Comments on: Save storage space with the telescoping ladder

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:20:41 +0000

I just saw a commercial last night for Target, and a similar ladder was shown. I think it’s a great idea!

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:52:37 +0000

How about an articulated ladder like this instead: http://tinyurl.com/pg4×7 You can use that without needing to lean it against anything…

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:27:46 +0000

We sell these at the hardware store where I work. They are well made, but pricey. You WILL pinch your skin, quite painfully, when collapsing it. Not every time, but occasionally. It really hurts. If I was a home inspector (as in the above comment), I would absolutely own one of these. If I was a home owner, I would not. Get a cheap, locally made, 6′ wooden ladder at 1/10th the price. Think creatively about storage. Maybe you need one in the garage and one behind the shed. I think I would have a real good “inside” ladder in the kitchen between the refrigerator and the wall ($80) and an 8′ wood ladder ($40) in the garage, hanging on bicycle hooks.

Brad

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:49:41 +0000

Another option which is almost as portable and even more adaptable is the gorilla ladder. There’s a good review over at the cool tools website. http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001249.php

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:52:03 +0000

We have one of these and it is very sturdy. Two minor drawbacks: One, it is quite heavy. In order to be as strong as a regular ladder, it has just as much or more metal. When all that metal is collapsed down, it makes the ladder dense and heavy. Two, while it is very well latched when extended (no danger of it collapsing while you’re on it), it can very badly pinch your fingers while you are deliberately folding it up if you aren’t careful to follow the directions. In the hands of someone inexperienced, it can do some serious damage in that way.

In spite of these quibble, though, it was the perfect solution for us. We live full-time in our RV, which is a 13 foot tall converted German tour bus. We need a ladder tall enough to get to all parts of the roof and high windows, but don’t have 12-13 foot long storage areas. When collapses, this ladder is about 3 feet long and fits easily in the bus.

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:26:45 +0000

Here’s a second experience with a home inspector having this type of ladder. I’d say it must be no gimmick if someone who uses it daily has one.

By: Ann at One Bag Nation

Ann at One Bag Nation — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:30:57 +0000

What a great idea! I’m very short and I don’t get the most out of my kitchen storage because several shelves are out of reach – even if I’m on the step stool. This is so compact I could leave it where the step stool usually is – wow!

By: Jen (SLC)

Jen (SLC) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:05:32 +0000

When I was buying my house, the home inspector showed up in a tiny little hatch back with a telescoping ladder stashed behind his seat. It worked pretty well for him, and it definitely got a lot of use.

By: LivSimpl

LivSimpl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:13:53 +0000

I’ve seen this somewhere before… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRvEsonVXWA What happened in the video wasn’t even the ladder’s fault – it actually looks like a pretty good product.

Also, being collapsable isn’t just good for storage, but for maneuvering it through your house – less chance of knocking something over or putting a dent in the wall.

http://www.LivSimpl.com

By: Springpeeper

Springpeeper — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:39:01 +0000

This looks like a great idea, but I just have this vision of the thing telescoping while I’m using it… one quick ride down to the bottom of the ladder!