Are Little Giant ladders worth the money?

[sleddogg]

Just wondering if most of you would pay for one of these or go with one of the many "knock off" brands that are out there. I like the idea of being able to seperate it for scaffold work and using it on stairs is a nice feature too. I also wiegh around 275# so strength is an issue here. Thanks for any input.

[messmaker]

I have one I got at Sam's. It was about $100. It is a little on the heavy side but it is plenty sturdy. I think it is rated for 300#. I am 235# and it shows no strain.

[jseklund]

I have to second the Sam's Club ladder. I bought one of these for $100 at Sam's Club for my dad last christmas. It is a 17' Cosco ladder, which is reviewed on Amazon also, I believe (about $150 there).

I believe that the MAIN complaint about any of these ladders, whether it's the Gorilla version at HD, the Cosco, or the Little Giant version itself- is the weight. The 17 ft. ladder weighs about 40-45 pounds generally. So it's not HEAVY or impossible to lug, but it isn't a two finger lift either.

I weigh about 250 pounds and my dad is 300 pounds. This ladder is easy to use, versatille, and PLENTY sturdy. Neither of us has any problem when we have used it. It is also nice because it folds up and can fit in the back seat of a car- something that even a taller step ladder is incapable of.

So, yes it's worth the money, but the Cosco is REALLY worth the money for $100 at Sam's.

[Knottscott]

I have one I got at Sam's. It was about $100. It is a little on the heavy side but it is plenty sturdy. I think it is rated for 300#. I am 235# and it shows no strain.

I think Imay have the same ladder....It's a VersaLadder...purchased from Sam's for ~ $100 ~ 10 years ago, rated @ 300#, and made in the US. I'm ~ 225# and have never felt the ladder was stressed one bit....it's very strong. The Little Giant has some features that the Versaladder doesn't have, but it's alot more expensive. Overall the Versaladder does the vast majority of what I need it to do....what's the cost difference mean to you?

[softop41]

"Little Giant ladder"

I also have the Little Giant knock-off from Sam's Club and I agree with all that has been said regarding value, weight, utility and sturdiness.

[drumpriest]

For those who don't belong to the walmart club, Costco also has these ladders. And HD has them as well, made by Gorilla. I have the HD one, it works well. They newer ones there are fiberglass, somewhat lighter.

[Doug Jones]

If I was in the business, a Little Giant would be on my list of must haves based on word from owners. However, not being in the business, a knock-off would do me just as well.

[mpauly]

I have another knock off, I think it is a Warner, that I picked up at Costco for $99. I'm 240lbs and feel total safe and stable on it, even when it's fully extended. It also came with an extra set of hinge plates, should the first set wear out. I'll second/third/fourth, etc the weight comment, not too heavy to move, just not easy to one-hand it into position. Inside I use a 5' wooden ladder that is very light and easy to maneuver. I have a ranch home and didn't need a full extension ladder, but needed somthing bigger my 5 footer. This ladder extends to about 18' which gets me up to my roof, into the trees in the yard, yet stores in the corner of my garage easilly.

[Luckbox]

I have the Gorilla version and it is the best ladder I have ever had. It is heavy and when full extended very clumsy, but once up and you on it the thing doesn't move. I am 220 and was on it fully extended with about 50lbs of gear and felt perfectly safe.

[thrytis]

I have a Werner MT-22 (21 foot) version. I'm very happy with mine. I would have easily spent as much or more getting at least 2 step ladders and an extension ladder i would have needed instead of it, and that still wouldn't help me on stairs or as scaffolding. It has a nice wide base and is very solid feeling even when extended. I can't imagine paying twice as much for Little Giant that does the exact same thing. The only thing i could think of making Little Giant worth a premium was if it was significantly lighter.

[pirinst]

I have two of the Gorillas with a scaffold.

They are the same quality as the Little Giant as far as I can tell.

The rungs are welded on. The HD cheapo has the rungs riveted on (or pins,

can't remember)- there was plastic covering over the rivets so you wouldn't

notice, but I was able to see the rivets when comparison shopping. Same

300 pound rating on the three, but I just don't like rivets/pins on weight

bearing connections. Think the cheapo was Werner. Very light, though.


