Ladder overhaul

Topic: Ladder overhaul (Read 1242 times) previous topic - next topic

Ladder overhaul

March 28, 2019, 04:00:24 pm

I'm in the process of either replacing my back ladder or rebuilding the old one. While we were in Nac I bought a new ladder from FOT since they no longer have parts for the old one. The new ladder is a different design and seems pretty flimsy when compared to the old one. For one thing, it does not have bolts from the inside to secure the bottom half of the ladder (top and bottom). It is only held by outside screws top, middle and bottom and screws from the inside for each of the center supports. The new ladder has a powder coating finish (gray) rather than chrome. Also, it seems slightly smaller... the holes from the old one do not quite line up.

All this is making me think the old one might be safer, especially if I put some bolts through the ladder below each step as my friend Ken Hathaway did (see pic).

Anyway, to rebuild the old one I need some new "tube anchors" where the bolts screw into the tube to anchor it from the inside of the engine bay cover. I've attached a couple of photos, one of the disintegrated anchors (all were bad) in the old ladder and one of the anchors in the new ladder. I need some of the latter. What is the proper name of this anchor and where might I find them?

George

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #1 – March 28, 2019, 04:10:51 pm

George,

Those are star nuts or barbed nuts. They are from Kemberly Ladder company, 800-346-2247. (that is a old number but worked the last time I called) Long ago they would send them to you for no charge but times have changed. Give them a call as they are good people.

Mike

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #2 – March 28, 2019, 04:17:14 pm

Thanks, Mike. I found them at McMaster.com too (lower right corner of page).

McMaster-Carr

There are several videos on Youtube on installing star nuts. These are used a lot on bicycles.

George

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #3 – March 28, 2019, 05:42:25 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – March 28, 2019, 04:00:24 pm

Anyway, to rebuild the old one I need some new "tube anchors" where the bolts screw into the tube to anchor it from the inside of the engine bay cover. I've attached a couple of photos, one of the disintegrated anchors (all were bad) in the old ladder and one of the anchors in the new ladder. I need some of the latter. What is the proper name of this anchor and where might I find them?
George

Howdy George, I've bought replacement ladder "stuff" from these guys: RV Ladder Parts | Replacement RV Ladder Parts | Camper Ladder – factoryrvsurp...
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #4 – March 28, 2019, 05:57:41 pm

A possible--POSSIBLE source would be a marina that sells boat equipment

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #5 – March 28, 2019, 06:02:54 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – March 28, 2019, 05:57:41 pm

A possible--POSSIBLE source would be a marina that sells boat equipment

Agree, BUT, they are in southern ARIZONA.

Sorry, that was meant to be funny!

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #6 – March 28, 2019, 07:06:55 pm

I keep hearing about someone trying to sell lakefront property in Arizona. Also isn't there a bridge from England around there somewhere?

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #7 – March 28, 2019, 08:04:38 pm

I bought the ones that Dave posted when I rebuilt my ladder. They are still holding up fine.

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #8 – March 28, 2019, 08:31:52 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – March 28, 2019, 07:06:55 pm

I keep hearing about someone trying to sell lakefront property in Arizona. Also isn't there a bridge from England around there somewhere?

As a matter of fact, I am about 3 miles from it......... and they have marinas around here as well.

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #9 – March 28, 2019, 09:33:09 pm

George,
I used stainless steel marine tube bases and they made my original ladder much more secure.
Amazon.com : IZTOSS Boat Hand Rail Fitting-90 Degree 1 inch Rectangular...
My ladder is still in good shape from when I did this in 2007.
Don't forget to check the tubing size.

I remembered posting about this before and guess who started that thread? Check your ladder if you haven't already

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #10 – March 28, 2019, 11:12:03 pm

Another way of reinforcing the ladder rungs. Kemberly Atwood RV Ladder Safety Tip

George

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #11 – March 29, 2019, 12:01:46 pm

We carry an 8-ft aluminum Werner ladder on the Joey-Bed, and bungee it to our RV ladder.

368 | Step Ladders | Werner US

Climb up Werner ladder and only the last few steps to the roof are on our RV ladder. We use this approach 100% of the time.

Ladder fits in our one-piece Joey-Bed on its side, with only an inch between the inside of the two bay doors. Important to buy the less expensive Werner ladder because its side-to-side dimensions are a bit narrower allowing ladder to fit between Joey-Bed and the roof of the bay.

Years ago, when we rebuilt our RV ladder, we also found rusted out components inside and cracks in some plastic end caps. All parts were replaced and ladder seems secure, but we are cautious when putting weight on it.

Our ladder gets regular use from Cindy cleaning roof once or twice a month if needed, to keep motorhome sides clean when it rains. Our roof has been painted from Xtreme with one-part (paint contains UV protection) shinny white with ground glass to reduce slip. Easy to keep clean and it always looks good.

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #12 – March 29, 2019, 05:06:00 pm

I've decided to install the new ladder. First, the old one is in very poor shape and by the time I bought all the parts I would need, I would have a rather expensive old ladder. After thinking about the new design a bit, I think it is superior to the old one, mainly because it only uses star nuts on the short, mid ladder supports and then only at one end (4 in all). My old ladder shows how corrosion can destroy these anchors and even a small amount of rust can make screw removal almost impossible if you want to inspect them. The old ladder had star nuts where ever it was bolted to the coach, 16 in all. Eliminating most of the star nuts was a good idea. It makes it easy to remove the ladder for inspection without too much trouble. I plan to periodically squirt some Corrosion X into the bolt holes with the star nuts to keep from corroding.

So how is the ladder secured to each base without the use of star nuts? A self-tapping screw is driven through the side hole in the base and into the aluminum tube. This arrangement is certainly not as sturdy as the one using star nuts, but it is probably good enough and it can be easily inspected. Making sure these screws are tight will be something I will certainly do before climbing the ladder!

But of course, the new ladder was not that easy to install. The biggest problem was that the base plates that hold the ladder to the coach are slightly smaller than those on the old ladder (see attached, new on top). Thus they do not line up with the old holes. I got around this by drilling out the mounting holes to 5/16", which was barely enough to get things lined up.

I do plan to add some reinforcing tabs below the rungs.

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #13 – March 30, 2019, 05:06:08 pm

When I was at Xtreme a while ago James had a pile of ladders there. He fell off one I belive so he removed the one when he had the coach I have now. He may have any parts anyone needs.

Keith

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #14 – March 30, 2019, 05:18:31 pm

I rebuilt mine as it had the rusted out stair piece screws and one 5 inch extension pulled out. I bought all the replacement parts from http://www.nwrvsupply.com

Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Ladder overhaul

March 28, 2019, 04:00:24 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #1 – March 28, 2019, 04:10:51 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #2 – March 28, 2019, 04:17:14 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #3 – March 28, 2019, 05:42:25 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #4 – March 28, 2019, 05:57:41 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #5 – March 28, 2019, 06:02:54 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #6 – March 28, 2019, 07:06:55 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #7 – March 28, 2019, 08:04:38 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #8 – March 28, 2019, 08:31:52 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #9 – March 28, 2019, 09:33:09 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #10 – March 28, 2019, 11:12:03 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #11 – March 29, 2019, 12:01:46 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #12 – March 29, 2019, 05:06:00 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #13 – March 30, 2019, 05:06:08 pm

Re: Ladder overhaul

Reply #14 – March 30, 2019, 05:18:31 pm

Affiliate Notice