Telescopic Ladders, Opinions Please

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earlybird

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With lift-out looming, I'm thinking of buying a telescopic ladder as being very convenient to carry to the yard in the boot of the car and to store. Amazon have them, £60 'ish for a 10 footer. However, doubts have set in on reading some Amazon reviews, several complain of quite unpleasant accidents due to sudden "de-telescoping" or breaking.
Any experience of these ladders, do they need special care to avoid Darwinian selection? Would the Screwfix offering at £120 for "professional" quality be better than Amazon, both look very similar on-line?
 
I have had one of the first of these, the Swedish-made Telesteps, for almost 10 years. Still good. I assume all the others are cheaper copies. My only complaint is that on the original design it is easy to squash your fingers when (deliberately) collapsing.
 
I have one of the Amazon ones. You just have to be careful to ensure the catches actually catch (with a clicking sound) before ascending. I climbed up once and one side started to dip slowly, came down and sure enough one of the catches hadn't bitten. Now I check that I have extended it properly and not had a problem since.
 
jwilson said:
.........My only complaint is that on the original design it is easy to squash your fingers when (deliberately) collapsing.
Click to expand...

.....and it hurts!

I've also heard anecdotal rumours of their dangers in use but I've used one for 4 winter seasons and have nothing but praise (except for the above quoted comment, of course). Collapsing them is a high stress activity. Still haven't got the hang of it, my hands aren't big enough to go around the side tubes and safely push the collapse buttons without fear on entrapment! Any tips from people with a higher score on the Darwin scale?
 
There is one danger with theses telesteps, If if falls over and one tube get a dent
they will not longer slide in each other and you can dump the telesteps because it is
not possible to repaire.
Do not lent this telestep to other people, you got a problem when they use it not proper.

I use one for 7 years now whitout problems.

regards,
HermanD
 
rwoofer said:
I have one of the Amazon ones. You just have to be careful to ensure the catches actually catch (with a clicking sound) before ascending. I climbed up once and one side started to dip slowly, came down and sure enough one of the catches hadn't bitten. Now I check that I have extended it properly and not had a problem since.
Click to expand...
That happened to me but I realised what had happened and climbed gingerly down. I only weigh 90kg and it didn't seem to harm the ladder in any way; but since then I take more care to check the latches are in place as I ascend.
 
Not a telescopic one but I bought a 4 section folding one that hinges out, it has the advantage that it can be used as a work bench and platform with a fender board on it. Not as towable and small as a telescopic but easily car transportable.
 
petehb said:
Not a telescopic one but I bought a 4 section folding one that hinges out, it has the advantage that it can be used as a work bench and platform with a fender board on it. Not as towable and small as a telescopic but easily car transportable.
Click to expand...

Just got home after using set of the 4 parters at work , i use them regularly , i had considered telescopic , but look like a can of worms , the good ones being rather bulky and expensive.

I retire my work ones to boat use when they look a bit shabby , ideal for boat use as pointed out above you can also use to make a platform when working on topsides .
 
Bought mine recently from Argos. Soft close and has a finger space gap between each rung when closed so no fingers trapped.
I would be wary of those with no gap between rungs when closed!
 
Most telescopic ladders (all?) can be incorrectly erected if not done very carefully, cost doesn't seem to have any bearing on this issue. I've had one telescope with me on it, I "only" fell 6ft and had a narrow escape with my leg very nearly being broken between the rungs. I still rate having one but I'm very much more careful these days.
 
Had ours, a decent quality/not cheap pair a couple of years now - branded "xtendandclimb" and wouldn't be without them but ...( isn't there always)
* They are notably heavier than your average ally ladder
* When de-erecting our model can come down on unwary fingers like a guill-o-tine
* when descending a not fully erect ladder the 'stacked' unused rungs at the bottom give one an awkward step
* I would guess not ideal for dusty/gritty/painty/salty situations as the telescopes best be kept clean
*A bit more 'give' in them than a conventional ladder

But when all is said and done the reduced stowage requirements for me beats all objections. On re reading the blurb I see it says max extended height 3.8m but max standing height 2.8m . i.e one shouldn't stand on the last few steps - but if I'm hoiking myself into the loft or some such I frequently stand on the top step no doubt consigning myself to some elfin safety imbroglio in the process. Happily I've as yet avoided any expected/inadvertent de-telescoping which sounds the stuff of nightmares - I'd not trust safe operation to someone whose head was full of currents of air. (no names - no packdrill and no supper)
yrs
David
(glorious in Pembrokeshire today)
 
I've used one of the Amazon ones for years, and provided you check the catches are properly located, and keep your thumbs out of the way when collapsing it, it's fine. Possibly not as light as you'd expect, but it tucks under your arm for carrying, so provided you are reasonably careful they are very handy. I can't think of another ladder I could put in my boot.
 
One of the best things I have ever bought.

As mentioned, heavy but beautifully compact.

Keep fingers and other essential body parts clear when raising and lowering.
 
I have used one of these for years in my job as a building surveyor. I lent it to my boss who drove over and broke it, so the company bought me a new one. They then confiscated it until I had gone on a height awareness course. If I fell off my own ladder that was OK, but if I fell off their one they could be liable.
The good ones are heavy. For prolonged use, a proper ladder, properly fastened is better.
 
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