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04-30-2008, 05:17 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Camp Verde, Arizona
Posts: 455
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Had it with Telesteps
A little warning about telesteps.
I bought their 14 foot ladder from Amazon about a year ago. Using it in a garage one day it collapsed. Luckly i wasnt hurt as it was a short fall but the ladder fell against the furnace vent so I had to replace that. Anyway, I have never trusted it since. I finally realized what was happening was one or 2 catches weren't engaging fully. I e-mailed telesteps, they told me to spray it with wd-40 which did nothing. Then they had me send them pictures (maybe didn't think I actually had the ladder??). Then they said yes, there was definately a problem with the ladder, I could send it in with the original receipt and get it fixed. It is not worth my time and expense to dig up the receipt and ship a 40 pound ladder. If you see a 14 foot telesteps "in need of repair" on e-bay, don't buy it 
A warning to anyone considering these ladders - they are pretty flimsy and their customer service stinks. It's a bad feeling not to trust your ladder. |
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04-30-2008, 05:26 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Healdsburg Ca
Posts: 700
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I look at one of them at one time. But no way was i going to get my 275LB on it. Got the LITTLE GIANT LADDER. Very happy with it.
8 Years now no problems.
Ron
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04-30-2008, 05:33 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 342
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I'm (only) 230 lb and I wouldn't feel comfortable going more than 4' up that, they just don't look "right". This is coming from a man who has no qualms about sitting in a tree stand attached to a 16" diameter tree 30' off of the ground on a windy day.
__________________
Integrity Inspection Service, LLC
www.irsindy.com
(317) 345-1828
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04-30-2008, 05:46 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Camp Verde, Arizona
Posts: 455
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
It does feel a bit like climbing spaghetti. a collapsable ladder! Who would think that wouldn't be a great idea??  |
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04-30-2008, 06:06 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,148
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
F.I.R.E. inspector at today’s job – check out the angle of the ladder against the chimney. He had a 40 ft ladder on the truck, and a straight shot up the chimney from the side of the house, but instead came across the roof from the rear chimney. He was a great kid, and did a great job, but he was clinging to the chimney by his fingernails going up that nearly vertical Xtend & Climb, meanwhile I was thinking "Boy, I was just about his age when I went off that 2-1/2 story roof..." (I went down through trees, and was only very, very badly banged up - astounding luck).
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05-01-2008, 07:21 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 337
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
There is a thread on TIJ about Extend'n'climb ladders. Sears has one rated for 300 lbs. I own one - no problems yet.
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05-01-2008, 07:36 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
Posts: 1,746
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I have a broken one sitting in my garage. It is the one with the Yellow round feet.
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05-01-2008, 08:22 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Healdsburg Ca
Posts: 700
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
If gas keep going we could see H.I. on vespa with a telesteps on the side.
Best
Ron
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05-01-2008, 12:40 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Blythewood, SC
Posts: 68
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
My Telestep ladder keeps me in a small gas sipping car instead of a truck. I wouldn't have it any other way. I've become pretty good at using it to get into attic scuttles with no pull downs WITHOUT marking up the paint.
Well, that little skill impresses me at least...
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05-01-2008, 09:08 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Camp Verde, Arizona
Posts: 455
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
Originally Posted by Ron Bibler
If gas keep going we could see H.I. on vespa with a telesteps on the side.
Ron
Just be sure you have good disability insurance due to the bike and the ladder! |
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05-01-2008, 09:29 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Healdsburg Ca
Posts: 700
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
Moor like a good pine box. and a place under a tree!
Best
Ron
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05-01-2008, 09:31 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Highland, IN
Posts: 368
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I don't know how many years I had it, but my first telestep did break. The one latching mechanism broke and the one side collapsed a bit. The other locking mechanism kept the ladder from fully collapsing. I didn't like the feeling when the one side let loose but the second latching system held up until I got off the ladder.
I've have my second one for about a year now. For indoor use or getting onto the upper part of a roof, I still love it.
I have the 300 lb verson and use it for almost all inspections.
