I have limited storage options where I live.
On my first try I was able to squeeze the coach in with the upper portion of the ladder just touching a steel cross member on the back wall and the wiper arms just clearing the roll up door. Has anyone removed the ladder from their coach? If so what is the process of removal? What did you do to not end up with ugly marks from where it was attached to the coach?
DW suggested her brother, a retired welder...think power plant welder.....could cut a piece of the cross member out.....not sure the storage unit owner would go along with that!
The ladder is attached with screws and caulking. Removes in just a few minutes.
You can remove it and:
1. Caulk the holes or
2. Put a metal patch over each attach point. Screw and caulk. Paint or polish the patch if you want it to look good. Or
3. Use expoxy or bondo filler and paint to match the existing finish.
Rich
Let air out of tires to lower coach, and keep ladder.
Length not height is the issue.
Remove the ladder. Use oversized aluminum rivets in the open holes. Would not look particularly out of place. Paint them white if they still bother you.
And, easy to drill out if you ever want to reinstall the ladder.
Take the ladder off, calk the holes and put it back on when you sell it. The next buyer will appreciate that.
Unfortunately, in my opinion there is no other way to safely climb up on roof without the very top curved part of ladder. And you will need to be on the roof many times.
Bring it in the other way, nose first, will the roll up clear the ladder?
I got tired of folding up our lower half to check engine stuff so I removed it. And besides I keep a 5 foot Werner in the bay so I can still get up there when needed, unless this happens.
Up on the roof cleaning the solar panels and the wind blew the ladder over. Dang... trapped on the roof. Beat on the coach and NOTHING I did could get the DW attention. Left my phone in the coach so I couldn't call her, ( won't do THAT again). Nothing left to do so,,, I found out how good my biceps were and did the hand over hand thing with my feet hanging below me ( prolly made quite the pic, but fortunately/ or unfortunately no one around).
Added these plugs where the screws were so that I could always reinstall the bottom part.
Bob, we bungee our ladder for extra security when climbing, but see your situation is another reason to secure ladder to coach before climbing.
We originally had a 6 foot Werner, but found we had to almost stand on top of ladder to reach high things. so we replaced the 6 foot with an 8 foot and found it 'just' fit stored between the inside of closed bay doors. Found it MUCH safer to use 8 foot.
We had Rance at Xtreme make a major mod to lighten and hinge our rear engine door, with the result that the lower part of our ladder is now gone. Just like Bob, we cannot get to the coach ladder without a folding ladder on the ground.