Section 31 wrote:
I am buying an aluminum ladder soon. I see that the loads ratings vary
from Grade 1 to grade 3. I was looking on the net and I read an
article that all aluminum ladders are tested so that each rung on the
ladder can hold 800lbs of weight regardless of grade. Does anyone know
if that is true ?
I will be using it for around the house type of work...I take it grade
1 is good enough?

Thanks.


The rung rating is just that, the ladder rating
includes everything and the all important rails.
Cheapest are rated at 200 pounds, and then 225,
250, and 300. If you get an extension ladder of
20 feet or less (top of the ladder fully extended
is about 15 feet) most any rating is suitable as
long as you weigh less than 180 pounds. I have a
225 pound rated 24 foot ladder (reaches 17 feet to
top of ladder fully extended) and that is good
enough for me but I weigh about 165. If I weighed
180-190 I would want a ladder rated at 250 pounds.

Not all ladders rated the same are equal in
stiffness. Look at the width (depth) of the side
rails, the more depth the more stiffness. If I
got an extension ladder longer than 24 foot, I
would want a much stiffer ladder than what I have,
at least a 250 pound rated ladder. If you use a
ladder for more than just around the house
occasions, you want a commercial rated ladder
(like 300 pound).