Best Ladder for Tree Work?

[Dan Cobb]

What's the best ladder for tree work?

And another question: should I (a) put the ladder on the ground and dive from the tree onto the ladder or (b) pull the ladder into the tree, tie it to me with a short piece of rope, and then jump to the ground so the ladder hits me just after impact? The information on YouTube is so confusing.

 

[27RMT0N]

I think this guy has it all figured out:

 

[Bendroctanus]

What's the best ladder for tree work?

And another question: should I (a) put the ladder on the ground and dive from the tree onto the ladder or (b) pull the ladder into the tree, tie it to me with a short piece of rope, and then jump to the ground so the ladder hits me just after impact? The information on YouTube is so confusing.

Best I saw was a guy with a corded saw, had an extension ladder fully extended on a Ponderosa Pine (probably 75+ feet) and kept attaching extension ladders by rope to the tree as he limbed it up. Like 5 of them. Wish I would have taken a picture. Took weeks for him to get up top. I only saw the progress every day as I was driving back to the yard. I think in the end he just left a huge stubbied spar.

 

[Fivepoints]

They say timing is everything.....

 

[Reach]

The best ladder is the one behind your neighbor’s shed. They’ll never know you borrowed it, and they’ll be clueless when it’s broken.

Correct answer is “a” because it’s easy to jump from a limb back down to the ladder, “b” is a bad idea because you might break the ladder before you’re finished with it, and the neighbor might hear the commotion and discover that you borrowed the ladder before you can return it.

 

[ConeCollector]

I think this guy has it all figured out:

It’s quiet but at the end of the video the guys said “didn’t take that into consideration” ‍

 

[treesap]

best ladder for tree work? the one your not on

 

[oldoakman]

No such animal. Most dangerous tool ever devised by the mind of man.

 

[treesap]

No such animal. Most dangerous tool ever devised by the mind of man.

^^^^

im less scared hanging 40ft up a tree on a single piece of rope than I am at 10ft on a ladder

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I actually used a ladder on a crane day recently. It was by far the safest way to do what I needed to do!

 

[Reach]

I actually used a ladder on a crane day recently. It was by far the safest way to do what I needed to do!

There are times that is the case; I’ve done a fair amount of cabling in ornamental trees from a 22’ extension ladder we have in the shop. (We only have it to change the lightbulb on the light out front.)

 

[Bendroctanus]

Tree Proverb 7:3
“He who trusts a ladder loves his own destruction.
He who trusts his climb line is secured indeed.”

 

[climbingmonkey24]

What's the best ladder for tree work?

And another question: should I (a) put the ladder on the ground and dive from the tree onto the ladder or (b) pull the ladder into the tree, tie it to me with a short piece of rope, and then jump to the ground so the ladder hits me just after impact? The information on YouTube is so confusing.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I’m going to bring a little seriousness to this thread and say three words:

Little Giant Ladder.

That’s what we use for the occasional ladder usage for whatever we need it for (getting over fences, getting on roof, pruning real small trees or shrubs, etc.). Doesn’t take up much space.

 

[27RMT0N]

To follow up with another serious suggestion: 10-12' orchard ladder is great for pruning smaller trees and everyone should have one on their truck. It's really the only type of ladder made for and stable on uneven outdoor surfaces, or turn it backwards and lean it against a gutter to get onto a first floor roof.

 

[colb]

Tripod orchard ladders are great for ornamental tree work. Hasagawa, Henchman, and Niwaki sell good ones.

The double slide thingies are great for accessing trees for some guys, and they are roped in of course. I prefer just climbing the rope SRT with foot and knee ascenders because ladders are a pain to unload and load.

 

[oldoakman]

To follow up with another serious suggestion: 10-12' orchard ladder is great for pruning smaller trees and everyone should have one on their truck. It's really the only type of ladder made for and stable on uneven outdoor surfaces, or turn it backwards and lean it against a gutter to get onto a first floor roof.

View attachment 75935

My son in law loves his orchard ladder but it still almost took off one of his fingers when it collapsed under him one time. Thus I stand by my previous statement.

 

[Crimsonking]

When I worked in construction I was super comfortable with ladders and even balanced them until i reached the top, then let them rest against the wall. Or hang from trusses and use my legs to swing a ladder to the next needed location.

Now I can’t stand them and want to be tied in.

 

[oldoakman]

When I worked in construction I was super comfortable with ladders and even balanced them until i reached the top, then let them rest against the wall. Or hang from trusses and use my legs to swing a ladder to the next needed location.

Now I can’t stand them and want to be tied in.

Construction workers do a lot of foolish things. Working on roofs without tying in is one of them.

 

[Jonny]

Handy for blowing sawdust off roofs if I really leave a mess. Sometimes I like dropping phone and CATV wires rather than work around them. Otherwise I avoid ladders. Secure it to the roof of the chip truck and you’ll forget it’s there until you need it.