Werner recently came out with several new 2-in-1 Dual Purpose ladders, which can be used as stepladders or extension ladders.
The conversion looks to be quick and easy, and of course space-saving since it means one ladder can potentially take the place of two.
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Press materials say:
The game changing 2-in-1 Dual Purpose Ladder replaces the need for two separate ladders at the jobsite. In addition, with the new Dual Purpose Ladder, only one ladder is needed to fit onto the contractor’s work van or truck, to minimize storage requirements.
Features include:
- Type 1A with 300 lb load capacity
- Full-sized 3″ steps
- Integrated V-rung for bracing against trees, poles, and corners (in extension ladder mode)
- Oversized non-marking molded footpads
- Lightweight and non-conductive fiberglass construction
- ANSI certified and OSHA compliant for safety
There are 3 sizes – 6-foot (DP6206), 7-foot (DP6207), and 8-foot (DP6208), which extend to 14, 16, and 18 feet, respectively.
Update – Here are the approximate weights:
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- 6ft/14ft is 25.4 lbs
- 7ft/16ft is 29.4 lbs
- 8ft/18ft is 33.8 lbs
The ladders convert from stepladder mode to extension ladder mode by means of a pivoting bracket at the top. There are separate “Flip and Click” locks that look to keep the ladders secure in the different operating modes.
Street Pricing: $179, $209, $239, respectively
Buy Now(6-foot via Acme Tool)
Buy Now(7-foot via Acme Tool)
Buy Now(8-foot via Acme Tool)
More Info(via Werner)
This seems like an interesting concept. Thoughts?
Ryan
I don’t see any particular benefit this provides over a little giant style ladder, do you? Probably lighter I guess, but the little giant style seems far more versatile.
Stuart
Werner has multi-purpose ladders as well (e.g. MT-17 at Amazon), but the styles are a little different, and this one is fiberglass while the Multi-Ladder and Little Giant ladders are aluminum.
Little Giant makes fiberglass multi-purpose ladders, but they’re very expensive. A quick check for a 17-foot model shows a $531 price tag.
I think these new ones are about being simpler and easier to use, saving space while still offering 2 ladder configuration options.
mattd
If you are doing electrical work you want a fiberglass ladder. So for someone who has limited space and is doing lots of electrical work this is an ideal ladder. And as others have stated, it is definitely going to be lighter than an equal sized LG style ladder.
Doresoom
I have a Werner 17 ft. articulating ladder, and it’s awesome but it’s HEAVY at 40 lbs. This design looks much lighter.
JR
SOLD! I am in need of an extension ladder that is taller than my Gorilla (LG clone) multipurpose ladder. This will fulfill that need and get me a taller step ladder to boot. Full size steps and lighter weight will be much appreciated as well.
Mark
The latch looks very cheesy, with tiny rivets and light gauge metal.
Jim Felt
I thought that too but upon looking at the detail shots it appears to be revited through metal in each case. Twice at the connection point with the lower ladder.
And to get that OSHA rating surely they would have stressed the hell out of that connection. No?
Or just rebuild it with a higher shear strength bolt, washers and a lock nut. If that’s not enough.
Koko the Talking Ape
The latch doesn’t take much force in practice. It is almost there to prevent accidental folding.
The hinge plate looks more iffy to me. Will they bend if the ladder is banged against something? And the fiberglass rails are not reinforced at that point. But if OSHA says it is okay, then it is probably okay.
It would have been cool if the hinge were integrated with the top step so they reinforce each other. Maybe that step can’t be a simple extrusion then, but hey, quality costs money.
glenn
The fact that it folds back on itself gives it the support it needs with the latch only holding it place, leaving the riveted side plate taking the shear. I don’t have it here with me to measure the rivet diameter but a typical high strength rivet of 10mm diameter will have a shear strength of around 4.0kn of about 400kg each.
We have been using this type of dual purpose ladder in aluminium for many years and with not even a hint of failure. Also our electricians have a fibreglass one which is also used daily and again it is more than strong enough.
Here is a link to the type we have albeit it is only available in Australia.
glenn
Typo, meant “4.0kn OR around 400kg each”
A W
I’d be better interested in seeing the weight of these new ladders. The LG style are versatile but heavy.
Stuart
6ft is 25.4 lbs, 7ft is 29.4 lbs, 8ft is 33.8 lbs.
A W
Thanks Stuart, so considerably lighter for a 300 lb ladder. I have the 22′ multi position Werner, and it weighs 47 lb.
Ryan
One obvious benefit is that you can walk up both sides when it’s in step ladder configuration
Mark shelton
I’m confused how they extend to two feet more than their step ladder length? It appears as though you lose about a foot between the “hinge” when converted to extension??? How do they get 14 feet from a 6′ ladder???
Nathan
Remember the 6′ measurement is with it in A frame mode so there is an angle there of some sort.
And that height is at the rated “top step” usually. IE where that sticker is that says don’t step above here. SO I suspect – without having one to measure infront of me – that the top step with it in A mode is something like 6’5 or so inches high, leading to one section of the ladder being something like 7.5 ft long – when you swing the bottom part around the overall length of the ladder end to end is 14ft long. That’s my guess. Extension ladders are rated via full length, If I recall correctly.
