Ladder Fee

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1793 said:
This is how I manage to move this ladder around and storage. I can get it onto my truck's ladder rack and off without too much trouble. Carrying this by myself is a little work but the dollies(?) help.


I have been charging $50.00 each time it goes on and off my truck.

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That's the ladder?!! It looks like you are hauling a section of the boom to a crane! The dollies are a great idea.
 
MAK said:
That's the ladder?!! It looks like you are hauling a section of the boom to a crane! The dollies are a great idea.
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They adjust from 11 to 21'.

SkyscraperBase-2.jpg
 
mdshunk said:
I'm a little surprised that you can work off one of those things, straight up. You're a big man, and I honestly wasn't sure if they worked for bigger guys or not. I like to work 2-handed, and there's no good way to work 2 handed off that sort of ladder. I never really tried to use a body belt with one, though. That would probably work okay. With those ladders, you're normally working one-handed and holding on for your life with your other hand/arm.
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Works fine for 200-250 lbs. Just sit on the top rung with one of your feet looped into a lower rung. Leaning side to side can be exciting as the ladder slop comes into play...ka-chung!

My boss used to straddle the middle section standing up and could reach up over his head. The best I remember, the big one was 32'. I never could convince myself to let go with both hands when standing up. I guess I could have strapped a piece of conduit to the side to give me something to hold to cure the vertigo.
 
480sparky said:
They adjust from 11 to 21'.

SkyscraperBase-2.jpg
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How do you guy's like these. Are you glad you have them (for those that do) or do you wish you were still renting scaffold/lifts. I'm thinking about it but I dunno. I'm a contractor and work by myself. Are these ladders a 2 man deal?
 
Huevos said:
How do you guy's like these. Are you glad you have them (for those that do) or do you wish you were still renting scaffold/lifts. I'm thinking about it but I dunno. I'm a contractor and work by myself. Are these ladders a 2 man deal?
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I can stand it up by myself at 16'. Any more and I get someone else to help me. I've heard some people say they can stand it up and extend it one side at a time, one rung at a time. I have yet to try it myself.

I use mine a lot in the log homes I do that have recessed cans & fans in tall ceilings. Some reach 24 feet, so the 21' ladder is perfect for it.

Here's it is extended out:
SkyscraperBase-5.jpg

Great for ceilings like this:

DSC04811a.jpg
 
mivey said:
Works fine for 200-250 lbs. Just sit on the top rung with one of your feet looped into a lower rung. Leaning side to side can be exciting as the ladder slop comes into play...ka-chung!

My boss used to straddle the middle section standing up and could reach up over his head. The best I remember, the big one was 32'. I never could convince myself to let go with both hands when standing up. I guess I could have strapped a piece of conduit to the side to give me something to hold to cure the vertigo.
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How much are you willing to do for your livelyhood? I draw the line at killing or maiming myself. I'll admit that I've done some stupid stuff during my 34 years as an electrician. Most of it when I was young and working for someone else. One thing I've learned (and I'm a slow learner), all the money in the world can't compensate for poor health/disabilities. Take care of yourself, it's only a job.....
 
480sparky said:
I can stand it up by myself at 16'. Any more and I get someone else to help me. I've heard some people say they can stand it up and extend it one side at a time, one rung at a time. I have yet to try it myself.
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That's the same one the HD's with rental departments have, as well as other rental places. I've used them plenty, and always open and stand it up before extending them. I can lift one all the way by myself, usually 3 or 4 rungs at a time.

I push one side up until the other side is vertical, lock it, push the second side up until the first side is vertical, and repeat, climbing higher with each motion. Obviously, bringing it down is the reverse.

The legs splay more and more as it grows, so make sure you have the room.
 
If it's not on the service truck on a daily basis, then additional charges should be applicable. My trucks have a 24' extension ladder, 6' step and a 4' step ladder on them. If any other ladders or scafolding is required , you bet I charge for it.
 
wooden ladders

wooden ladders

reminds me of my apprentice days, using a 13 foot ladder on top of two tables so we could reach the ceiling! not these days!:-?
 
DEFINITLEY CHARGE MORE THEN $50.00.

