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09-14-2016, 06:15 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 6
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Should I have a ladder installed?
2017 Jayco Precept 31UL class A gas does not have a ladder. Should I have one installed?
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09-14-2016, 06:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
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Easiest way to access the roof for cleaning etc, beats carrying one loose.
BUT the RV units do have a low weight rating 175>200 lbs. in most cases.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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09-14-2016, 08:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: where ever the rv is parked today.
Posts: 629
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I have a mounted ladder but almost never use it. Do not trust it and it is a bit of a pain to climb or get down from.
i carry something like this and use it often to get up top and clean solar panels and what not.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/14971895?...&wl13=&veh=sem
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09-14-2016, 08:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,674
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A ladder is definitely a necessity - either attached to the RV or freestanding. The roof should always be checked for caulking and regular maintenance of washing.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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09-14-2016, 08:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbrv
I have a mounted ladder but almost never use it. Do not trust it and it is a bit of a pain to climb or get down from.
i carry something like this and use it often to get up top and clean solar panels and what not.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/14971895?...&wl13=&veh=sem
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Climbing the RV's OEM ladder is very inconvenient for me, navigating from the roof back onto the ladder is downright dangerous for this old man.
I've carried a 17' Costco folding ladder since '05. I would remove the OEM ladder if it were not for the holes in the rear cap and roof to repair.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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09-15-2016, 06:30 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,759
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twogypsies
A ladder is definitely a necessity - either attached to the RV or freestanding. The roof should always be checked for caulking and regular maintenance of washing.
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Good advice. Plus, we camp under trees, and I always check the top for limbs, pine cones, etc prior to pulling the slides in.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
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09-15-2016, 06:40 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,579
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It depends partly on your body size and ability to get up there, whether you will do the necessary roof maintenance and repairs or someone else will, and what you like to carry with you.
If you are young enough and able enough to get up on the roof, and you weigh <200 lbs, and you prefer not to have to carry an additional ladder with you or store one at your garage, then go ahead and put one on!
If any of those factors are not true, then just carry one instead, or don't even bother if you'll never get up there personally anyway.
I have a ladder on mine, and use it a couple of times per year to inspect, repair, and clean the roof. I also use it to reach the upper/rear of the RV sometimes when washing or waxing. It's handy for that, and I'm glad that I have it. Having said that, it's a bit of a P.I.T.A. to wax between the rungs of the ladder, the ladder itself is not as easy to keep clean (diesel tar tends to stick on the aluminum), and I don't personally like the way ladders look on the back of RVs.
Incidentally, my ladder has an upper fixed-mounted section, plus a lower section that you leave at home. I never bring that lower section with me, but I do have a folding ladder that I bring with me. With 4 years of RV use, I have never needed to access the roof while camping. I use the folding A-frame ladder for cleaning the front windshield occasionally, but I really don't use the rear-mounted ladder much.
I see guys loading up their RV ladders with other ladders, lawn chairs, and bikes. I don't like this plan because I suspect that when they go bouncing down the road, or hit a big bump, the force on the ladder from those items could exceed the capability of the attachment points on the fiberglass. I doubt that the ladder would punch through or anything like that, but I'd be willing to bet the likelihood of spider-web cracks in the fiberglass is higher.
__________________
2013 Fleetwood Discovery 40G, Cummins ISL,Freightliner Chassis, Allison 3000.
2017 Ford F150 Lariat toad w/
Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and M&G Braking System
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09-15-2016, 08:45 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 335
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At 31 feet I am going to guess that you are not a full timer and still have a house. Therefore, I say leave the repairs, maintenance and cleaning of the roof go until you get home. Enjoy your travels.
You can always rent a ladder while on the road if you feel the need to stand on your roof.
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09-15-2016, 08:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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NO, don't have one installed... ladders are not designed to be used straight up. They are dangerous to climb and even worse to get off the roof onto them!
Buy a collapsing ladder (two foot taller than your rv) that goes in the basement and can be used for many more things than just getting on the roof.
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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09-15-2016, 11:49 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
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Like others have said, it depends. I have no problem climbing up or down the ladder on the back of my coach, except for that long first step. I climbed antennas in the Air Force and have used a vertical ladder up to 240 feet. Of course we had climbing gear so weren't worried about falling off. I think I'd put one on the coach if it didn't already have one.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
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09-16-2016, 02:36 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,652
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Vertical RV ladders have their own dangers. Extension ladders are also dangerous if not used properly. An old firemans quick way to safely lay a ladder is to use your body; lean the ladder against the wall, then slide the bottom to/from the wall until your fingertips just touch the ladder when your toes are against the bottom of the ladder.
The sets the ladder at a safe angle for climbing. A humans height and arm length are almost the same ratio for everyone.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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09-17-2016, 12:31 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
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I've traveled over 100K in this motorhome and several thousand is previous motorhomes. Only once had a need to get on top of the RV during all those miles and probably could have borrowed a ladder at that point. I don't like the installed ladders and at home use a "leaning" ladder to look at or get onto the roof.
__________________
Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
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