Ladder foot grippers/stabilisers

[chris French]

I'm not a great fan of going up a ladder, but sometimes needs must and all that. I did once some years ago have the feet slip back whilst at the top which was a wee bit scary :-)

Someone at the foot is preferable, but not always manageable, round the back of the house I use an old concrete Fox (of all things) we found in the garden to wedge put against the base, but that lacks a certain practicality.

I was wondering about the various bases, supports, stabilisers that are around nowadays. Anyone got any experience of any of these?

[dent]

I use the original version of the Base Mate:

seem to sell another version now that can be removed from the ladder, but I don't know why you'd bother. There's lots of UK stockists.

The Base Mate is very stable, and very easy to use. The ground around my house slopes in all sorts of directions, so even moving the ladder

10cm will affect the levelling, but with the base mate is extremely easy to make quick, fine adjustments.

No connection with them, other than being a very happy user of this product.

dan.

[Paul R]

I bought some Abru stabilisers many years ago, after having a ladder go from under me whilst working on first floor window (my fault for not checking the moss covered slabs!). They have been an excellent investment, easy to fit and provide a much more secure and stable base. I tried to find them via google, but failed, but have a look at "Laddermate" this is the same concept, but different implementation. Recommended.

Paul R

[george [dicegeorge]]

[Mathew Newton]

By far and away my best ladder safety item is the Laddermax:

too am not the greatest of ladder climbers however if there's one thing that gets me to the top its knowing this thing is up there. Seriously; it completely changed my usage of ladders as I feel so much more confident up at the top now. Given it holds the ladder away from the wall it allows you to remain right up close to the ladder - indeed I can work effectively hugging the ladder so I still feel safe. The tray obviously serves as a useful platform to store your things on and also stops you looking down! Stability is also improved given its wide non-slip rubber feet. I urge you to buy one - you won't be disappointed.

Back to your specific question however, I have wondered if there would be some advantage roping the bottom of the ladder to an anchor point on the wall that your scaling to stop is sliding out? Perhaps a triangular arrangements may also help laterally?

Mathew

[chris French]

In message , Mathew Newton writes

I think I might give them a try, esp as they are pretty cheap. Round my house the surface is hard and pretty level. So not so worried about uneven ground.

improve things (though without tray, but I use a bucket hanging from a hook). It is probably not deep enough anyway, my eaves are pretty deep (about 18 inches with the gutter). I had to buy a bigger one when we moved house and standard ones aren't deep enough.

If there were handy points to rope to then possibly.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. Will try the laddermat and maybe look at some stabilisers

[The Medway Handyman]

I'll add my vote to that, had one for years, use it allways. Works a treat & more important, takes up less room than most others.

I've got the Wickes version

& I completely agree, the difference it makes is incredible. Handy having the tray though, might try & add one.

[chris French]

Thanks Dave, will definitely try these out.

I've been pondering fixing a bit of ply to mine with some U bolts. When I find a round tuit

[Mathew Newton]

The handy thing with the feet (vs bar) versions are that they can also straggle pipework, even to the depth of a soil stack.

Mathew

[tony sayer]

Haven't aerial riggers, domestic ones that is, got to do this now?....