Ladders come in all shapes and sizes, but there is one universal truth – having the right ladder for the job at hand not only makes the job easier, but also safer. At Pro Tool Reviews headquarters in Central Florida, we keep several different ladders on hand. An extension ladder, a platform ladder, a standard A-frame, plus a couple of stepladders. But what if you could combine the best qualities of the most common ladders? The Little Giant Leveler ladder claims this versatility, plus a few extra safety features.
Know your Little Giant Leveler
hinge lock
Starting with the smallest footprint, you can unfold the Little Giant Leveler into a stepladder, then a straight ladder. Straight ladder mode is not an extended ladder, but it does have an extended ladder. To swing the ladder out, you need to release the hinge locks. Using the large round cap on the outside, push the spring pins in and rotate them so the rest is outside the holes.
You'll notice three hole locations that can be locked: transport/storage (fully closed), stepladder, and straight ladder. Those are your only three options, but you can still work from a variety of angles. We'll get to that later. The hinges lock securely into place. Sometimes you need to give the cap a little extra push to get the pins all the way out, and turning them to adjust is a two-handed operation.
Quick Lock Fasteners
On the top of the base, you'll find four locks that Little Giant calls Quick Lock Fasteners. These pull out and rotate 90° to release the ladder's adjustable height.
Rapid Lock Fasteners are very easy to use, but a little slick. If your hands are a little sweaty or oily, it may take a few tries to get them out.
Pro Tip: If you're adjusting both the angle and height of your ladder, start with the angle first and then adjust the height. This puts the hinge lock within easy reach.
ratchet leveler
The Little Giant Leveler's eponymous feature is the ratcheting leveler you'll find at the bottom of the ladder's non-wheel side. When you're working on an uneven surface, you can kick one of them down to keep the ladder level on the ground.
You will hear the ratchet action as the leveler extends down. When you're ready to retrieve it, pull the lever on the side to release the spring to retrieve it. With a little practice, you'll be able to extend and release the straightener with your foot.
Ladder Diagram Mode and Features
Straight elevator mode
When you need to reach rooftops or other tall work areas, the Little Giant Leveler can swing up to a straight ladder and rival the height of an extension ladder. Our models are available up to 22 feet, if you need less or more, you can also choose 17 feet or 26 feet.
The quick lock fasteners again independently adjust the height on both sides, giving you a minimum height of 11 feet and plenty of locking positions between that and a maximum of 22 feet. (7'10" – 15'9" standing height).
The ratchet leveler is a very useful feature in straight ladder mode. It's hard to get a perfectly level surface when I'm not on a driveway or other hard surface. I was able to get the ladder pretty close to perfectly level, both at wide and shallow angles.
stepladder mode
The ladder mode gives you tons of versatility, working from low heights of 5 feet to 9 feet. Other models have working heights of 4'/7' and 6'/11'. The working height is slightly shorter – in our case 3' 11" to 6' 8".
As a multi-purpose ladder, you get extended ladder rungs. They are about 1 inch wide and have a flat surface so they are more comfortable than round rungs. At lower heights, the rungs double each other to provide a wider foothold for more comfort.
Using the quick lock fasteners, you can adjust the height on one or both sides to accommodate various working conditions such as stairs and slopes, or just to add height.
Pro Tip: When you're working on a vertical surface like a wall, extend one end by one rung to push the top of the ladder closer to the work surface while still maintaining good stability.
In stepladder mode, things are a little different for the levelers, as you have four points of contact instead of two. You always have three solid points of contact on the ground, so the ratcheting leveler ensures you get a fourth. It's a little harder to level the ladder in this mode, but it's definitely more stable with the leveler. This is really only a problem when the ground is diagonally across the feet. If you can wrap the ladder around to either the front to back slope or the left to right slope, you will be able to reach the ladder level.
scaffolding pattern
If you're willing to purchase additional brackets, you can separate the inner and outer frames to use as scaffolding bases. You simply place the scaffolding boards at the height you need. We don't have a stand, so we didn't test this feature.
weight and shipping
After our review of the Little Giant HyperLite expansion ladder, the Leveler seems heavy. It's made of aluminum and has lots of extra bits and pieces for the durability and versatility you love.
Little Giant Hyperlite Extension Ladder Review
Lugging around 44 pounds might not be all that enjoyable, though. However, it's not the heaviest multi-position ladder available, and is actually 4 pounds lighter than Werner's comparable model. Still, the extra weight is one of the tradeoffs of incorporating multiple ladder needs into one design.
The wheels help when you're moving on hard surfaces, and may be moderately useful in short grass. On a job site, unless you work in interior design, you'll probably do more moving than rolling.
I've found that having a rung on my shoulders helps shift the weight from my arms to my back, and it's really good. On the other hand, lifting the ladder to the roof in straight-ladder mode after the extension is not as convenient as setting up the extension ladder first and then extending the height.
Little Giant Leveler Key Features
- Multi-position design can be used as a ladder, straight ladder and scaffolding base, and can also handle stairs and slopes
- Ratchet leveler allows you to level the ladder on uneven ground
- Hinge locks and quick-lock fasteners keep adjustments locked securely
- 5' to 9' adjustable height in ladder mode
- 11' to 22' Height in Straight Ladder Mode
- 33 unique configurations cover various operating conditions
- Tip & Glide wheels make ladder movement easier
- Type 1A, 300 lbs. load rating
price and value
Little Giant Leveler will cost $214 for the 22-inch model we're reviewing here. There is clearly a premium compared to similar ladders of this size and class (Type 1A, 300 lbs). However, they do not have the Ratcheting Leveler functionality to go with them. That said, the selling point of any multi-position ladder is its ability to replace multiple ladders with one. In this regard, the Little Giant Leveler does a great job with its array of 33 height and position configurations.
the bottom line
If you're in the market for a multi-position ladder and you don't mind the extra weight they carry, the Little Giant Leveler is a solid choice that comes with an extra layer of safety. You'll pay more than similar models of the same size and class, but you'll save money by keeping most, if not all, of your ladder needs in one model.
Little Giant Leveler Specifications
- Model: Little Giant 16522
- Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
- ANSI Tariff Class: Type 1A
- A-frame height range: 5′ – 9′
- Straight ladder range: 11' – 22'
- Storage Height: 5′7″
- Configuration: 33
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 44 lbs.
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Price: $214 (exclusive to Lowe's)