Gutter Gantry

In several decades of owning a home surrounded by trees, I've tried many ways to clean the gutters. Without having to climb a ladder, the two best I've found are gutter tongs and an attachment for a shop vac (links). But both put a heavy strain on my arms, shoulders, and back as I have to hold the things up to use them.

My solution would be to fit either of those to a movable support gantry. An arrangement of cables and levers would let me work them from the ground without having to support everything myself. This could be made as an attachment fitted to an existing a-frame step ladder, with wheels added to the legs so I can roll it into position alongside the house as I work.

This might not be practical if you can't place a simple rolling gantry close enough to the house or move it easily to reach all of the gutters. For those situations, there would be a version consisting of a stand that could be placed some distance away, with a powered, long articulated arm. This would let you work where you need to, while carefully avoiding the wife's precious and oh so fragile garden.