Forum Discussion

xxjanaleexx's avatar
xxjanaleexx
Explorer
May 01, 2015

Need rv ladder advice...

I recently purchased a '97 Coachmen class C that the former owner had bent the top of the roof ladder on one side (looks like he backed up against a roof overhang!)..right at the top "curved over" part..rendering it useless and unrepairable. Now, as a 74 yr.old woman,I really have no need for the ladder but want to improve the appearance. My plan is to cut it off right before the bend area (at the highest step rung,about 12 " below the roofline) and then cap the "pipes".Also will cut off the curved sections right at the rooftop brackets leaving the "stumps" with caps on those as well...My question is this: how weird will this alteration look versus just leaving it badly bent?
Problem #2-----I am quite crippled with pain due to several medical problems forcing me to sell my TT since I couldn't do the hitching anymore and DH has worsening dementia--I am having a real tough time going in and out of my little moho.The entry step is too low and not deep enough,front to back,causing me pain and unsteadiness when going in and out. I can't find a step stool higher than the existing step,and if I make one out of wood it would be too heavy for me to handle. I need something about 11-12" high and then I could leave the regular step just stowed away and use my little booster platform to access that new step..a 20"square top on it would be great..! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!
Class C
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    First of all leave the ladder on. My first used MH had the same thing I just left it. You take the chance of water seepage when you start cutting and trying to fill the holes.

    I actually encountered 'getting' leg injuries from that darn step not being deep enough to walk out 'straight'. That little bit of turn you have to make everytime to step down is what did me in after going full time.

    1. Here is what I did. Step stool from Ace Hardware reaches bottom of RV door and regular cinder block matches bottom step of step stool. Amazing how the common step stool is the right height for the RV door!


    2. If you are parked permanently for awhile here is what I did and within a week all my knee/back pain was gone. These are common cinder block, half cinder block and the lower steps are patio block from Home Depot. Amazingly they are the right height to the RV door!


    I ended up using the complete cinder block setup each time I stayed for more than a couple of days at a CG. They are about 1.50 a piece. So for around 10.00 I was PAIN FREE. Well worth the money. And I left them at the CG with CG owner's approval.

    I needed the second step down but it is not necessary and the white tape was so I could see the step down at night.

    I haven't used those knee twisting back aching RV steps in over 7 years now.
  • MobileBasset's avatar
    MobileBasset
    Explorer
    May 01, 2015
    I use an aerobic exercise step platform butted up against the bottom RV step (which is very shallow as yours is). It is exactly the same height and width as the bottom step and turns it into one big platform. And then I throw a door mat over the whole thing. It is much lighter than cinder block and can be stored up in the step well when traveling. You can find them in different heights or stack them as your RV requires. A while back I made a wood step that broke down for traveling but the whole thing was too heavy as you mentioned so I threw it away and went back to the aerobic step.

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