Why I love using ladders for tree work

[Steve Bullman]

So another example of ladders making the job more efficient.
Today was day 2 of a conifer bashing job.  5 minutes spend teaching one of the guys how to tie a running bowline meant he was able to set a line off the ladders whilst I was cutting timber.  Everytime I was ready to move on to the next tree the line was set already, meaning a continuous and efficient felling process throughout the day.

[skyhuck]

Not a fan of ladders personally.

 

I find having to carry them a pain, they easily get destroyed on the timber trailer.

 

I also find customers are impressed that we don't use them and I feel it may make them think the jobs a little more specialised than they had thought, so are less likely to "have a go"

 

But only my personal thoughts 

[Darrin Turnbull]

I’ve used ladders to cover a garden pond. Or to climb over a fence.
Don’t own any myself , but most homeowners have them.

[Mick Dempsey]

33 minutes ago, skyhuck said:

Not a fan of ladders personally.

 

I find having to carry them a pain, they easily get destroyed on the timber trailer.

 

I also find customers are impressed that we don't use them and I feel it may make them think the jobs a little more specialised than they had thought, so are less likely to "have a go"

 

But only my personal thoughts 

Seems odd to me with your million hp mog/chipper and grab trailer etc. you worry about impressing clients by not having a ladder.

 

”did you see the way that chipper ate the whole tree in one go luv?” 

 

“that’s nothing, what about the way they didn’t use a ladder? That’s impressive!”

 

(smiley emoji)

[MattyF]

53 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Seems odd to me with your million hp mog/chipper and grab trailer etc. you worry about impressing clients by not having a ladder.

 

”did you see the way that chipper ate the whole tree in one go luv?” 

 

“that’s nothing, what about the way they didn’t use a ladder? That’s impressive!”

 

(smiley emoji)

1 hour ago, skyhuck said:

Not a fan of ladders personally.

 

I find having to carry them a pain, they easily get destroyed on the timber trailer.

 

I also find customers are impressed that we don't use them and I feel it may make them think the jobs a little more specialised than they had thought, so are less likely to "have a go"

 

But only my personal thoughts 

Exactly,break out the ladders I’m a Tree expert.... ffs , the amount of shocking shite tree work ive seen it with out a doubt all of been done by a cowboy off ladders. I agree with you dave, I hate the things carrying them ,storing them and working off them. 

[peatff]

Not having any rope I find the ladder essential plus I can clean gutters as well  I might save up for a rope but I think I might be a bit old for proper climbing.

[Mark Bolam]

1 hour ago, skyhuck said:

Not a fan of ladders personally.

 

I find having to carry them a pain, they easily get destroyed on the timber trailer.

 

I also find customers are impressed that we don't use them and I feel it may make them think the jobs a little more specialised than they had thought, so are less likely to "have a go"

 

But only my personal thoughts 

That's definitely true on some jobs Huck, but money is money.

Setting a line to crown raise half a dozen trees to 15' probably wouldn't impress most customers either.

As I said earlier it's totally job dependent.

If I need them and can finish quicker they'll get loaded.

[oldwoodcutter]

We use ladders for all the work that’s mentioned above, and 2 sizes of tripods that are invaluable.
I drum into them though that if anyone’s going up that ladder, then I want to see someone standing with both feet on that bottom rung to stop the top twisting and the bottom kicking out, until the climber is tied in, or off it altogether once in the tree.

[devon TWiG]

Ways I have used ( and abused ladders )   When doing powerline work ( fibreglass ladders only ) sometimes it was a fair hike to site where vehicles cannot access we carried our kit on it like a stretcher ..... also used for crossing ditches / streams .   Many trees in Devon are growing out of thorny hedges and being able to by- pass this part of the ascent is very useful .  Also have tied one section of ladder to another at right angles  forming a T shape which is great for leaning in to thin hedges to cut the top off , also have had ladders laid on top of hedges a bit like snowshoes to support me whilst trimming ahead of myself  ( not standing up !! ) and many years ago tied one section so it is vertically sticking up from back of pickup and doing roadside clearance / hedges .

[timbernut]

I don't like em, but they're great for all the pros previously stated.
But how about this for madness: