Makes the standard ladder much more sturdy. A great improvement.Excellent addition to my ladder. Although you can't stand on it, it gives a good handhold when climbing the ladder. No more reaching for a top step that isn't there. Also provides a place for tools and supplies, since it is a shelf. Should be included with the ladder though. I stow my ladder under my trailer in a 6" pvc pipe with a locking cap, and the addition of the shelf did not prevent it from fitting in the same space as before.This was a VERY interesting purchase. The ladder that is shown with this top is VERY different from what I received. So much so the top wouldn't work. So I started the process to return the top. GPL and Amanda were VERY helpful the ladder was such a piece of trash. I kept the VERY WELL MADE GPL Red Top Accessory Shelf and returned the ladder. Plus I bought a VERY WELL MADE ladder from Amanda that will work VERY well with the Red Top Accessory Shelf!! AWESOME!!!! Thanks again Amanda!!! VERY good Customer Service!!! The GPL replacement ladder is VERY safe, stable and sturdy!!!!BEWARE of Discount Giant's ladders somehow being substituted in place of the GPL ladder!!! The VERY pictures and descriptions are all GPL, but if get a Discount Giant ladder BEWARE it's a VERY poor knock off!!!!Happy Day!!RandallP.S. I originally spent $111.94 for the ladder plus $55.46 return shipping for a total of $167.40 less $99.95 refund for a total loss of $67.45 a tank of gas +/- , but know this ever time i use my VERY good GPL ladder I'll be thinking about that VERY poor Discount Giant ladder and how I was VERY much ripped off!!! VERY ripped off!!! BEWARE!!! I feel a little better now.P.S.S. Discount Giant did refunded my original shipping charges of $11.99!! So I was only out the return shipping.I purchased this product about 9 months ago. The other day I set up the ladder and when I tried to attach the side clips, which holds the sliding shelf in place, one of them broke. Upon inspecting the broken part, I noticed that it had rusted through, causing it to be weakened and easily broken. I had stored the ladder in my garage and have never left it out in the weather. I had purchased this ladder shelf to replace one that I had purchased about 4 years previously. That one had broken in the exact same way, but it took much longer, like 4 years. I really like the folding ladder, but this shelf attachment is poorly made.This shelf makes a great folding ladder (made by GPL) outstanding! Now that I have one, I'm wouldn't want to be without it. It's a rather ingenious contraption incorporating both a sliding and folding mechanism so that when the ladder is folded this shelf tucks neatly around the end of the ladder and hardly increases the size or weight. I knocked one star off my review because of what I judge to be an imperfect attachment arrangement... There are two long stainless steel machine screws that fasten sheet brackets to the top of the ladder. The instructions warn not to over tighten the machine screws. I've found that when the machine screws are just snug, the brackets are still loose and the shelf is sort of floppy in use. If I tighten the machine screws so the brackets are snug, then the ends of the screws stick out far enough to interfere with proper folding of the ladder. My solution was to tighten the machine screws so the shelf is stable then I cut off protruding screw ends and ground them smooth.I purchased this add on shelf after purchasing the 7’ ladder. Thought the ladder would be fine without the shelf but in reality it’s just an expensive step stool. Overall a great, well designed product however the price of the shelf was one half the price of the ladder. The concept of purchasing the ladder in two components just seemed strange. Just include the shelf and add it to the overall price. Pleased with the end result.This item actually made the ladder sturdier. Easy to install and I highly recommended this item and vendor.I purchased this ladder around May 21, 2018. I use it when traveling in my TT and at home. I have found it to be very sturdy. It is easy to set up and pack away. It fits easily in the front storage of my Keystone TT and takes up very little space. I also purchased the optional top shelf. I feel that it helps to steady me when on the ladder and I have a place to set my tools.