One problem I had was one of the length adustment pieces was slightly off

and would be hard to pull out/push into the ladder holes. I filed it and

problem was gone. It was not ground properly by the company, but I didn't

want to return it so took a half an hour and did the repair myself.

When I bought the second ladder, I tested them in the store to make sure

I got a good one before taking it home.

[TheRic]

May dad gave each of us boys ( 3 of us) the Sam's / Costco ladder for Christmas. We love them! My one brother frames houses, so he is up and down on ladders all day he knows his ladders. He loves his, he does not use his at work, since the company buys the ladders. I'm pushing #250 and I feel safe on it. Climbed the ladder fully extended with chainsaw. Was more worried about the limb giving then the ladder.

1 thing my brother found out the hard way. When the ladder is fully extended, and you remove the pins to lower it, stand behind the ladder so you can stop the rungs. Don't stand in front and reach thru the front rungs to stop the back ladder from coming down. Luckily only his thumb and ego were badly bruised.

I do believe they sell Little Giant at HD now, not sure what the cost is. But you should be able to a side by side comparison.

[LinuxRandal]

access to all three

My brother, bil and father all have the 17' little giant. The rungs are welded on the Little giant, verses rivited on the Werner and Gorilla. Both the Little Giant, and the Gorilla cover that point of the connection, the Werner doesn't. Little Giant is offered in fiberglass as well as aluminum, but doesn't offer the full size range in fiberglass, or the weight range (aluminum goes from 250# to 375#, fiberglass 300#).
The Little Giant is also made by two companies, and I am pretty sure the original patent has expired, hence the clones. They also have a lifetime warranty, the others don't.
Gorilla ladders (Cosco) are offered in 13, 17 and 21' lengths, and the 17' is offered through Sam's and I believe the range can be bought through the borg. (Borg and Sears also sells Little Giant, some other stores do to).
I compared the welds (supposed to be stronger, but one looked cracked) and the cost, verses length, and I ended up with the Werner MT-26 (26', ten pounds lighter then the Little Giant of the same size, and a lot less). It doesn't come with a work platform but instead comes with "spare" hinges (misnamed). The Little Giant, uses the work platform as a lock when seperating the ladder into two seperate ladders (as in scaffolding), the Werner, you insert the "spare" hinges into the second ladder (takes more time). The 26' Little Giant is $439.80, the Werner MT-26 was bought for $270.00.
My father found a Little Giant leg leveler (different design then the Werner series), but it seems to work fine on the Werner. I am going to get the work platform, as it is quicker then using the "spare" hinges to setup scaffolding. It is heavier then a 6' ladder (54 lbs), but can be used in that small of space, and takes up less room then my old 24' ladder that doesn't go all the way to the peak of my house. Painters seem to like the brand, locally (most parts available, best cost verse performance).

[LinuxRandal]

I should mention, that Werner offers a work platform, BUT it is different then the Little Giant, and can't be used as the ladder lock. It is comparable in price, so go with Little Giants if you can.
Little Giant also offers the wheels seperately now (seen the informercial?), I intend to eventually add them to my Werner.


Just noticed this is post #666, guess it's gonna be one h311 of a day!

[paynea]

Ditto WRT good experiences with a Cosco clone from Costco.

It seems there are a lot of us in the 225-235 lb range on this board. Very refreshing after the mountain biking forums in which that weight pegs me as a "Clysdesdale" about 75 pounds heavier than the typical rider for which the bikes are targeted.

Another recent positive ladder experience I had was an attic ladder. I wanted one that was a 300 pound capacity so that I could actually carry something up the ladder, and also wanted an insulated unit for the New England winters. I bought a pair of aluminum ones with 1.5" foam core insulated doors and weatherstripping (very nice fit and finish) from calvertusa.com. (My house is a split level, hence the need for the two ladders). It sure feels sturdier than the wooden ones from the big box stores.

Adam