__________________
I say lets merge all the home inspection organizations into one.
Seepaluce
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05-02-2008, 06:07 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,148
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
Originally Posted by Brian Cooper
I've become pretty good at using it to get into attic scuttles with no pull downs WITHOUT marking up the paint.
For those with Xtend & Climbs, I recently learned that they make a (poorly advertised) rubber bumper, I have mine marked so I use one side for inside and one for outside surfaces:
Xtend & Climb ladder - contact information |
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05-02-2008, 09:37 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Blythewood, SC
Posts: 68
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
That's a nifty idea!!!
Of course, being cheap, now I am thinking about wrapping the top with some roll bar padding or large pipe insulating foam. Since I'm a car guy, I think I have some of both laying around the garage someplace...
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05-11-2008, 09:35 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 108
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I have a little giant, 21' 1A rating. Used it twice outside. Too cumbersome to tote around in houses. Now sits in the garage. I carry a 24' 1A fiberglass extension ladder for most outside uses. I ran across a 12' tele-step at Costco last fall. Have used it ever since for inside access to attic hatches and such. I made a cover for the top out of a white towel. The black end caps left black marks on walls, trim, and ceiling hatches. I very seldom have to extend it to its full length. I wouldn't expect to use it as an all purpose heavy duty use ladder AND, it fits in the storage box in the back of the truck.
__________________
The above statements are expressed solely as my opinion and in all probability will conflict with someone else's.
Stu
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05-12-2008, 10:32 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 39
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I love my telesteps. I don't need a truck to carry it around. I also have the telesteps step ladder (makes a good seat for those empty home inspections to do data entry). They both "nest" well in the back of my Hyundai Santa Fe. Have had both for 4 years.
I extend the ladder, take a step back, quickly check that the little red clips are locked, and you're good to go.
It's a tool, even a screwdriver needs a little maintenance. If mine does break, I'll quickly buy another telesteps. My back can't take lugging around a little giant type ladder.
Just my $0.02
Happy inspecting!
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05-12-2008, 02:26 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 85
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
Originally Posted by Brian Cooper
Of course, being cheap, now I am thinking about wrapping the top with some roll bar padding or large pipe insulating foam. Since I'm a car guy, I think I have some of both laying around the garage someplace...
I've always just covered the top of mine with a towel with my company name on it. That way, when I'm up in the attic and someone comes looking for me, they see my company towel at the top of the ladder.
My first two Telesteps quit after about seven months. I replaced those two with four XNC, which have been going strong for six years now without a problem. Love them. They are particularly useful for getting into the attic in many of the beach cottages around here where the attic access is directly above the washer and dryer in the closet. Can't put a Little Giant or an A frame in there.
The Telesteps also had a propensity for crushing fingers, a design problem that the XNC does not have. |
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05-12-2008, 02:45 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bethlehem,Pa.
Posts: 15
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
I have to say I love my Extend and Climb.Dont know if its a different brand than Telesteps.Very easy to take thru houses, no dinged walls etc.Good to 300lbs,a weight I dont plan on reaching  ,and fits in my Matrix along with a Little Giant.Been using 3 years now with no problems. |
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05-12-2008, 02:50 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rockwall Texas
Posts: 2,391
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
A ladder that is convenient but has a reputation of failing or collapsing sounds like part of a good business plan. 
rick
Last edited by Rick Hurst : 07-06-2008 at 08:11 PM.
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05-12-2008, 03:32 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Duncanville, Tx
Posts: 1,086
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
My thoughts exactly Rick.
I look at these as the same as an FPE panel-- Worked for a while but will it get better with time?
Naaaah.
Rich
__________________
"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.
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05-12-2008, 06:02 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 32
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Re: Had it with Telesteps
Aspirin, Xerox, Jello, etc. Same deal with Telesteps. Originally designed and exclusively manufactured by a Swedish company.
Patent ran out and others rushed in. But before the patent expired I was hired by a New Yorker named Len ...... to evaluate the units he was licensed to make in USA.
I discovered what the problem was. L | | | | |
