Travel with side ladder attached?

That 4” might put you over the legal width on your trailer. I would take it off and store it when traveling.

I'd keep it off, and inside for the trip. Better safe than sorry.

We carry ours in the garage, clipped in, with a bungee cord or two with the hooks kaniffled into the ladder clips so it has to really really work hard to fall on the motorcycles*.

*Murphy's 4th Law of Motorcyles: best way to damage a motorcycle is to haul it in a trailer.

I have ours mounted to the rear ramp door...Exterior...

How wide is your trailer?

If you are under 8'6" with it attached, I would leave it.

I take ours off and leave it at home. Never needed to get on the roof so far, knock-on-wood. :)

Ladder scares me and I'm always double checking it is secure. Never used it even after deciding to replace and add a better one for use, so I probably should just take it off. I did add a extra locking mechanism to it and I still double check it all the time. I picture it falling off on the highway and causing a disaster.

Mine has stayed on for 27 months now and about 14,000 miles. Not a big deal.

I keep mine on most of the time. That way if I get to close it will act like a,,, uh, feeler... lol. jk
Actually it did have to come off when pulled into the covered storage for the off season this year. A big roof post was right there a little to close for comfort. Covered storage is tight at rv harbor.

Its nice they do come off easily. In 2008 and up, WW made them so they fold up tight into the TH, and don't come off. They still stick out almost 3" when in the folded position. Go figure, for an 1". Almost seems WW just had to comply with the width police.

Seems those ladders are not constructed real sturdy. Same for the little brackets and pins that hold them on. Taking it off and on repeatedly, is asking for problems imo.

Just be aware you've got it hanging out there 4" or so, and avoid catching it on something, even at slow speed that would suk. But since it only sticks out about 4", if you are that close, you're already way too close imo.

Seriously, its about 1.25" over the limit. I know, the width police will get me... but, Think the LEO would take out his measuring tape, and write ya up...? Or just say take it off..?

jmo

MCIbus wrote:
That 4” might put you over the legal width on your trailer.

I would love to see the ticket for that. We travel with ours on our Raptor 3612DS all the time.