Tri-Arc KDSR102166-D2 2-Step 20" Deep Top Steel Rolling Industrial & Warehouse Ladder with Handrails, 16" Wide Perforated Tread

This review is for the 9-step (90 inches = 7.5 feet floor to top step/platform) model ladder with a single “deep top” extension kit (making the top step/platform 20 inches deep).Once assembled this is a great piece of equipment. The ladder is sturdy with no wobble; the welds look to be well-made; and it rolls easily on its casters. With the hand rails and extended platform it feels secure and comfortable climbing up to and standing on the top step.As others have noted, however, the instructions on how to assemble this ladder leave much to be desired; especially if you opt for one of the “deep top” kits. In that case you’ll need to refer back and forth between two (2) different sets of instructions and the order in which to perform certain tasks is less than clear.The ladder comes strapped to a pallet with one end of both the bottom rails (“bottom assembly”) and vertical posts (“back assembly”) loosely bolted to and folded down against the steps (“stringer assembly”) Depending on the ladder’s size there are also one or more sets of “support tubes” that run between the stringer assembly and the bottom/base and act as diagonal braces. In the case of the 9-step unit one set of these tubes was attached to the bottom assembly, while the other set was shipped loose. Be sure to loosen the bolts of any tubes that may be attached before trying to pivot or move the tube into place. Otherwise, you might bend the sheet metal strap that connects the tube to the assembly.Step “3” of the basic ladder instructions calls for unfolding the back and bottom assemblies and attaching their loose ends together. If you have ordered one of the “Deep Top” kits, however, it may prove easier to wait before making this connection. That’s because the deep top kit include an “extender” which lengthens the base assembly to compensate for the increased depth of the top step/platform. If you’ve already attached the back and bottom assemblies together you’ll need to loosen, if not completely unbolt that connection to have the “play” needed to attach this "extender" to the opposite end of the base.Step “4” of the basic ladder instructions likewise calls for attaching and positioning the various “support tubes” (braces) fairly early on in the assembly process. It is far better, however, to wait and attach these support tubes at the end. The “Deep Top” kit not only requires adding the “base extender” mentioned above, but also requires unbolting the back assembly from the top step of the stringer, adding the extended top, then re-connecting the back to the end of this extension. All of this changes the geometry of the three main components (base, back and stringer) such that the position of the support tubes will likewise change. Waiting until the end to install them allows you to assemble everything else (including the hand rails) and make any necessary adjustments, at which point the support tubes can be positioned and bolted on to brace the whole assembly securely.Last but not least, one of the bags of parts I received included four (4) flat washers, although neither set of instructions makes mention of them or shows where they go. I concluded, however, that they are best installed under the heads and nuts of the two bolts which secure the “deep top step” to the top step of the stringer. Both of these bolts pass through elongated slots, which allow for making adjustments between the two parts, but these slots are both long and wide enough that bare bolts and/or nuts might pull through when placed in tension as one stands on the extended top platform.Thankfully, all the various parts are assembled using only 5/16” bolts of various lengths, so the only tools necessary are a 1/2 inch socket and 1/2 inch box end wrench. So if you do put something together in the wrong order, it’s not that difficult to undo. You’ll also likely find yourself with a fair number of “extra” bolts and nuts even after putting everything together, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

This ladder is very sturdy and I feel safer than on a regular ladder. I have a storage area above a garage that is a bit higher than average. I tried accessing using a regular ladder but it folding ladder but it wasn’t safe due to not being high enough. Also trying to carry boxes up using the narrow steps was precarious. I looked online for warehouse style ladder sure that they would be well over my price range. In fact many far exceeded a thousand dollars. I was surprised to see this Tri-Arc ladder for about $600. I was hesitant to order because I’ve never spent so much for such a large item to ship from Amazon. I was even more hesitant reading a few reviews about it being hard to put together with poor instructions.I’m so pleased I went ahead with the order. Although I was worried about the delivery it went flawlessly. About a week before the scheduled delivery date I received a call from the shipping company. They were very pleasant and helpful. They scheduled a 4 hour delivery window on a day and time that worked for me. The ladder arrived on schedule. They carried the very large heavy shipment into my garage for me which really helped since I had to wait until the weekend to assemble. The pieces came well secured to a double long pallet. Basically two pallets secured together.I found the assembly process fairly straight forward. I only needed a couple of socket wrenches. The instructions were decent and there was very little confusion once I oriented myself to the pieces.The most difficult aspect was that the ladder is very heavy when I had to move it. I should add that I’m a middle aged woman with some experience with minor DIY experience. However I’m certainly not highly mechanical nor am I particularly strong. I’m an office worker. No heavy labor for me. :) Even so I managed well.Overall I think it took me about 4 hours to assemble. Part of that time was re-attaching a couple of pieces that I put together in the wrong spot. Ugh. I’m a bit impatient and glossed over some of the instructions. About 15-20 minutes later my mistake was corrected.There was one nut/ bolt that I found difficult to get aligned on the upper safety rail but it eventually went in right.One note: There are two different safety rails at the top depending on whether you use the extended step. So you have to figure out which to use but it was easy to determine.I did end up with many extra bolds and pieces. I’ve checked and double checked to make sure everything is secure so it seems I may have just received an extra package of hardware.The ladder is heavy but it rolls. It has a step which secures the wheels so it doesn’t roll when climbing.Overall I highly recommend this ladder. I’ll update again after I’ve had time to thoroughly use.

I bought the twelve step ladder with the 20 inch top step because it was the best compromise for me. There were issues in receiving the ladder as it is pretty long and had gotten damaged in transit...the two soft feet at the front were both cut with a chunk taken out of one of them but not in a way that rendered it unusable.I opted to receive the package as it was because I already knew that there were no more in stock and other options would be another three weeks away, not to mention about double in price.The instructions were good, all the necessary parts and fasteners were accounted for. The extended top platform made it a relatively complicated thing to assemble as the instructions implied assembly without the extended step first. This then required partial disassembly in order to add the extra bits at the top and bottom. Having said that, it wasn't horrible, just tedious. My recommendation is to assemble in a large open area as this is a big thing.I was worried about standing it up after assembly but it wasn't hard at all, I just picked up the top and continued progressively raising the top as I walked under it.It didn't set level after erection and it was rocked alarmingly when near and at the top. This could be due to some unrecognized damage to the frame pieces or a non-level floor. However, just a 1/8 inch spacer in the gap under the high foot fixed this completely, it became rock stable. I intend to make a permanent fix by putting a spacer where one rear caster bolts to the frame.