Louisville Ladder 4-Feet Fiberglass Stepladder, 300-Pound Capacity, L-3016-04

I guess I expected this ladder to be quite sturdy based on the reviews. It's not. It can't be stable on even or uneven surfaces, according to the design? Why? The thick plastic cap (which connects the two sections) flexes. Each foot is free to land where it can (rather than where it should). Worse, the flimsy "soft" metal braces only "sort of" lock in the middle to keep the two sections apart, and I say "sort of" because the metal is far too weak and soft to provide any firmness or stability. br>br>I have a 6' Keller aluminum ladder that is in good condition. When I bought it in 1996, I must have struck it rich. Because of the design that allows it to be used as both a 6' step ladder and a 10' extension ladder, it's a little heavy. It is, however, ROCK SOLID. There isn't a smidgeon of flex here. There will be no wriggling. Without fiddling, this 8' Louisville ladder can't even lay the 4 feet down evenly on a completely flat and level surface. The framing has a lot of flexibility and give to it. It's adequate in terms of sturdiness. and far superior to the majority of items found in a Big Box store. Nothing, however, can compare to older (heavy) wooden or aluminum ladders. To be fair, such older ladders would cost at least twice as much as the Louisville ladder I bought. Despite this, the ladder's design flaws make it significantly weaker. br>br>As a result, it's not quite as tough as it appears. However, I intend to make some changes in order to correct the problem. The first step will be to replace the flimsy top piece with something much more durable (and non-twisting). The second step is to replace the soft (poorly locking) steel braces that keep the ladder open with a pair of full-length steel braces. lengths of much stronger steel that will be hinged, with the bars extending the full length and locking into the opposite side with a u-lock. The way they used to do it in the OLD DAYS was to fit a shaped opening onto a tight bolt.

Lucca Burgess

| Feb 23, 2021

This ladder has all of the features I was looking for in a ladder. Durable and simple to open and close. br>I have a tangle of pin oaks around my patio, and I needed to keep the mess they create in the spring out of the gutters and off the roof. This ladder is everything I wanted in a ladder, and I am 87 years old. br>br>This ladder is everything I wanted in a ladder, and it is lightbr>br> I was able to carry it to the gutters because it was sturdy but light. I am 87 years old and find it simple to open and close this ladder. Outside, under the eaves, I also keep my things. It's held up well in the rain and hail so far. br>I've never felt at ease on a high ladder before, but I'm fine with this one. It is primarily used to clean gutters in the spring, which is a bi-annual event for me. When the pen oaks drop their lacy mess on a weekly basis, I give it a five-star rating.

Julie Middleton

| Dec 17, 2020

This ladder is good, especially for the price, but it's a pain to transport with other tools, even when closed and folded. I used to use a Gorilla Ladder, which was much lighter but not as durable. The magnetic top on the Gorilla ladder was one of my favorite features, but this Louisville ladder lacks one. br>br>And I know you shouldn't stand on the top two steps, but some of the jobs were just out of reach, and I was able to stand for long periods of time on the very top of the ladder, with my feet spaced and placed directly over the legs, to keep it stable. The ladder was made of very thick ABD type plastic, which never bowed or dented, and the top never gave in or dented. br>br>The only gripe I have is with the shipping. Amazon ships these ladders in their natural state, with no boxes or packaging, just the ladder and a label. Or they put it in a cardboard box and leave it at that. They're getting beaten up, no matter how they store them in warehouses or have them delivered. The red paint on the fiberglass ladder has been scratched and rubbed away, and the ladder is covered in black dust particles with scuff marks all over it. It's not because they've been used or returned; it's because of the way they store, pack, and ship their products. Over the course of two months, I ordered two of these ladders, each of which was identical: All of the scratches, nicks, and scuffs, as well as some minor damage, are the result of shipping and storage. It's a shame, because many of the reviews here are from buyers who claim to have received a used and returned item. I believe it is simply a result of Amazon's warehouse operations. br>br>However, this is a fantastic ladder that is both strong and durable, and it will undoubtedly last a long time.

Karen Boone

| Apr 29, 2021

The package arrived scuffed, gouged, and ground-up. This is an excellent ladder for use in the dirt - It's light enough for a retired lady to handle with ease. The paint can hook and numerous features on the top are appealing to me. HOWEVER - if you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, try using the words "innovative I only gave it one (1) star because it was delivered without any accessories - only a shipping label affixed to the side. There was no box, let alone any protective plastic, so it arrived with a lot of scrapes, gouges, and dings in the aluminum parts, as well as a lot of ground-in dirt. dirt in the scratches on the plastic/vinyl areas, as if it had fallen off the back of a truck (which it most likely did!). ) I'm keeping it only because I'll need it this weekend for a project.

Brady Krause

| Oct 22, 2021

Excellent stairwell! I needed a way to hang lights and fans from my 16-foot-high ceilings. This one is light enough to be carried by one person (though they must be reasonably strong), but sturdy enough to feel stable when working at these heights. br>br>When you're not using it, think about where you'll put it! You can't simply lean it against a garage wall because most garage ceilings are between 8 and 10 feet high. 10ft. As a result, I mounted it horizontally on my garage wall with hooks. br>br>Also, keep in mind that this one opens up about 6-foot wide. You'll need some room to "open it up" wherever you're working because it's 7 feet wide. When I went to install the fan in my bedroom, I had to move my entire bed out of the way in order to get the ladder in the right place. Just FYI.

Maggie Shaw

| Nov 18, 2021