Just had a look at the Crown website, the ladders look exactly like the Henchman ones to me. So I guess it's down to price and availability.
Well actually the Henchman have a slight advantage with their extending legs. The extension is 18" whereas with the Crown it's only a foot. I'm still undecided
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Not sure this is the same type of ladder you're looking for, but the sturdiest ladder I've ever used was by a brand called Little Giant. I rent it from a hire place nearby and feel totally safe being up high on one. It can be used in loads of permutations and telescopes down a bit for storage.
@VictorMeldrew you’re welcome. We have a 12 footer to manage our hedge and have never felt safer. They do a platform ladder as well but I went for the regular 3 leg ones as in the platform you loose the rungs above the platform.
Ok I finally made my mind up. I've ordered a Henchman fully adjustable 14 foot platform ladder. I've spent ages wandering around the garden with a 14' cane sighting things up. In the end I was swayed by the safety angle of the 'platform' design. Unfortunately Crown don't do a 14' platform ladder so Henchman it is.
Just want to say thankyou all for your input. I think this thread really illustrates how valuable this forum can be
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I am following with great interest too, so thank you. We can't fit more than 9' so I need to do a similar walk round with a cane to see whether that's going to be sufficient for my needs.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Wow, wow & thrice wow! Just unpacked it and sized it up against one of the many jobs. Easy to adjust and not too heavy to manoeuvre around considering this is the 14 foot model. My shoulders are at about 16 foot in the photo and yet it feels SO comfortable & secure. Considering it's just cost us nearly £500 for tree work on one tree, I think the tripod expenditure can definitely be justified for the lower shrubbier stuff.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
That looks amazing! Can I ask a stupid question? Is the height in the spec the full height of the ladder, or the height of (eg) the top rung? If the former, how much height do you lose from the stated height? The only place we can keep one is in a 9ft shed so it looks like 8ft is our limit - but if that means that I'm standing at 6ft then it's not going to be much better than our current ladder - although obviously the adjustability and safety will be improved.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Not a stupid question at all @LG_ The height of the ladder is the very top (ie. the top rail) but the 'platform' (where I am standing) is at 11 foot. The idea is that your feet are comfortably & stably placed and then you lean against the top rail. It's surprisingly reassuring.
I'll be storing mine outside (behind that Thuja I'm up against) chained to the silver birch behind it. The way I look at it, you'd have to be a really determined thief to wander off with a huge tripod ladder anyway. And of course you'd have to know it's there in the first place.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
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I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Just want to say thankyou all for your input. I think this thread really illustrates how valuable this forum can be
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Can I ask a stupid question? Is the height in the spec the full height of the ladder, or the height of (eg) the top rung? If the former, how much height do you lose from the stated height? The only place we can keep one is in a 9ft shed so it looks like 8ft is our limit - but if that means that I'm standing at 6ft then it's not going to be much better than our current ladder - although obviously the adjustability and safety will be improved.
I'll be storing mine outside (behind that Thuja I'm up against) chained to the silver birch behind it. The way I look at it, you'd have to be a really determined thief to wander off with a huge tripod ladder anyway. And of course you'd have to know it's there in the first place.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful