Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: morninghill on January 07, 2013, 02:19:10 pm

Title: Getting on the roof
Post by: morninghill on January 07, 2013, 02:19:10 pm
I have some cleaning, sealing and ac maintenance to do on the roof. The previous owner had Xtreme remove the ladder when they did fbp. Will have to lean a ladder against the roof to get up there.
Don't want to damage Xtreme's nice paint job. OK to lay a packing blanket across the roof edge and lean the ladder there?
Thanks
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Tim Fiedler on January 07, 2013, 02:52:47 pm
Wrap ladder with towels where needed, secure with 200 mph (duct) tape
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Green99 on January 07, 2013, 02:54:48 pm
Mike,
While I don't have expierience with custom coach paint, my expierience with classic cars would reccomend not to lean the ladder against the coach.  I think even though your covering the legs you are still applying alot of weight to those two points.  I'm not sure how well the paint could handle that.  You might consider calling xtreme for their opinion.

Jerry
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: morninghill on January 07, 2013, 03:13:09 pm
Thanks Tim and Jerry
Took Jerry's advice and called James at Xtreme. James says Tim is right, just pad the crown where the ladder leans. James says most people who have had the ladder removed just buy a collapsing extendible ladder with rubber tips. Then lean the ladder against the coach with the rubber tips on the crown at the edge of the roof.

Previous owner left one of the extendible ladders with the coach. I already had a nice collapsing 7' stepladder so sold the extendible. Just one more mistake I guess.
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Keith and Joyce on January 07, 2013, 03:14:11 pm
I slip two pieces of split foam pipe insulation over the stiles of the ladder where it rest against the roof.  You may need to put a zip-tie or tape to hold them in place.  My ladder reaches above the roof to make it easy to get on & off.  No damage so far.

Keith
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Dave Head on January 07, 2013, 03:36:32 pm
Cut 18 inch sections of pool noodle, slice halfway through lengthwise and fit on the ladder. Attach with tape if needed
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Peter & Beth on January 07, 2013, 04:40:53 pm
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimages10.newegg.com%2FNeweggImage%2Fproductimage%2F03-008-937-02.jpg&hash=b6a4428bf7ae7b75fb2450855570627e" rel="cached" data-hash="b6a4428bf7ae7b75fb2450855570627e" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/03-008-937-02.jpg)Use a ladder stabilizer. These are rubber-footed so will not scratch paint.  This is the safest way to stabilize a ladder when getting off and onto the ladder...PLEASE!
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Barry & Cindy on January 07, 2013, 09:01:42 pm
How the ladder top touches the coach concerns the paint and risks climbing off ladder onto roof

How the ladder touches the ground affects bones.

Xtreme has many spare ladders available that were removed from coaches, maybe for the wrong reason.

Using just the top half of the original ladder is all that is needed to improve the step onto the roof surface with a hand hold.
Using a standard Lowe's 8' A-ladder to step onto original coach mounted ladder has its benefits.

I would not step off a portable ladder onto the roof without someone on the ground, strong enough to hold ladder safely.
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Lon and Cheryl on January 08, 2013, 04:50:18 am
I slip two pieces of split foam pipe insulation over the stiles of the ladder where it rest against the roof.  You may need to put a zip-tie or tape to hold them in place.  My ladder reaches above the roof to make it easy to get on & off.  No damage so far.

Keith

I still have my ladder on the back but I took this advise as it feels safer putting a 16' extension ladder on the side and climbing up that way.
I always have the original rear ladder to get me back down when I knock the extension ladder over when pulling on a water or air hose that ALWAYS wraps around some part of the latter.
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: amos.harrison on January 08, 2013, 11:11:16 am
I lean my padded ladder against the big awning cover instead of risking my FBP.
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: Jimmy Freytag on January 08, 2013, 03:14:17 pm
Brett, that a great idea
Title: Re: Getting on the roof
Post by: morninghill on January 08, 2013, 05:55:32 pm
I lean my padded ladder against the big awning cover instead of risking my FBP.
Awning cover won't dent? My main awning cover already has a small dent.