(Topic ID: 218665)

Escalara- Pros & Cons

By poppapin

5 years ago


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  • 264 posts
  • 96 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 3 years ago by Indusguys
  • Topic is favorited by 23 Pinsiders

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    10
    #25 5 years ago

    Love mine. It makes the job much easier and safer, but be warned that it still isn't "easy". There is a learning curve and you still need some decent muscle to use it. I am a pretty small guy...5'6" 150 lb-ish and definitely not a body builder. Each time the feet grab a step, the center of gravity changes dramatically and it wants to catapult me up and over the pin. You definitely have to be holding on and braced for the force. I have gotten used to it and really do not have a problem doing it, but it's not like you can just push the button and have it do all the work. You also have to be careful about the angle and making sure the feet stay on the edge. The lifting feet are very small, and if you have it tilted back too far, they can come off the step. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, and the first stair going down still give me a seriously butt pucker. None of this is a deal breaker, and I'm not trying to scare you off of it...just things to be aware of to avoid surprises. I would say it's one of the best pin related purchases I've made and it's saved my back many times over.

    I have the big wheels, and find them to be a necessity. It makes getting over door frames, carpet, etc so easy. Plus if you are moving it far, the pin can rest of all 4 wheels and be moved with very little effort. I bring mine to MGC set-up each year because of this and it's a life saver.

    I kind of wish I would have sprung for the fork lift to make getting in and out of vehicles easier. I can still handle them myself, but that would be nice. For leg set-up, I have a modified tipping hydraulic table which is super handy.

    It is heavy, but not to the point of being hard to deal with. I put mine in and out of my vehicle myself with no problem. I wouldn't want to carry it around, but have no problem lifting it when needed. Mine is the 60" though...the bigger ones I'm sure are beefier.

    #27 5 years ago
    Quoted from frolic:

    My solution has been to actually sit on the steps as I can to lower myself. That really helps.

    Absolutely...but those top couple steps you can't do that, and those are the scary ones for me. Again, I've learned how to deal with it over the years, but it's not "easy" by any means. But still a heck of a lot easier than a normal dolly!

    #36 5 years ago
    Quoted from Pinwizkid:

    I bought one, used it once, and immediately sold it. I lifted a Whirlwind up a flight of stairs and thank god someone was there to help me otherwise I would have dropped both the machine and the Escalera down the stairs. It feels like the thing is going lose grip and fall the entire way up - very anxiety-inducing. I couldn't negotiate getting over the top step properly without shifting the weight of the machine in a direction that I was positive would cause a disaster (so again, thank god I had a buddy there to help lift up the final stair the old fashion way). Maybe I'm just super weak/out of shape, but it destroyed my shoulders and upper chest. I was sore for days after using it. However I will admit - my back didn't feel a thing!
    Sorry to be so negative on it, but after reading all the positive comments here, I figured I'd play devil's advocate. Looks like it was just me who sucked at using it!

    I totally get what you are saying. I will say that eventually you learn how to work with the machine instead of fighting it. But those first few times sucked for me too...and I still get nervous every time.

    11 months later
    #189 4 years ago
    Quoted from cyroute:

    Warning Please Practice and have a spotter!!! I have been using my Escalera for at least a year now and the other week I decided to bring a game up the stairs without anyone being there to help/spot me. I made it all the way up to the last step which is slightly higher than the other steps and leaned the Escalera down slightly more than normal and the wheels slid out from the steps and proceeded to drag me and the game back down the stairs. I held on for dear life trying to slow its progress down the stairs. The Escalera ended up hitting the vertical banister at the bottom of the steps and that is the only thing that stopped it from sliding all the way back into the basement. The Escalera was now wedged in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs. I ended up having to get the neighbor to help me unwedge it and then get the game back up the stairs. The hallway wall has some pretty bad damage to the drywall when it got wedged. No damage was done to the game or the Escalera but I was sore from being drug down 8-10 steps like Superman.
    Joe

    Oh man...that sucks. Sorry this happened, but glad it wasn't worse. That said, this is exactly the reason I would NEVER use a spotter. Had this happened with someone under you, do you really think they could have caught it? Even if they had a hold of it and were braced and ready, that's still a lot of weight for one person to suddenly hold. Scary stuff.

    #191 4 years ago
    Quoted from cyroute:

    Yes I think they would of seen the wheels coming off the ledge and held it there or warned me. It did not go down fast off the first step kinda slipped then went slow until about 3 steps down. Normally when I have help they put constant pressure on the game as if they are helping the Escalara lif it up the stairs.

    Gotcha. Either way...scary stuff. Glad you weren't injured and the game is ok!

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