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Little Giant look-a-likes ladders

Dowdy | Posted in Tools for Home Building on August 13, 2004 09:27am

Anybody got one of the look-a-likes from HD or Lowes, they seem to operate the same ….just not sure of the same performance as a little giant…but alot cheaper!!

May have to give them another look, over the weekend.

Joe

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  1. JohnCollins | Aug 14, 2004 01:37am | #1

    I've been looking at those too.  There are a few threads already about those ladders.  Try these threads to start with:

    27519.1

    32534.1 

    And there are more if you search in the archives under Little Giant.

    I don't have one yet, so I can't be any more help, but I'll be interested to see what others say.

    John

  2. ANDYSZ2 | Aug 14, 2004 03:12am | #2

    I bought mine at sam's for a 130$ and I am very happy with it. I also have a 13-17' extendable walkboard which fits perfectly on the steps making for a very stable scaffold.I am planning on buying a second one this weekend.

    ANDYSZ2

    I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.

    Remodeler/Punchout

    1. User avater
      jocobe | Aug 14, 2004 05:22am | #3

      I have the authenic, made in America, Little Giant.  When I was researching ladders I found a couple of points that I did not like about the copy cat ladder, made in China, Home Depot Ladder.  You cannot buy parts for it, I called the importer of the ladder.  I have a shelf that attaches to the rungs so I can stand on a flat surface at any height of the ladder.  The Chinese version does not have this option and the importer said that using the Little Giant option on the Home Depot version was not recommended.  But the one thing that really pisses me off about this type of product is that Depot is ripping off the originator of this product.  Just like they had Rigid tools made in China to smoke DeWalt, because Dewalt wouldn't give them exclusivity.  It's called reverse engineering.......and it's wrong. IMO.

      jocobe

      1. rez | Aug 14, 2004 06:12am | #4

        J-

        Makes me wonder how long the Little Giant has been around and if they originated the design or were just the first to really capitalize on the idea.

        Good number of years ago I bought an old 'Little Giant' design type ladder at a garage sale. The thing was ancient and only reason I got it is it was cheap, I needed a little scaffold boost a tad off the ground at that time, and I had nothing else to do so why not. Roar!

        The thing is archaic, solid steel and it's weight makes it impractical to haul around if I wanted to.

         It has the same 3 hinge features of the Little Giant but it looks like it belongs in a museum.

        I think the Little Giant models weren't the first down the block with the idea.

        I would become self-employed except I'm too cheap to pay myself anything.

        sobriety is the root cause of dementia

        1. junkhound | Aug 14, 2004 06:26am | #5

          sounds like  the patent is > 17 YO.. Test the Al for hardness with a file the, chink (OH@!!!,  pardon the barbarous NPC  impropriety) you make in the ladder, with some experience, you can tell the alloy and temper, may be just as good as LG. ... , some actually are as better or good as.

          1. rez | Aug 14, 2004 07:23am | #6

            The thing is made out of steel and was painted brown.

            I should take a pic.I would become self-employed except I'm too cheap to pay myself anything.

            sobriety is the root cause of dementia

        2. PhillGiles | Aug 14, 2004 09:03am | #7

          I believe that the original is the Featherlite "Jaws" ladder; they sold the design to the "Little Giant" folks..

          Phill Giles

          The Unionville Woodwright

          Unionville, Ontario

      2. maverick | Aug 14, 2004 07:18pm | #10

        There was a report on 20-20 about Chinese companys ripping off american manufacturers. Its pretty wide spread and the Chinese gov't does'nt care. If we dont do something about it we will continue to lose jobs overseas.

        Personally, if something says made in china I wont buy it if theres an alternative. Except for sneakers. You just can't get them from anywhere else

        1. Piffin | Aug 16, 2004 06:00am | #12

          I'm the same way about Chinese junk. I go thru a watch every 5-6 months and itr get sharder all the time to avoid chink made stuff 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      3. JohnSprung | Aug 18, 2004 10:16pm | #13

        I also have the legit 26 ft. Little Giant.  I've had pliers and screws made in China that snapped in two under far less load than you'd expect.  So I avoid anything that depends on metal to be strong if it's from there.  But that keeps getting harder to do.

        -- J.S.

        1. User avater
          bobl | Sep 14, 2004 02:08am | #14

          OK, watcha do?_____________________________

          bobl          Volo, non valeo

          1. Dowdy | Sep 16, 2004 02:51pm | #15

            I bought a Litle Giant.  could see buying a knock off. works great!

          2. User avater
            bobl | Sep 16, 2004 03:33pm | #16

            just got the amazon.com catalogue

            they have the 10303w for $300 w/work platform.

            believe shipping is free

            and a $25 coupon for orders over $125

            think I'm spending some money_____________________________

            bobl          Volo, non valeo

  3. mikerooney | Aug 14, 2004 12:45pm | #8

    I got one last month from Costco - $100. Werner, but, yes, made in China. Seems O.K. Heavy. Not very comfortable to stand on, but good for stairwells. You need to use separate brackets for scaffold feature - wonder how long 'til I misplace those?

     

    1. DanT | Aug 14, 2004 01:58pm | #9

      I have the original, about 7 years old.  What I like about it is the fact that I can extend it out all the way and stand on the top step and not feel like the ladder is going to fold up and kill me.  I am a XL guy so finding stable work platforms is hard. 

      As far as the made in america deal, I try to stick with that but it is getting hard.  So little really is made in america these days, or only parts of it are made here it takes a whole research project to determine what is or isn't.  So if I know it is I try to buy it.  But I will say I can't remember the last knock off tool, or cheap tool that I really was happy with or enjoyed using.  A well made well engineered tool is such a joy to use.   DanT

  4. harrisdog43 | Aug 15, 2004 03:21am | #11

    I own one Cosco, and one Gorilla...I just talked a buddy into getting one by loaning him both of mine. He got the Werner. What I like about the Werner and Cosco is that they seem easier to change. The spring loaded deal that allows you to adjust heights is very stiff on the Gorilla. I ordered a stand-off and a workplatform and using my caliper to verify they were the same fit. The Cosco is 17' and the Gorilla is 21'. I bought two Coscos, sold one when I needed the extra length. I have used ladder jacks with both Coscos plus a Werner walkboard. I too am an XXL guy and they felt stable to me.

    I'll stay out of the argument on where they were made, I bought them from American cos. They bought them from an importer.

  5. rlmcruiser | Sep 30, 2004 03:45am | #17

    New to the forums here and I thought I'd put in a late review.

    I bought my Little Giant 20 years ago (manufacture date is stamped on the side, 1984)and have loved it since day one. I was a drywall finisher at that time and the for what it did for me I figured it paid for itself in a matter of months. I have put that ladder through hell. Still use it around the house. And it in great shape.

    I've seen and used a lot of products made in China and all I can say is you get what you pay for. I now work in a cabinet shop and experience wear and tear on equipment of all sorts. Drill bits...Chinese...trash. Drill used for mixing veneer glue....Chinese....perfect. We use the full gamut of equipment from German machines to Chinese .....whatever works. Need accuracy and dependability, spend the money. All else, Chinese is not all that bad. 

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