Michael Quinlan
Extension ladder lengths are listed as the combined length of base and fly sections. But when fully extended for use, there’s a 3 foot overlap between the base and fly, making the actual height of a fully extended 14 foot extension ladder only 11 feet. The two sections of this new ladder appear to be 6 feet long and 5.5 feet long, with the hinge at a height of 5.5 feet. When flipped into “extension mode”, this new ladder will be 11 feet tall – the equivalent of a 14 foot extension ladder.
Kevin
To add to Nathan’s response, extension ladders are rated for the full length of the two sections. Obviously there is overlap in use. A 16′ extension ladder has two 8′ section and is about 13′ maximum length.
In the photo with the electrical panels the ladder in the extension position looks like it would have 7 steps as a step ladder. To me this would be a 7′ step ladder with the steps 1′ apart. It seems to have 12 rungs as an extension ladder and is maybe 12.5′ in length. This is about equivalent to a 16′ extension ladder.
Lenny
That looks awesome. I have an older Little Giant and it’s really heavy and just too cumbersome to move around easily.
Jimmie
I’d gladly trade my 8′ step-ladder for one of these. I’d still need my extension ladder from time to time but this could replace it most of the time.
Nathan
I’m intrigued since I’m about 3 steps away from buying a little giant knockoff for my new home and they are pricy. I like the idea of this although it seems to do away with the potential scaffold option I like about the little giant and knockoffs.
But I would buy this before I bought another A ladder again unless the price was crazy.
Blythe M
For inside this looks nice, but I love my little giant style for working outside because I can adjust for slopes and stairs(and stairs inside obviously). Plus when in extension mode you can adjust the height if you’re working under an overhead obstacle. If it were only one ladder for the house I would go for the little giant every time. If you watch sales you can get a 17′ for $99 all day long, and I recently got a 22′ for that same price.
They are pretty heavy though, this has a definite advantage there
JR
There are more pictures and more detail on the Werner website. I see nothing that would be deal killer for me, at least. The deal links provided by Stuart already appear to have best pricing to be found in my searches.
Fazal Majid
I saw their 10′ stepladders at Lowe’s last weekend and was not impressed by the quality at all (they were completely battered with some rungs bent out of shape on the display stand before they even saw any use). This convertible seems much more flimsy than the Little Giants MT-17 that sells for the same price at Costco, with 50% more reach.
Jim Felt
That’s sad. But were these ladders you observed rated exactly the same? A-1? If not it’s not a fair comparison. But a very legitimate complaint against the talent of the local store manager and his “crew”.
I’ve actually ordered ladders through HD and they’ve arrived as onesies and they’ve obviously been abused in transit and HD has offered first a discount and then a full refund or replacement. So ladder transport can be a major concern if special ordered.
fred
I know that Werner seems to dominate the ladder business – but we also had some Louisville Type 1AA ladders that were quite well made.
JoeM
I know this is terribly stupid… but… How does one choose a ladder for one’s self? I’ve been building and fixing things for a good… wow… must be 25 years of my 35 year lifetime… I’ve never bought a ladder. Step, extension, or otherwise, but I know at some point I’ll probably regret not owning one. The fact that I have a fear of heights has always complicated things.
Just… point blank… What criteria should I be using to buy one, Acrophobia or Not? In general, I mean. What should I be thinking of when I go looking into buying a Ladder?
Jim Felt
Beyond the A-1 weight rating (unless your other interests include Sumo wrestling) it solely depends on your expected uses. Maybe you don’t even need one. But they do tend to last decades. Even under commercial use. So think it through and let’s see what others might suggest.
(I personally must own 6 or 8 or even 10 ladders of all sorts, heights and brands. So I’m no help).
fred
If you google “ladder buyers guide” – you will get some thoughts from Consumer Reports, Home Depot/Lowes and Werner. Despite what anyone tells you – no ladder is good for everything. So rather than buying a one-size-fits-all ladder – maybe when you have a job coming up, where standing on the furniture will not get it done – then you might spec out what you need. Or if you are afraid of even modest heights – maybe leave those jobs to others.
If you decide to buy a step ladder – maybe you would be happy with one that’s at the sturdier end of the range (Type 1AA) rather than a light-duty Type III as climbing on a Extra HD ladder might make you feel more secure . Maybe a double-sided step ladder – typically heavier but more secure feeling might help allay some of your fear even more.
fred
As an example here is a Werner Twin 6 foot ladder type 1A – rated 300 pounds per side.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-6-ft-Fiberglass-Twin-Step-Ladder-with-300-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IA-T6206/203134363
I think that Keller (maybe Werner too) also make twin ladders in Type1AA – or 375lb per side. Might be a bit heavy and awkward for some tasks – but they feel solid when standing on them.
