Abstract: A rung-to-rail ladder joint connection for box section or tubular side rails comprising a rung, a malleable ferrule disposed on an end of the rung, the ferrule and rung projected through an opening in the web of each of the walls of the side rails, a sleeve or sleeve-like reinforcing member of lesser length than the ferrule and of similar profile thereto telescoped over the ferrule and disposed between the webs of the rails, the sleeve being adapted to be disposed on the ferrule either during preforming a flange on one end of the ferrule or thereafter and prior in each instance to final assembly with the box section or tubular side rails by forming of a flange on an opposite end of the rung. The sleeve and the ferrule may be of the same or different materials and thickness.