Easy safe? Older Folks to get in and out of overcab bed?

We found an aluminum "RV Bunk Ladder" and were really impressed. Took it back to the coach and it fit well. Problem was, it had "extension ladder" type rungs and they aren't to be climbed in bare/stocking feet. Returned it the next morning. This is why I want bunk ladders to be like, or based on, step ladders. We need the wide rungs for our bare, tender, old feet! Step ladder also widens at the base for a little more stability.

Thank you for posting. It got me to thinking how much I dislike our current ladder. Cheapy aluminum thing. Not very stable

Couple years back kids bought me, a Xtend and climb telescoping ladder. 12.5 foot I believe. I have been very impressed with it, for home use.

Just ordered a 750p xtend and climb, for 128, tax, delivered out the door from Amazon. Current ladder step length (side to side) is 10 inches, my at home ladder is 14 inches side to side. That alone will make a huge difference in my up and down comfort.

Something you may want to consider

No reason you can't add something to keep the ladder from sliding down at the feet, or siding sideways at the top. I wish I could see a way to leave a ladder in place most of the time.

For that first coach, we bought a five foot aluminum stepladder and just leaned it in place without opening it. Its top came level with the bed. Easy to climb but no handholds to help on and off of it. In that coach, the Loft had a residential Queen mattress stuffed in. Hard to make up, reduced overhead clearance, but was comfortable. A little (more) difficult to get from Cockpit to House, but it was the older chassis with the shorter doghouse, and there wasn't a step up to get into the House part.

For me, it's not so much getting up there at night and down in the morning -- it's getting up to pee in the middle of the night. Don't forget to factor that in.

Very good advice and is the major reason that I won't be sleeping up there? its kinda funny when you think of it if you move the ladder we are stuck up there for the most part...so maybe I can get one of those "trucker" urinal things for hubbie :Bsafer than a midnight pit stop????.lol...thanks for the advice

Eliminate the back legs so it's only a leaning ladder. Cut top down to where it lines up with the height you need. Figure out the side you'll climb "around" to get in and out of the Loft. Cut that side short enough to not interfere, and leave the other side taller, to serve as a hand grip to get support getting on and off the ladder. Notice one rail is short at the top and one is longer.

Wow this is just the ticket to our quandary about having the two poles in the way so you could not slide into bed. I think we are going to try something like this with hand rails. Maybe...

Thanks so much for posting Everyone!

Posted By: Lwiddis on 05/05/17 06:42pm


These are good suggestions. However, you aren't comfortable with an overhead bed. Think you will be in five years when you are five years older? Buy an RV you where you are completely comfortable.

"Completely Comfortable" sorry I know after RVing for 35 years plus This is our 7th Motorhome... that is something we have never found! This little Tioga I (the wife) can drive easily that is the main reason we have it. Things change, kids grow up, people get old, grankids come along etc. We full timed for about 10 years in a spacious bath and 1/2 Pace Arrow and recently had a go at an Adventurer 38 foot dream home. We started out by converting a new van with bed and porta potty with pump sink. After our last trip Hubbie was tired and Not only could I not drive it but could not even hook up the Car or handle the huge 50 amp plugs...so yes we have an amazing cab over bed that may or may not work out for sleeping but we have a sofa sleeper and the back makes into a bed as well. Five years from now? I am not worried about that I will be at the beach in my little camper! if I can no longer get into it or drive it My daughters will take me or I will give it to my daughter or sell it...meanwhile we are mapping out a trip to Canada (bucket list) No I will no longer have my washer and dryer, dedicated Office space with computer and printer and tons of room but "completely comfortable"??? is not something I expect.

We had a Class C with Loft-Only sleeping, and a nurse friend recommended getting one with the bed down. Said she's seen how one fall can ruin the rest of a life. That coach didn't have a raised "house" so the climb to bed was a full 05 feet. Still, we went Rear Queen in our replacement coach.

Is your floor carpeted? If it is, a ladder won't slip... Get a wooden stepladder, say 06 feet. Eliminate the back legs so it's only a leaning ladder. Cut top down to where it lines up with the height you need. Figure out the side you'll climb "around" to get in and out of the Loft. Cut that side short enough to not interfere, and leave the other side taller, to serve as a hand grip to get support getting on and off the ladder. Notice one rail is short at the top and one is longer.

For me, it's not so much getting up there at night and down in the morning -- it's getting up to pee in the middle of the night. Don't forget to factor that in.

That's why I have a downstairs bed.

These are good suggestions. However, you aren't comfortable with an overhead bed. Think you will be in five years when you are five years older? Buy an RV you where you are completely comfortable.

I use my dinette seat back. I know folks who have built a small platform that sits over the edge of the seat back (sort of an upside down U with a platform on the closed part of the U). It gives them a wider ledge for their foot when they step up or down.