EITHER GIVE THEM A FLAT FEE TO HANG THE LIGHT.
ABOUT $350.00. OR IF YOU ARE DOING OTHER STUFF BY THE HOUR AND THAT TOO. ALL HOME OWNERS I DEAL WITH EXPECT TO PAY MORE FOR SOMETHING THAT HIGH.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WE WOULD PULL WIRE ALL DAY FROM THE TOP OF THEM A FRAMES. THE FIRE ALARM IN THE SLAB. EVENTUALLY YOU GET USE TO IT SWAYING BACK AND FOURTH. yOU JUST CLIMBED TO THE TOP THEN STRADDLED YOUR LEGS AROUND THE STEPS. THAT LEAVES BOTH HANDS FREE FOR THROWING TAPE OR WHATEVER BACK AND FOURTH TO THE OTHER GUY ON THE OTHER WELL EXTENDED A FRAME.
NOW A DAYS IF I USE ONE IN A FOYER I TAKE A LONG TWO BY FOUR AND TIE WIRE IT TO THE BANNISTER THEN TO THE LADDER SO IT WON'T SWAY AS MUCH.
USE A TOWELL OR RAGS SO NOT TO SCRATCH ANY THING.
IF THE LIGHT WAYS 70 LBS. WITHOUT THE GLASS ON IT. WE TIE SOMETHING TO IT THEN HAVE SOME ONE IN THE ATTIC PULL IT UP AND FASTEN IT TO THE JOICES.
 
The ones that have a sliding section in the middle are called trestle ladders.
They are very handy for getting up to a high beam to put a beam clamp if there is a t-bar ceiling below. You can set up the ladder such that the trestle slide goes right up thru the 2'x4' opening. Mine are wooden. I think they reach up to something like 22 feet?. Very heavy, best to have 2 guys when using this monster. I used to contract a lot of commercial tenant installs. The trestles were very useful for that type of work. But I also had grunts to do the setup.
 
Huevos said:
How do you guy's like these. Are you glad you have them (for those that do) or do you wish you were still renting scaffold/lifts. I'm thinking about it but I dunno. I'm a contractor and work by myself. Are these ladders a 2 man deal?
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So far I'm very happy I have mine. I'm just playing with how much to charge for "high" work in addition to my regular charges. I've been getting some good feedback on this topic.

Like Larry said, This SkyScraper is fixed at 11' and the two sides extend to to a max. height of 21'. I can set it up and move it by myself with the help of some Moving Men sliders I bought.
 
The last timberframe we wired, the GC had an "orchard" tripod fiber glass 20 footer. The thing was amazingly light and quite stable. I really like it. I haven't been able to find one like it though. Most are aluminum.
 
I have the littel giant not the big one but actually like it allot..I am a scaffolding man..alumimun scaffolding..anything else needs a lift..thank goodness for commerical jobs..
 
emahler said:
if i can't use a genie lift, scissor lift, or bucket truck....it ain't getting done by me..
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My father was a general contractor, so I was crawling around in high places from little on up. I never really had a fear of heights. I was well into adulthood before I realized how many grown men were deathly afraid of heights. It's fun to be in a lift with a guy like that. I like to sway the lift around a bit just to see them turn green.
 
mdshunk said:
My father was a general contractor, so I was crawling around in high places from little on up. I never really had a fear of heights. I was well into adulthood before I realized how many grown men were deathly afraid of heights. It's fun to be in a lift with a guy like that. I like to sway the lift around a bit just to see them turn green.
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I worked with a kid who was scared to death of heights, and we were in a 60' lift one time. I got it to rocking back & forth ever so slightly. I can still recognize that lift today by the impressions his fingers left on the handrails. :wink:
 
480sparky said:
I worked with a kid who was scared to death of heights, and we were in a 60' lift one time. I got it to rocking back & forth ever so slightly. I can still recognize that lift today by the impressions his fingers left on the handrails. :wink:
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My one truck goes 65 feet if I can get parked right under something. Even a breeze will blow the bucket back and fourth a good 3 feet when you're hanging out at full extension. Pretty weird feeling.
 
480sparky said:
I worked with a kid who was scared to death of heights, and we were in a 60' lift one time. I got it to rocking back & forth ever so slightly. I can still recognize that lift today by the impressions his fingers left on the handrails. :wink:
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I'm affraid of heights as well and I'm 47. I picked up my fear after witnessing 3 window washers fall 40 feet onto gravel. Killing 2 and permanently disabling the third. It's just never been the same.
 
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