Rear Ladders

[Macktee]

How many of you have bought an MH and it did not have a rear ladder. What did you do about it. Did you have one put on. Any info appreciated.
Macktee

[Fred1609]

I remember reading an eariler post where the manufacture of a MH was asked why the company had stopped installing ladders to the roof. He answered that people who generally owned the rigs were older and had no business climbing up t the roof. Thought that was funny.

[Macktee]

Originally Posted by Fred1609

I remember reading an eariler post where the manufacture of a MH was asked why the company had stopped installing ladders to the roof. He answered that people who generally owned the rigs were older and had not business climbing up t the roof. Thought that was funny.

He is probably right Fred. But there are sometimes I would like to have a look at either what I have done or what the person I hired has done. Thanks for the input. Tom Mackie

[Tamatha]

No ladder on the back of ours. We were told this was an aesthetic thing? Anyway... We keep a 20' telescoping ladder in the basement. To use it my husband covers it with with pipe insulation and puts it up against the side of the slideout, easy on easy off of the roof. Probably not OSHA approved though, so please be careful.

[bruceisla]

I have a ladder on the back but, for most things, I prefer to use a 300lb. rated fold-up like this:

13 ft. Aluminum Telescoping Multi Ladder with 300 lb. Load Capacity (Type IA Duty Rating)-MT-13 at The Home Depot

[HeapBigEngin]

The ladder on our coach detaches from the top rounded portion that is permanently attached to the rear cap. I keep the ladder in an underneath storage compartment where it is secured by factory-installed clips used for that purpose. I did "try out" the ladder once. Won't do that again. I see it really like a spare tire....used for "emergency" situations only. I use my friendly - and very sturdy - 12 ft. home ladder when I need roof access when servicing the coach at home. I have needed roof access twice while travelling, and both campgrounds had 12 ft. ladders that I could use. No problem.

I, for one, would go with other solutions as posted above. I didn't feel overly secure on our ladder as installed by Fleetwood. Would feel even less so on an aftermarket installation. There are safer alternatives. Just my opinion....

[Vulture47]

I have the factory folding ladder on the back but with it in the lowered position I can't get my fat backside onto the ladder so I carry a 6' fiberglass step ladder so I can reach the ladder.

[Dman1505]

My Damon Outlaw doesn't have a rear ladder so I got one of these. It takes up very little space and extends to a full 15'.
http://youtu.be/Nz2RzVT1kRkhttp://

[roscoesdad]

I guess everyone has their own limitations. My Ambassador has a factory mounted rear ladder and I use it all the time. I have never felt "unsafe" climbing up or down. I have hauled buckets and brushes up and down to clean the roof along with the water hose. I would not be without mine.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Tamatha

Probably not OSHA approved though, so please be careful.

I'm betting the ones built in aren't either! I've never seen an OSHA sticker or any other certification sticker on them of the hundreds we've looked at over many years.

[Dutch Star Don]

We have the two piece rear ladder where the lower portion stows away. Right after we bought the coach new, I took the lower section and stored it in the attic at home. I use a collapseable "A" frame ladder to reach the ladder that is attached. My point......if you have to have a ladder, just buy the upper section and use a folding for the lower section.

I would say just buy one of the extension ladders like others mentioned and not go through the hassle and expense of adding a ladder. You would need access to the back of the cap to add one, you may want to check if that is feasible. The only down side of the extension ladder is that it may be more difficult to do things like wash your windshield. I use my collapseable "A" frame ladder to wash my windshield several times on every trip. If your coach is large enough and you have the space, two ladders, one extension type and one "A" frame may be the answer.

[clyon51]

All mine have always had one. If I had to get something for on the road, I would opt for a light weight folding ladder. No doubt an aftermarket RV ladder would be pricey.

[DSL417]

I was a part of that earlier discussion...and yes, we decided some of us might either be too old, or too inebriated (as in at NASCAR races) to be up on the roof. And my soon to be coach doesn't come with one.

[deSanford]

I carry my two piece ladder bungie d together and they hold my Plaques. deSanford