Lonsge 1 Pair Ladder Jacks for Metaltech Scaffolding Platform, 2-Rung Short Body Ladder Jack Tool to 20-Inch Width, Aluminum Ladder Scaffold Jack for Stages up, Withstand 264 LBS, Silver

Why I reached for these ladder jacks

For jobs where a full scaffold is overkill but a single ladder feels cramped—think painting fascia, swapping a section of siding, or cleaning long gutter runs—ladder jacks paired with a staging plank are a practical middle ground. I’ve been using the Lonsge ladder jacks with a 20-inch aluminum stage between two extension ladders to create a walkable platform at working height. Here’s how they fared across setup, stability, and day-to-day usability.

Build and design

These jacks are aluminum with MIG-welded and riveted joints and a corrosion-resistant finish. The welds on my set were tidy, without porosity, and the edges were cleanly deburred—no sharp corners waiting to catch a glove. The left/right “grooves” that seat onto the ladder’s rungs are beefy enough to inspire confidence and fit well on D-rungs.

The hardware uses galvanized lock nuts and includes anti-slip spacers where the clamps meet the ladder. Those spacers matter; they increase surface contact and reduce the tendency to wiggle loose under vibration. Out of the box, everything felt appropriately rigid for a short-body jack, and the aluminum keeps the weight manageable when you’re schlepping two ladders, a 14' stage, and a tool bag.

Setup and adjustability

Setup is straightforward, but it’s not a tool-less affair. You’ll need a wrench to snug the lock nuts, and I’d recommend bringing a socket plus a combo wrench to keep things moving. On my first install, I did have to raid my hardware bin for a washer to get the clamp alignment just right, which tells you these aren’t the most pampered, pre-fitted kits on the market. Once tightened, though, the clamps bite cleanly without marring fiberglass or aluminum ladder rails.

Adjustability is adequate for different ladder profiles; I used them on a pair of Type IA fiberglass extension ladders and also test-fit them on an older aluminum ladder. The jacks align best on 2-rung spacing and accept a 20-inch wide platform, which is standard for many aluminum stages.

A few practical setup notes from the field:
- Keep both ladders at the same angle (roughly a 4:1 ratio) and height before you hang the plank.
- Tie off or foot the ladders; the jacks add lateral load when you step on and off the stage.
- Secure the plank to the jack with straps or the integrated locking tabs if your plank has them.

Stability and capacity in use

Rated capacity is 264 lb for the pair. That’s the headline constraint with these jacks. With me at about 190 lb and a modest tool pouch, deflection was minimal, and the stage felt secure. Add a gallon of paint and a caulk gun? Still fine. But the moment you start thinking about a second person or heavier materials on the platform, you’re flirting with the limits.

Despite the brand’s implication that two people can work on the platform, the math doesn’t pencil out for most crews. Practically, I’d treat these as a one-person solution with light materials. Used that way, stability is quite good. The jack’s rung grooves seat squarely, and I didn’t experience any unsettling bounce or racking as I moved across the platform.

Everyday performance

I used the setup for:
- Painting fascia and soffits along a 30' run at about 12' working height.
- Replacing two pieces of lap siding and flashing around a window head.
- Gutter cleaning over uneven landscaping where staging was easier than repositioning a ladder every few feet.

In each case, the platform gave me the flexibility to traverse without repeatedly descending and moving a ladder. The 20-inch stage breadth is a nice step up from the narrower stages—there’s room for a paint tray and a tool bag without clipping your boots.

The short-body design keeps the jack compact but limits how far the stage projects beyond the ladder. That’s not a downside for most residential tasks; it actually keeps the center of mass closer to the ladder line, which helps with perceived stability.

Safety notes that matter

Ladder jacks aren’t forgiving if you push the boundaries. A few best practices I stuck to and recommend:
- Use Type I/IA/IAA ladders with appropriate duty ratings.
- Keep both ladders at equal heights and secure them—tie off at the top when possible and stake or weight the feet.
- Use a 20-inch wide, OSHA/ANSI-compliant platform; don’t improvise with planks.
- Avoid windy conditions and never step onto the stage from the side opposite the jack.
- Recheck hardware tightness after the first hour of use and at each relocation.

These jacks will accept compliant 20-inch platforms; that doesn’t automatically certify the jacks themselves to a specific OSHA standard. Treat the rating and instructions seriously and stay within the 264 lb limit.

Durability and weather resistance

After several days of use—some of it damp—the aluminum and coated hardware showed no corrosion. The galvanized lock nuts spin freely and haven’t seized, and the anti-slip spacers still look fresh. Given the material choice and the finish quality, I’d expect good longevity if you keep them dry between jobs and avoid tossing them loosely in a truck bed where hardware can get knocked out of true.

Quirks and misses

• Capacity: 264 lb is the main constraint. It’s workable for a single user but thin for a two-person crew or heavier supplies.
• Hardware completeness: My set wasn’t perfectly turnkey. I needed an extra washer for ideal clamping. Plan on having a small hardware kit on hand.
• Instructions: Usable but generic. Clearer illustrations for different ladder profiles would help first-time users.

How they compare

Higher-end jacks from big-name brands often carry 300–375 lb ratings and feature quick-adjust mechanisms that speed setup and relocation. They also tend to cost more. The Lonsge jacks feel like a budget-friendly, functional option: sturdy enough for light-to-moderate work, with some extra wrenching required and a lower weight rating that keeps you honest.

If you routinely stage two people or haul heavier materials onto the platform (tile, multiple buckets, long runs of lap siding), step up to a higher-capacity jack. If your use is occasional, homeowner-level, or solo pro tasks like painting and light exterior carpentry, these can fit the bill.

Who they’re for

• Homeowners and DIYers who want an affordable way to create a stable, wider work surface than a single ladder provides.
• Solo tradespeople—painters, handypeople, siding and window installers—working with modest material loads.
• Crews who need a compact backup set for quick, light-duty staging where erecting full scaffold isn’t justified.

Who should pass: Crews that regularly work in pairs from the same platform or anyone needing generous capacity headroom.

The bottom line

The Lonsge ladder jacks hit the essentials: solid aluminum construction, positive seating on ladder rungs, compatibility with 20-inch stages, and confidence-inspiring rigidity once tightened down. They ask a little more of you in setup—bring a wrench, and don’t be surprised if you need a spare washer—and they cap out at a conservative 264 lb. Used within that envelope, they’re stable, practical, and easy to live with.

Recommendation: I recommend these ladder jacks for single-user, light-duty staging where portability and price matter more than maximum capacity. They’re a smart addition to a homeowner’s or solo pro’s kit for painting, light siding, and gutter work. If you need to support two workers or heavier loads, look to a higher-rated alternative, but for everyday one-person tasks, these deliver reliable performance at a reasonable cost.