This quote is from over in the Fire Ring forum. Anyhow, how do you guys get up there? I tried a regular extension ladder once but found getting off and back onto the ladder discomfiting. Thanks.
jor
Our coaches have all had a ladder on the back and they work well.
jor, I had roof ladders on all of my Foretravels and used them until I was too old to get up there. I was always careful to inspect them regularly,. The fittings can succumb to weather and age and did require some repairs after a number of years, fortunately discovered by inspection rather than after failure. At the time I weighed at about 225#. You are correct about moving from step ladder to roof unless one of those scaffold type ladders is available.
X-2 If it gets weak I will repair it.
For our roof ladder calculations, we used the formula where the length of the ladder is divided by 5 plus 2 gives a stable ladder to climb. As an example, a 20 foot ladder divided by 5 equals 4 plus 2 equals the 6 foot distance from the side of the coach the base should be placed. The ladder should extend above the roof far enough so your feet can be at roof height or slightly above and you can reach above your head, grab a rung and step out on the roof. With your arms straight, you should be able to climb the ladder with your body vertical, neither leaning in nor out. Having someone foot the ladder is always good. Much easier to climb out on the roof than get back on the ladder. A fall from this height will probably end your RV plans.
With solar panels on the roof, the OEM rear ladder may not be possible or difficult to use and a roof ladder may be your only option.
Learn how to raise a ladder also. Probably a flat raise but on soft ground, a beam raise may be used. Fiberglas ladders are good as they don't conduct electricity if you hit electrical wires above. Nice to have a wide base too.
Pierce
I need to clarify my original post. I've always used the factory ladders. I just make sure they are secure and the hardware is good. My question was for those that have removed their ladders. How do you access the roof?
Interesting ladder explanation, Pierce. One of my kids is a fire captain. I'm forwarding it to him.
jor
Just want to make sure that everyone is aware of the 150 lb. max capacity on those OEM ladders.
I use a Little Giant 13' telescoping ladder. Sits right on top of my propane tank when not in use.
I only put 1 foot on the ladder at a time so I am ok with the 150# limit.
John
I'm sure he learned it in the fire academy. Got mine there back in '67. I remember they raised the 65 foot wood aerial ladder vertically and we had to climb one side, go up and over the top and come back down. My legs were useless and had to do it with my arms. 65 feet looking down is like 165 feet. The wood aerial was like a fishing fly rod. Twisted and bent at each step. The wind did nasty tricks to it also. At a fire, if you turned off the nozzle in a hurry, the fire got a lot closer in about a second as you went toward the building.
P
I have an aluminum 3 part extension ladder, collapsed its about 5'. I tried the folding type which were a pain to use and heavy. One thing I found helpful was to pad the part that rests on the coach. I tried insulated pipe cover but settled on 1/2" thick open cell foam weatherproofing strip that has it's own adhesive backing. Works well, protects the coach and stops ladder from slipping.
Keith
The air conditioning people I know say the rule is stand with your toes against the ladder and adjust until your fingers at shoulder height just touch the ladder. I tried it around the house and seems to work.
We recently got to go up on our roof with a rolling ladder in Nac and enjoyed the solid feel, ease of climb and the safety aspect. If I didn't have a ladder, I'd have one of those rascals at the home port. Solid.
Do you think the 150# Rating is per device/side? So a 300 pounder should be good to go, right?
Why would an OEM ladder be too weak to hold a human being. I don't know anyone who weighs #150 .....so why are they made let alone installed ? I'll look at mine in daylight. ^.^d
As in everything the lawyers (no offense intended) wrote the label instead of the engineers.
Lol 150Lb !!🤣😂😃Mine Holds Way more than that !!!!
I added large metal washers inside the fiberglass to supplement the holding power of the standoff brackets by reaching in thru my rear access louvered door. Ladder is quite rigid now!
Little Giant Ladder today on Woot.
Little Giant Alta-One 17' Ladder w/Cargo Hold - Sellout.Woot (http://sellout.woot.com/offers/little-giant-alta-one-17-ladder-w-cargo-hold-5?ref=w_gh_so_10_s_txt)
$30 cheaper on Amazon (although it doesn't come with the Cargo thingy, so same price for just the ladder but you support the forum if you buy through this link ;) ) Little Giant 14013-001 Model 17 250 Lbs Capacity Alta-One Ladder, 15 Feet, -... (http://amzn.to/2q5wkEl)
I weigh about 250 and pretty much all the rungs on the ladder moved when I used the ladder prior to knowing the 150 lb. weight limit. I didn't fall when the rungs shifted and the ladder didn't rip off the back of the RV or anything but it concerned me enough that I don't use it anymore. I only noticed the weight limit sticker when I was straightening out the rungs. If you think it is fine for your own weight, keep on using it. I put the weight limit up for anyone who hadn't noticed it yet.