MichaelHammer
Fred, as usual, has great advice. I spend a lot of time on ladders and won’t use anything lighter than 1A. I just don’t feel secure otherwise. Latter stabilizers can be helpful in making you feel more secure. Aluminum is lighter than fiberglass, hence easier to move around. I have found that a 24′ extension ladder gets me almost everywhere I need to be on the outside of a house or in a foyer. If you’re talking indoors I prefer platform style ladders. I use a two step Cosco that I got from Costco. It weighs almost nothing, has lasted me over ten years and I think I paid $12.
JoeM
Thanks guys. I felt kinda embarrassed to ask such a stupid question. Weight isn’t so much of an issue for ladders. I’m rather heavy-set myself, so there’s already enough muscle to carry my weight around, and very heavy loads. If a ladder weighs even 100 pounds, it doesn’t bother me, as long as it is 100 pounds for a good reason, like size or sturdiness.
So… From what I’m gathering… Look for one with a 1A type rating, where the weight numbers are bigger than my current body weight? Then, size depends on application after that? Indoors-relatively short, outdoors-extension and much longer? And Stabilizers to help with my Acrophobia?
How do you guys feel about those platforms that the Little Giant ladders advertise in their infomercials along with their basic ladders? The ones you can put between two Little Giants, and it becomes a kind of Scaffolding? Gimmick? Dangerous? Bad Design? Best thing since Sliced Bread? You guys are full of experience I don’t have, so forgive me if I’m taking the time to pick your superior experience to mine.
fred
Knowing when you should use staging / scaffolding instead of a ladder is a good thing. A ladder is really meant mostly for climbing – but of course you can stand on the rung of a ladder and do some tasks like caulking, painting, gutter or window cleaning etc. Standing and working form a ladder for extended periods is fatiguing – tough on your feet, legs and back. Reaching from a ladder instead of moving it, is dangerous. So if your painting, siding, wallpapering or doing some other job that takes a longish amount of time – you are better off working from staging. Most ladder manufactures sell extendable/telescoping planks and fixed length stages – typically out of aluminum:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/MetalTech-13-ft-Aluminum-Telescoping-Work-Plank-with-250-lb-Load-Capacity-M-PEP7100AL/206691431
These can be used with (strung between) extension ladders and ladder jacks, roof brackets, two step ladders, a step ladder and a stair tread or with pump jacks and poles as examples.
If set up properly and used with knowledge and training – staging, planks, jacks, ladders etc. are safe. But lots of folks use any or all of these tools incorrectly putting themselves and potentially others in danger. As just one example , an aluminum extension ladder or metal staging needs to be set up well away from electrical equipment. High voltage backyard power lines are very dangerous and depending on the voltage can actually flash over to an aluminum ladder. In another example – folks sometimes use a step ladder as a single ladder – as in leaning it against a wall. The steps are then in a bad slanted orientation encouraging a slip or fall. Doing some research on ladder safety and proper setup would be well advised (Google ladder safety as a start).
On commercial jobs wearing appropriate PPE including safety harnesses and fall arresting equipment has become a mandated improvement to worker safety, But I take it that with your fear of heights – walking up a high pitched roof even being roped-in to an anchor point is probably not something your planning.
Bryant
If they could figure out how to make that hinge part slide up and down (ala, an extension ladder) this would truly be the ultimate ladder. Just imagine a 10′ extension ladder that converts into a 6′ step ladder! Also, it would solve a lot of ladder safety issues (ie, people propping step ladders up against walls because it’s too hard to find proper footing. We’ve all done it, and we could all get fined for it).
Wayne
http://www.wernerco.com/us/en/results?s=combination
A W
Off topic, but acme and cpotools are both running some good promotions today and tomorrow coinciding with prime day.
fred
ToolUp is offering 10% off non-sale items using code “DealDay”
ed ski
Remember when ladders were made of wood?
I can see having one of these. The dual-sided feature is selling point for me. Its not as compacting as some of the competing all-metal, multifolding ladders but I have a 4′ platform (Werner) for that (its solid and used same swivel-riveted latches pictured on these ladders).
Nathan
With the current requirements for load rating and repeatability a wood ladder might not make testing for ANSI ratings – and they would cost a small fortune. It’s really more the industrial aspect and to be fair you can blame OSHA if you wish. Or the insurance industry – take your pick. But a wood ladder today – to be sold commercially would have to be stout indeed and probably coated with some plastic or something so as to prevent wood rot. Might as well use AL, Fibreglass and steel.
fred
I think that wooden, step, extension and sectional ladders are still made by Babcock (Bauer). BTW – I still see wood sectional ladders in use by some window washers in my neck of the woods.
Bill Clay
I like Werner’s platform ladders. (Not so much this one). Just sayin’.
Wayne
This is not at all what I consider an “extension” ladder; they telescope. Werner makes a “proper” combination ladder, and they work great. They are heavy and expensive, but if you need one, they’re the bomb.
http://www.wernerco.com/us/en/results?s=combination
Extremely hazardous in extension mode
I was about to step off the ladder onto my roof when the fiberglass rails at the extension pivot hinge buckled/shattered, collapsing the ladder and myself onto the concrete patio. I sustained serious injury in the fall.