Guess I am getting old.

[TB Roye]

I have decide to get rid of my 20ft. extension ladder. At almost 69 years old, I have no desire to climb it any more. So this afternoon when I pick up Granddaughter and bring her home from School I will bring the ladder and give it to her dad, who just bought a 2 story house. I will keep my 5 and 8ft. step ladders for now. The 5 footer is a wooden one that I use in the shop and house. The 8 footer is nice to have outside for cleaning gutters and the windows in the sun room. There are things that I used to do but now for safety reasons I allow others to do. Don't know if it is because I am getting older or wiser or maybe just lazy. LOML, myself and my DIL grandmother take of our 5 month old grandson. My son and his wife have made a second nursery in the down stairs guest room so we don't have carry him up and down stairs which we really appreciate carry him downstairs is scary holding him in one had and the railing in the other is not a confidence builder. I was leaning on the wall and holding him with both arms the last I carried him down.

Tom

[cork58]

Tom,

I got rid of both my 30' and 16' extension ladders last year for the same reason, saftey. Still have my 8' step ladder to get up in the loft of the barn. I need to build one that is part of the wall this summer, then just keep the 8' in the shop for its dutys there.

[cabinetman]

It's a real reality check. I'm gettin' in the same boat. Being on meds, having a bum knee that can give out at any time without announcement, is actually enough reason to stay off ladders. I have a 16' aluminum one that I use on a high section of the house, and fairly regularly to trim three palm trees in the front yard. If I don't actually climb with my left foot, I'm pretty stable. But, it has totally given out just standing on the ground.

I remember how physically fit I was coming out of the Army. Shopwork has really taken its toll on me. Gettin' older hasn't helped either.

.

[herb fellows]

fORTUNATELY IN YOUR CASE, WITH AGE COMES WISDOM.

Knowing when to stop is about the best mental attribute you can have.

I can get dizzy when I look up while on a steep ladder incline, so I gave that up last year. Too scary for me.

[jackellis]

I've always hated ladders, which might seem funny for a guy who loves to fly. I can still climb up the 16' extension to change indoor bulbs but we hired a professional to mount Bambi and Rudolph on a wall in our entry. It helped that he had a 20' ladder.

I don't know quite what I'm going to do about staining outside fascias on our decks this year. Brushing seems to work better than using a roller, but the base is 16' off the ground and 8' above the lower deck.

BTW, compared with some of you, I'm still a kid (going to be 57).

[leehljp]

In 2005, I bought a 20+ ft (it was looong but I don't remember how long) extension ladder from HD to cut some high limbs on a tree. I stood it up, climbed up about half way and then backed down slowly. I slid the two sections back together, put it on top of my pickup and took it back to HD. Got my refund too!

I have a two section ladder that extends to about 20 ft total but I never use it extended beyond 12 to 14 ft. That is plenty for me to get on the roof. When I was younger . . .

[dbhost]

I have a while to go before I catch up you the particular age range noted here... But I must say it's not getting older that got you off of that extension ladder, you are just getting sane as time goes on...

I have never, and will never own an extension ladder. I have friends of mine in their mid 40's on permanent disability due to extension ladder accidents. I have no desire to join those ranks...

[Black wallnut]

Don't own one and never will. By my third year of college I gained a respect for high places such that I have no desire to be up high. As a kid I helped my dad and brothers roof our two story house with a roof 45° or so. Never felt in the least bit timid about scurrying up the ladder or walking to the edge.

[capncarl]

I "had" a 20 ft section of a really long aluminum extension ladder. It really scared everyone that used it. Rather than give it away and let someone else get hurt on it I cut in in half and used it for the top of a grape trellis. Looks good and can now serve out it usefull life doing something good.
capncarl

[BrazosJake]

In 2005, I bought a 20+ ft (it was looong but I don't remember how long) extension ladder from HD to cut some high limbs on a tree. I stood it up, climbed up about half way and then backed down slowly. I slid the two sections back together, put it on top of my pickup and took . . .

Yep, I was none too fond of mine, but tree-trimming
Was really pushing it. Only reason I had it was to paint gables on a house I no longer own.

I took it to a painting-party a few years ago. When it was over, I pretended it wasn't mine.

It still lives in the shed of the party host, who wishes someone would claim it.

That's the cost of my paint
Job:-)

[TB Roye]

This one was good and sturdy and pretty stable with the feet on it, fairly new so that wasn't the problem. It wasn't one of those flexible aluminum ones. More my balance and being afraid of missing a step on the way down. Family was happy it is gone. Last night they asked me when I was getting rid of 1952 Kurtis V8/60 Midget. I just smiled and looked over at the top of my glasses at them.