Let me ditto what Michelle cited and I will offer this
A. Rudy warned me, and I passed it on in a prior ladder thread, one real danger is your foot slips thru the coach ladder and you are out there hanging upside down and trapped. I believe Rudy reported it an actual event.
B. Rudy suggested a step ladder set up and attached by a bungee to the coach ladder. I did that.
C. But now I use the ladder Michelle posted the link. I use it similar in the way Rudy suggested, limiting time with the coach ladder handles at the top. I noted Xtreme using these too.
D. Even more, at home I have a tall tall ladder and use it for most roof cleaning, staying off the roof.
E. Just on our recent trip, an ambulance took a fellow to the hospital. He fell from the roof of a coach. It was not ladder related fall. But it reminds me I really do not like being on ole Gus's roof even after the Xtreme roof treatment to give me better traction along with UV protection.
I am 210lbs. and the ladder on the back of my 36 year old '81 is still working fine. Because of three storage pods on the roof needed for lack of storage down below, every trip required going up an down several times. It only came with a 50 gal. fresh water tank so I have a 50 gal. bladder in the rear pod which had to be filled also, then when tank got low would go up and drop a hose to fill the tank again. The '99 we are using now doesn't seem to sag on the rungs yet. I only use it when cleaning or servicing roof mounted hardware. Someone in the past has removed the weight sticker, I looked for it yesterday.
Ladders are for young people. My doctor (who is young and well over 6' tall) said I shouldn't be climbing ladders any more, so I don't. I do have to go up a step or two once in a while since I'm short, but that's it. Climbing on the roof is for young, skinny people, not for those of us who are old and too short for our weight.
Subject of ladders has come up many times. I think it's always important to follow your instinct on what is safe or not safe. All ladders (mounted and unmounted) have safety risks.
The OEM ladder leaves much to be desired in terms of sturdiness but it has the advantage of being fastened to the coach so you know it won't tilt over or slide out. Since GV have more of a slope on the rear cap they are probably easier to use than later non-GV coaches. I haven't found any manufactures making high quality sturdy RV ladders.
In the marine world the ladders seem to be custom made from stainless tube with the standoff tubes welded to the main tubes and sturdy stainless bases. I found the marine stainless steel hand rail bases to work very well with my existing ladder; the socket is deeper and the base is larger. I also installed "backup" screws just under each step. Here's an old link with pictures: Check your ladder if you haven't already (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12252.msg63634#msg63634)
I like the idea of installing the stainless screws, will add to my list.
I sorta dislike replying like this, ....but cannot resist...
David, I love it. Too short for our weight! Oh, that is just so descriptive. And the obvious solution as you describe the matter. But you are not alone my friend.....I just need to grow a little taller!
Hope your coach is still purring (growling?) along with the new engine.
mike
In 2015 I mentioned that Geoff and I had installed some SS half round supports under each step for max' support and they have worked very well. I have no issues with going up and down it to roof (which I do often) and having just completed a full fix and paint job on their GV roof I was on them countless times this week.
Anyone interested can look at reply 18 on topic "roof ladder end caps"
JohnH
It's daylight in Colorado and I've given my ladder the once over and I'm unable to find a weight sticker. I'm now hoping that one of our better informed members can shed some definitive light on the subject of why a ladder that can't do the job was installed in the first place ?
This surprises me as everything else on the coach was top of the line when built, WHY the junk ladder ? :headwall: :headwall:
Did an inspection of my ladder while here @ Extreme.... DID NOT like what I found... Will just have them "delete" the ladder and I'll carry an extension ladder from now on..
That one is an easy answer. RV builders use the same fittings that are made by usually one maker and these parts are supposedly tested and certified to be sufficient for their needs. A company (FT included) is not going to have all the parts they use specially made to suit them or the total coach cost would be prohibitively expensive. Higher end manufacturers are now doing away with this ladder as presumably these wealthy owners would not think about doing their own repairs (especially on the roof) so no need for the ladder.
JohnH
Roof ladder end caps (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=24538.msg195578#msg195578)