, the tab is not locked. I weigh 250+ and this ladder does not bow and is very stable. The main thing that I have to be careful of is keeping my fingers clear of the rungs when collapsing it. I will not buy a type 1 ladder of any kind, because they are only rated for 225-250 lbs and are usually bouncy or springy when I climb on them.
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Carl,
On October 26th 2009, I tipped a 24 ft. extension ladder and I broke my leg(the jagged edge of the spiral break ripped apart my calf muscle and tore through my skin) I broke my pelvis, 4 ribs separated at the sternum(the ribs were broken from a public adjuster trying to give me CPR, it was later determined that CPR was not necessary and actually made my condition worse,however I have nothing but love for that PA because he was scared, crying and was trying to help me). I broke my jaw and had my jaw wired shut for almost 3 weeks or so(some say that was a good thing :-) ) I also fractured my skull. I had two surgeries on my leg and I had another surgery in March of 2010 as a blood clot formed under the fracture line of my skull. I was in a wheelchair for about 4 months or so and to this day, I walk with a cane(well I am supposed to anyway)
On April 23rd, 2011 Brian Jones had a 22 ft. extension ladder on a multi story risk with a one story detached garage. The garage was a simple 4/12 pitch. The insured told Brian there is no need to move your extension ladder because the insured had set up a 11 ft ladder or something close to that. Brian zipped up the ladder with the insured bracing the ladder because the ladder was set up on a smooth concrete patio and was also wet and did his thing with the garage roof . He went to the ladder and didn't see the insured around, he put one foot on the ladder and it felt secure and just as he put his full weight and his other foot on the ladder, it slid out from under him. As he layed there he knew something was wrong because he couldn't feel anything from his waist down and was terrified he was paralyzed. Fairly quickly he felt the sensation of his pants and shoes getting tighter and tighter around his legs and feet and he felt as he began to fall unconscious and his vision got darker and darker and then.....nothing
Brian Jones not only broke both legs and both ankles and both feet, he destroyed his legs from the knees down and destroyed the sockets where the ankles meet the feet. Brian is married with 6 beautiful children and as many of married adjusters do, Summer(Brian's wife) wrote the XM8 estimates and Brian did the inspections. Unfortunately as the case is, many of us adjusters being self employed means that we do NOT have access to health care unless we literally have the ability to pay a monthly premium in excess of $1,000.00 +. My accident cost more than 500k from all the surgeries, hospitalization etc.... That would have financially destroyed me and my precious babies(Jordan/Mckenna) and would have BK'd our lives. My saving grace was that I am blessed to have FREE LIFETIME healthcare from being a disabled Veteran from being wounded during the first Gulf war.
Carl my friend, the whole point to my post is to extoll the virtue of ladder safety as what we do is inherently dangerous.A momentary slip up or a second of throwing common sense to the wind on a ladder can change and END our lives and our families lives.........forever!! I am concerned about a few things in your post. You are running with a collapsible ladder when fully extended equals 12 1/2 ft. which translates to a 9 ft. max reach for the user. You state it's max load is 300 lbs and that you are 250+. With your tool belt and equipment and your clothes, that can increase your weight by 5 to 10 lbs. That can bring the ladder system closer to it's max weight limit. You state that the ladder is rigid and does NOT flex, whilst that seems reassuring, that your ladder does NOT flex makes that ladder extremely vulnerable to catastrophic failure. Remember whilst your ladder system is rated to 300 lbs, that limit is based upon STATIC weight (the weight is placed gradually up to the limits of it's rating.) When a person gets on a ladder and maybe hops on the ladder or makes a quick move, your 250 or 270 lbs can generate well over 300/400+ of force that exceeds the safety limits.
It's like Jet Aircraft wings, flying through turbulence can be very stressing to those who don't fly alot because they see the wings bouncing and flexing up and down. Those wings are extremely strong and they are designed to flex. If those wings are rigid, they would be much more susceptible to catastrophic failure.
So Carl,(AND ALL ADJUSTERS NEW AND OLD, ROOKIE AND VETERAN PLEASE REMEMBER THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE WITH YOU GUYS/GALS ALL OF YOU GUYS/GALS IN IT) PLEASE get yourself a longer heavier weight limit, fiberglass( No Aluminum as during hurricanes tornadoes, you are dealing with downed power lines) extension ladder(20 to 24 ft) and a 6 to 8 ft. fiberglass A frame ladder. No matter the expense, LET'S ALL BE SAFE !!!!
Robby Robinson
American Veteran CAT Services