You definitely don’t want to go all in on a truck, before you even know if you’ll like inspecting for real.
A quick modification to the passenger seat: removing the headrest and putting a cover over the seat… can give you room for a 8 foot or so ladder in a Honda Insight (measure to be sure). Protect the front windshield. Or get a roof rack. All valid choices.
Home inspectors put a lot of miles on. Optimizing for fuel is a way to stay competitive, and I argue is a vehicle optimized for home inspections.
You seem to have strong opinions.
And do your own research.
And be resistant to the word of others.
Hopefully that serves you well in your chosen profession.
I’m in that 250+ range and I don’t think they bend too much. They do flex a bit though. You want to make sure you have it at the proper angle so the weight goes down the stiles and is transferred to the ground, rather than deflecting the stiles.
I love my xtend and climb. Been using them for the past 4 years. With proper maintenance, I’ve never had any failures. Mind you I’m 200, you may want the contractors series.
I still carry an extension ladder on my truck. I like to walk townhomes and two story homes, I utilize it as a marketing tool as well. Dunno, clients seem to like that I walk em.
I only use a Little Giant velocity 17’. I’m too scared of the telescoping even though they really would come in handy sometimes. Here’s a trick that I use to get into those small attic hatches in the back of a closet, I hope I’m not reinventing the wheel!
I just drop off the extension legs outside. Then I’m left with just the super light inner part, which is easy to carry upstairs and be used to push open the hatch and be maneuvered in tight spaces. If I need more height I’ll keep on the bottom extension.