Thanks for the link westend. I watched a video there that describes exactly what Gjak explained. I was thinking along these lines, except I was thinking I'd epoxy ss "T" nuts inside the flange that screws to the camper, and, if I could find them, longer ss screws or bolts. The barb connectors don't really add anything structural, and only serve as connectors. Given the total upfront cost of these ladders, it's just another on the list that could have had so much more longevity if they'd have just used ss to begin with.
Then, on the other hand, a collapsible is a darn good idea. I might just fix the existing ladder and use it to tie a collapsible to.
Anyway, I don't know why, but every time I'd search for anything related to this, I got a blank. Anyway, Thanks to everyone.