Werner PK80-2 Level-Master Automatic Ladder Leveler

by Werner

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Werner Level-Master automatic ladder leveler easily attaches to Werner fiberglass and aluminum extension ladders for even support on uneven surfaces, with automatic adjustment up to 8-1/2 inches thanks to the self-leveling design. Each leg automatically slides down to the surface, then locks securely in place. The Level-Master adds 3-3/4-inches of width to your ladder for greater support and longer spanning capability. It will not decrease the duty rating of your ladder, and it includes two levelers for each rail of your ladder, mounting hardware, and instructions.

From the Manufacturer

Easily attaches to Werner fiberglass and aluminum extension ladders to level ladder on uneven surfaces. Automatically adjusts up to 8-1/2-inches. Easily levels and locks securely in place. The width of the ladder is increased by approximately 3-3/4-inches. Note: The ladder's duty rating will remain the same after proper installation of the leveler. Two ladder levelers (one for each ladder rail) come with mounting hardware and instructions.

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Product Details

Product Manual [309kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 9.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00004RKCT
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: PK80-2
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,871 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #17 in Home Improvement > Building Supplies > Ladders > Accessories

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

168 of 176 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Werner Ladder Levelers, August 18, 2004

By 

Nick (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Werner PK80-2 Level-Master Automatic Ladder Leveler (Tools & Home Improvement)

I just received my 40 foot Werner type 1A aluminum extension ladder (300 lb duty rating), and the Werner automatic ladder levelers. The ladder is great, but the ladder levelers are not what I expected.

1. First, and most importantly, the ladder needs to be modified (feet cut off & holes drilled into it) in order to install the levelers. This obviously permanently modifies the ladder, and does not allow you to convert the ladder back to its original configuration.

2. Second, the installation is rather involved, the measuring & drilling need to very precise, and the installation will take you a couple of hours to complete. This is much more time & effort than I had planned to modify the ladder.

3. Third, depending of the type of Werner ladder you have (aluminum 1500 series), the instructions mention that the working height of the ladder will be reduced by 7 inches. Not alot, but sometimes every inch counts!

4. Fourth, after opening the ladder leveler box, and reading the instructions, they said that I needed an additional kit to complete the installation on my aluminum extension ladder.

I regularly remove, rebuild, and install automobile engines...as well as other complicated electrical, plumbing, and carpentry projects around the house...so I am very capable of installing the ladder levelers.

I just feel that when I spend $79.99 for ladder levelers (a large percentage of the cost of the ladder itself) that these things should be easy to install, should not require permanent modification of the ladder, should not require me to purchase additional installation kits (different kits for different ladder types), and should not reduce the working height of the ladder.

After reading the other reviews, I am sure that these levelers work great once installed...I just would have liked to have known about the items I mentioned above before purchasing them!

77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great ladder accessory with a few caveats, July 7, 2003

By 

Gym Rat (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Werner PK80-2 Level-Master Automatic Ladder Leveler (Tools & Home Improvement)

As advertised, the PK80-2 Automatic Ladder Leveler easily adjusts to uneven ground. If you frequently use your stepladder in these conditions, this accessory is indispensible. This accessory does have the following disadvantages:

1. Installation should be done by an experienced handyman. Allocate a few hours to do the installation. Messing up the install may ruin the ladder, as the original ladder feet must be cut off.

2. The ladder will be somewhat heavier with the levelers installed. Before the levelers, I was able to easily move my 26-foot fiberglass extension ladder; with the levelers, I typically require help handling the ladder.

3. Installing the levelers widens the ladder foot spacing, as the levelers are placed outboard of the ladder rails. The resulting width is greater than the depth of two standard stair step depths, and the adjustment range of the leveler won't span two standard step heights; so, if your expecting to use the ladder against a wall with the feet on different steps of a stair, you'll likely have to still need some sort of platform/spacing under the lower foot.

The tools required for the install are: Power drill, 5/32", 3/16", and 9/32" drill bits, two 7/16" wrenches or sockets, #2 Phillips screwdriver, a hacksaw (I used an air-driven cuttoff tool), center punch, square, straight edge (2' or longer), scissors, pencil or marking pen, tape measure, metal file (sandpaper is also usable), adhesive tape, goggles, dust mask and gloves (for fiberglass ladders), and a 1-1/4" hole saw (for fiberglass ladders with rungs riveted to side rails).

Other tools listed in the instructions (for 2-section D1500 series ladder only, which I don't have) are 5/16" wrench or socket, 3/8" wrench or socket, 1/8" diameter punch, chisel, and C-clamp.

IMHO, the install is easier to do if you use air tools (i.e.: cut-off wheel, air drill, butterfly wrench). Also, the reattachment of the spacer sleeves is easier with rivets, instead of screws. I'd also suggest drilling pilot holes for the side rails as the 9/32" drill bit easily drifts off center when drilling through fiberglass; even after using a center punch.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Installation of Werner PK80-2 auto-leveler, February 14, 2004

By 

B. STARK (Palm Bay, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Werner PK80-2 Level-Master Automatic Ladder Leveler (Tools & Home Improvement)

The instructions are detailed and didn't leave anything to the imagination. The instructions have different sections for the different ladders and require a careful study before and during the installation. At least the instructions are only in English, having multilingual instructions would make it way too confusing.

Installation took about 3 hours to accomplish for my D6020-2 20' fiberglass ladder and its a little scary permanently modifying such a nice ladder knowing that if you mess up the ladder can be permanently damaged or made useless. Take your time. Here is my list of things to be aware of going into this installation.

1) Be very careful aligning the drilling templates!!!

2) Center punch the hole positions good then your drill bit shouldn't wander. I didn't need to do this but you might pre-drill the holes with a smaller bit if necessary. You have 6 holes to drill over about 14" x 3" area so the drilling must be done very precisely if the side rail is to align correctly. The rail bracket doesn't have any give in it for error.

3) Double or triple check your measurements/instructions and drill bit sizes. Be very careful sawing off the square aluminum bar that runs through the rung as it has to be within 1/8" accuracy.

4) Don't remove the black electrical tape that comes on the side rails, this is done near the end of the installation.

5) Hack-sawing the side rail is the easy part. Previous review recommends a cutoff wheel which I'm sure works well but isn't necessary. Before doing this I'd mount the side rails to check your drilling accuracy. This is the point of no return before cutting off the existing ladder feet. If you messed up the drilling which I'm sure you won't if you are careful you can always abort the project here if necessary. The holes shouldn't hurt the ladder but cut off the feet and their side rails supports and, game over.

6) Drilling out the heavy rivets from the bottom rung is a royal pain and maybe a cutoff wheel would remove the head faster. I don't do that everyday so I'm sure there are better methods.

7) Have a good clutched drill and a 7/16" socket and it will speed up putting the 14 nuts on the side rails and the two feet.

8) Make sure you have good sharp drill bits, the sizes are indicated in a previous review and note they are less common drill bit sizes.

9) Wear a mask for the fiberglass drilling.

Good product, the ladder is definitely better and even stronger when the project is finished!

Update August 2004

Having used this product for some time now I love it. I can level the ladder on almost any uneven surface. Even the bottom of my pool. Just pick the ladder up about 2-3" and drop it. Repeat that a few times until the ladder's levelers ratchet enough to level the ladder. The ladder locks in place when weight is put on it. It works great, well worth the 3 hours of work to put the levelers on. Makes the ladder so much easier to use.