This weekend we had a bad storm and I had to climb up on the roof using the ladder on the back of my 5th wheel. I just felt like it was going to give way any minute plus getting back on to it to come down was nerve racking. I am thinking of getting one of those telescoping ones but aside from the price I wonder if there is any danger of it collapsing when climbing it?? I have 2 of the folding ones and they are a pita to store and open and close....

Bob,I removed the flimsy ladder on the back of my rig (filled holes and repainted as well).I purchased a Telesteps ladder and it is great! Locks up good when extending, but be careful cause it will crush a finger that gets in the way when collapsing. Oh - and be sure you get the correct one you need - their model number is actually about 4.5 feet more than the highest step! (i.e. if you want to get on a 12 foot roof, you need a 1600 ladder.)

I love mine... Got it 4 years ago, it's great, locks up tight.. SafeNo problems

2X with Mr Wizard. I've had mine 10 years.

We carry one on the Firetruck to use inside a home to access the attic. Again practice closing it without pinching a finger.

Ditto, easy to store and no I don't trust the ladders bolted to the back.As others have said, when collapsing it, do watch your fingers.

Telescoping ladders | Good Sam Community

acker1
Explorer
Apr 01, 2016
With the tele ladders how do you keep it from scratching the roof when it leans against it?

DICK
MrWizard
Moderator
Apr 01, 2016
its 'Round' aluminum tubing, i don't worry about scratching rubber
Ava
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
Ava wrote:
We carry one on the Firetruck to use inside a home to access the attic. Again practice closing it without pinching a finger.

Is that "Firetruck" an Engine or a Truck?..:@

"Ava" could have added - the ladders attached to the back (or sometimes side) of an RV are an accident waiting to happen - mostly due to the climbing angle.

An easy benchmark for good climbing angle is.....
When standing at the base of the ladder, a rung should be at "arm's length" away from you.

BTW - the attached "factory" ladder is handy to "tie off" the top of your telescoping jladder (when it's leaning on the roof of your RV - next to the factory item)

Here in this part of Canada they are engines or fire trucks, the ladder truck is called a ladder truck. And thanks for adding the other safety points

~
acker1
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
MrWizard wrote:
its 'Round' aluminum tubing, i don't worry about scratching rubber

Mine is a fiberglass roof with the curved part being some kind of metal (aluminum?) that can dent easily.

DICK
SCVJeff
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
I have a piece of pipe insulation wider than the ladder and notched out so it attaches across a rung
db7512
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
I purchased a ladder from lowes yesterday it was on sale for 100 dollars and had a weight limit of 300 lbs.
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
db7512 wrote:
I purchased a ladder from lowes yesterday it was on sale for 100 dollars and had a weight limit of 300 lbs.

What kind of ladder did you get, they sell a lot of ladders??
I have a lot of ladders but none are suitable to carry in my RV.....
db7512
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
A,MT-13, it is telescope twin step ladder that can be a extension ladder or a stairway step ladder. As a extension ladder it is 10 ft and as a step ladder it is 5 ft. It collapsed to approximately 2.5 ft.

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