From day one the attached ladder was flimsy and sagged when I put my 230 lbs on the steps. Soon after, the plastic end caps on the steps started breaking. Heartland replaced three while still under warranty, then Atwood, who makes the ladder sent me some no charge. I've seen many posts on the Heartland forum about the poor Atwood ladder quality; and I've written Atwood. Their reply stated there was no better solution and to just keep replacing the end caps. They also said there were only a hundred complaints so there must be thousands of people who do not complain. It seems that these ladders are a safety concern to many, but wondered how many are OK with their ladder and who made it? Also, who like me are unhappy with the ladder quality?

So come up with a better one. What you are talking about has been around forever.

I'm VERY ok with my ladder on my Lance. It's called a Phat Ladder by Topline:Phat Ladder - Topline MFGIt's a sturdy as can be!WoodGlue

I have an '06 BH 3600, been fulltiming in it since spring 2006. I'm also 200+ lbs and I've only had to replace one end cap in that time (earlier this year). The ladder has always felt stable to me and I also used to carry 2 full-size bicycles on a ladder rack.

WoodGlue wrote:I'm VERY ok with my ladder on my Lance. It's called a Phat Ladder by Topline:Phat Ladder - Topline MFGIt's a sturdy as can be!WoodGlueThanx fer the tip WG.I want to someday replace our whimpy ladder thing.The Phat ladder looks cool!Regards.

Atwood ladders plastic endcaps crack after very few years of service. I friend of mine who weighs a puny 150 lbs. had one break out when he was going up. Not good. Fortunately he was not hurt. He called and they replaced his caps for free. I went out and looked at mine and several were cracking and they happily replaced them, also. I asked the gals on the CS line if they were "improved" and she said "nope". Just FYI. We'd never would be able to get away with that in the auto industry. rockin'

Ladder quality | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

glazier
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2013
Duck wrote:
Mine has been fine so far. I wonder if it would be possible for someone good with wood to make these plastic caps out of good quality wood? Just wondering.
Don

Aluminum end caps would be wonderful
Curly2001
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2013
Wood will rot.
Duck
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
Mine has been fine so far. I wonder if it would be possible for someone good with wood to make these plastic caps out of good quality wood? Just wondering.
Don
avvidclif1
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
I don't know what ladder Crossroads uses but the 2 Cruisers I had/have have a sticker on the ladder "Rated 300 lbs" and my 275 lbs causes no problems for it.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
ladder on our 2001 35 ft alpenlite is no different than when it was installed.
I don't know the reason.
chevman
mudmaker
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013
Same problem with the ladder on my old Cougar. Had a few replaced when I bought it a year ago. Replaced nearly all of them earlier this year. I bought enough for all the steps and had some good ones left over so I have a head start on my new camper I got this fall. Cheap flimsy and a law suit away from making something that really works.
MTPockets1
Explorer
Nov 16, 2013
rockintom wrote:
Atwood ladders plastic endcaps crack after very few years of service. I friend of mine who weighs a puny 150 lbs. had one break out when he was going up. Not good. Fortunately he was not hurt. He called and they replaced his caps for free. I went out and looked at mine and several were cracking and they happily replaced them, also. I asked the gals on the CS line if they were "improved" and she said "nope". Just FYI. We'd never would be able to get away with that in the auto industry. rockin'

I agree. But how long will they get away with it? Seems like if they keep blowing people off like they did withme and others, it only adds fuel for greater problems for Atwood later. More people with the problem need to complain instead of just coming up with their own repairs or replacement. It's my opinion this is a safety issue that the industry seems to be ignoring.
rockintom
Explorer
Nov 16, 2013
Atwood ladders plastic endcaps crack after very few years of service. I friend of mine who weighs a puny 150 lbs. had one break out when he was going up. Not good. Fortunately he was not hurt. He called and they replaced his caps for free. I went out and looked at mine and several were cracking and they happily replaced them, also. I asked the gals on the CS line if they were "improved" and she said "nope". Just FYI. We'd never would be able to get away with that in the auto industry. rockin'
deleted-2
Explorer
Nov 16, 2013
WoodGlue wrote:
I'm VERY ok with my ladder on my Lance. It's called a Phat Ladder by Topline:

Phat Ladder - Topline MFG

It's a sturdy as can be!

WoodGlue

Thanx fer the tip WG.
I want to someday replace our whimpy ladder thing.
The Phat ladder looks cool!

Regards.
HappyKayakers
Explorer III
Nov 16, 2013
I have an '06 BH 3600, been fulltiming in it since spring 2006. I'm also 200+ lbs and I've only had to replace one end cap in that time (earlier this year). The ladder has always felt stable to me and I also used to carry 2 full-size bicycles on a ladder rack.

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Ladder quality

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