Roof ladder damaged.

[ppatman]

Hi I have 2004 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD. Just damaged rear roof access ladder. Does anyone know the best place to try and obtain a replacement. If possible in Canada or else USA. Thanks.

[MSHappyCampers]

One of the RV salvage yards will probably be your best bet! Only problem is that they are not likely to ship it so the seller will have to be close enough for you to pick it up.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

ppatman-

Sorry for the long post, but I figured I would cover the options in some, but not all detail.

We have a 2008 30PDD. Our coach came with a repaired ladder. Someone had damaged the upper half, and replaced it with similar section from who-knows-where. It was not an exact fit. The repair put downward pressure on the lower standoffs, and there was a decided kink at the splice location. I also noticed that the standoffs were starting to come loose. So, I figured, why not see if I could get a replacement.

REV Group owns the Monaco and Holiday Rambler brands now. While REV Group tech support will not answer questions on our coaches, the parts department would- at least in 2017.

Here's the scoop: REV Group buys the ladder from an outfit in Ohio called Christianson Industries ((269)663-8502). Christianson Industries will not sell a ladder retail, although they will sell parts. REV Group quoted me (hang onto your hat here) $1,100 for the ladder, which I believe included shipping, and a wait time of 10 weeks.

[Note: I searched in vain for the quote, as the price could be different. I seem to remember having a problem with the delivery date more than the price. That implies the price was less that $1,100. Don't take my word for it. Call REV Group (parts) and ask them yourself.]

I did not take up REV Group on their offer. Instead, I elected to buy some parts from Christianson Industries and a few other sources to rebuild the ladder. If you elect to go the same route, I can supply the names of the suppliers and the part numbers I used. I can also advise on how to reinforce the ladder mounts and standoffs.

You may be able to get a whole ladder or the part you need from a salvage outfit, such as Visone or Colaws.

If you live in an area with a lot of recreational boats, you may find an outfit that makes boat covers and frames that can repair the ladder for you.

The original ladder on our coach is rated for 300 pounds. I am fairly sure that my repairs-to-the-repairs kept the rating in that ballpark- but was unwilling to "test to destruction!"

You always have the option of removing the ladder completely and carrying a portable that allows roof access. I use our coach's ladder at least once a week when camping in some favorite spots that have trees (that shed) overhead. I'd miss having a permanent ladder.

[StevenK]

When replacing the damaged ladder on my 2008 H.R. Neptune, I also considered the $1K ladder from REV. Instead, I purchased a Stromberg Carlson LA-401 universal ladder on Amazon for $95. The quality is the same as the original ladder, very study and rust proof.

I managed to reuse the curved sections of the original ladder where it attaches to the RV roof. The curved section of the original ladder reaches further forward than the universal ladder, so reusing it allowed me to keep the roof attachment points the same. The pipe diameters of the original ladder and the universal ladder are the same, so mating them was no problem. An inexpensive tubing cutter makes cutting the ladders easy.

The width of the universal ladder is a few inches narrower than the original. Also, the mounting plate screw holes don't match up perfectly with the old holes, so plan on drilling new ones where needed.

I removed the old ladder by drilling out the rivets that secured it to the RV. I attached the universal ladder with heavy duty rivets p/n PASD545 purchased from Hanson Rivet Supply.
https://www.hansonrivet.com/rivets/b...steel-mandrel/


Steve

[bobmac]

I damaged mine by hitting a horizontal pipe. It bent the vertical piece on the rh side. I got replacement aluminum tubing that was an exact fit to the inner diameter of the vertical piece and a second piece with the same diameter of the bent piece. I cut the damaged section out - about 12 inches - and inserted the smaller diameter piece in the top and cut the original diameter piece the correct length to exactly bridge the gap I cut out. Insert the smaller diameter piece and lowered it from the upper cut thru the new correct diameter piece and into the undamaged section brlow. Riveted the smaller inside piece to both good ends of the existing ladder.
Cost was about $20. Sounds complex when I described it but you are placing a longer - smaller diameter piece inside the replacement piece for the damaged section and riveting the inner tubing above and below the section cut out.

[JFXG]

Ppat .....
I backed into an errant tree about 7 years ago and skillfully flattened the factory ladder from Newmar. I was in the process of having one of my A/C units replaced at a local dealer, so I added the ladder to the dealers work list. Replacement was running about $800 from Newmar, so I went generic. Found a “universal” that fit just fine for about $150.
I just now did a check and found numerous ladders available less than $200. You should have no trouble. Online CW, Amazon, Walmart, all the usual suspects.

[ercjr1101]

This post is quite timely for me. I/we recently aquired a '10 Berkie that was undermaintained, skimped upon, and totally unloved. One of the issues is the factory ladder. The brackets for the lower section are bent, pins missing. I can't find brackets anywhere so I kinda straightened them. I got about 2/3s the way up and the back fiberglass is flexing, brackets getting torqued, top tubing moving on the base plate that attaches to the roof.
How much fiberglass flex is acceptable? Can it be reinforced easily from the inside?
Rebuild or entire replacement?

[ercjr1101]

Any other manufacturers of ladders other than Stromburg?

[Mageksl]

Found this site a while ago when I was looking at doing some ladder repair. I bookmarked it but never did any business with them.


https://factoryrvsurplus.com/

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Originally Posted by Mageksl

Found this site a while ago when I was looking at doing some ladder repair. I bookmarked it but never did any business with them.


https://factoryrvsurplus.com/

Yes, I bought some repair parts from them.

[UTTransplant]

We had an incident with our rear ladder too not too long after we bought the rig (oops!). A replacement was done by Tiffin as an adder to some warranty work we were having done. The ladder was less than $200 and the labor was about 15 minutes to remove and replace. However I have heard that shipping a ladder is equal in cost to the purchase price.

[ppatman]

Thanks to all who replied to my post. I will check into my options as suggested. Will try a salvage yard, or try to find a supplier of 1'' OD aluminium tube and make a repair. Thanks once again. Phil Patman. Ontario.

[JaminSamin]

You might try Topline manufacturing, they made the replacement ladder for my Horizon. I provided them the Winnebago part number and method of payment and they did the rest, it was an exact match.

Top Line Manufacturing – Accessories for RVs, Vans, SUVs, Cars, Trucks & Bikes