Forum Discussion

AndyW's avatar
AndyW
Explorer
Mar 08, 2015

Anyone remove their ladder completely?

The ladder on the back of my class C is unsafe - one vertical pipe has a pretty bad bend to it, one step is broken, and it is kind of shaky. I suspect the previous owner backed into something with it. I climbed up it once when inspecting the unit before purchase, never thought to inspect the ladder first, and it held me, but I'm certainly never going to try it again.

Anyways...I've been using a couple nice step ladders at home to get up on the roof, and have been considering pulling the fixed ladder off entirely and then sealing up the holes, rather than replacing it. Anyone else do this? Are there situations I'm not seeing where I'd need to get on the roof while away from home? We're not full timers by any means, just weekends with the odd 1-2 week trip mixed in. I do not intend to carry a ladder with me - if there is a good reason I'd need to get up there, I'll mount a new one.
  • I think I have been on the roof during every trip we have taken longer than a week. I have installed a wind-driven no stinky vent cap, replaced a broken skylight, fixed a small gap in a rubber roof, tied down a radio antenna, washed the solar panel, replaced a missing vibration pad in an air conditioner, inspected where my omni antenna blew off, replaced a sun-damaged refrigerator vent, lubricated a squeaky fan motor and investigated various rattles.

    I think about removing my factory ladder, but I do not think about traveling with no ladder.

    Matt B
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    I wouldn't remove it, Replace it maybe, I've used mine many times, & at 260 lbs. I've never had a problem.
    You never know what may happen while on the road, making it necessary to get on the roof,like a broken tank vent cap, broken ceiling vent cover, a stick poked through the roof, many reasons.