Rear Ladder Uses?

[Mello_Mike]

This week I installed a rear ladder on my camper. I'm planning on using the ladder to mount things like a wind turbine and using it to carry things like lawn chairs and bikes. I thought I'd ask the forum for additional ideas on what I can use the ladder for (besides the obvious). 🙂

Wolf Creek 850 Rear Ladder Installation

[tuna_fisher]

Made a table like net boys,carry a ladder/chairs.

[Mello_Mike]

Sheriffdoug wrote:

Mello Mike wrote:

jdcellarmod wrote:
Mike, which wind generator are you planning on using? I thought of doing the same.

Jeff

Probably through these folks. I met them at last year's Overland Expo.

Free Spirit Energy

Mike,

I have one, they work well but are quite noisy and vibrates through your roof if it is quite windy.

Do some more checking.

Checkout the sailing yacht type ones, they appear more aerodynamic, but they too make be noisy as well.

Good Luck,

Doug

Thanks for the tip, Doug. I'll look into them more.

[Sheriffdoug]

Mello Mike wrote:

jdcellarmod wrote:
Mike, which wind generator are you planning on using? I thought of doing the same.

Jeff

Probably through these folks. I met them at last year's Overland Expo.

Free Spirit Energy

Mike,

I have one, they work well but are quite noisy and vibrates through your roof if it is quite windy.

Do some more checking.

Checkout the sailing yacht type ones, they appear more aerodynamic, but they too make be noisy as well.

Good Luck,

Doug

[anutami]

hedge wrote:
I'm surprised at the strength of the ladders from the pics above. I am now considering adding a bike rack like that.

My camper came with a 'phat' ladder, it has bigger tubes than the standard. Does anyone know if it's better/worse/same strength as the standard ladders?

I visited the topline factory and was told the phat ladder is mostly cosmetic, as the standard ladder will hold well over 300 lbs. which is about the same as the thicker gauge tube phat ladder. I think it has to due with all the anchor points into the camper and not the actual size of the tube for strenghth.

[kitesurfer]

Another bike rack option I have used using stock Thule brand cross bar and mounts

[hedge]

I'm surprised at the strength of the ladders from the pics above. I am now considering adding a bike rack like that.

My camper came with a 'phat' ladder, it has bigger tubes than the standard. Does anyone know if it's better/worse/same strength as the standard ladders?

[Powelligator]

Nothing heavy, but I found the top sides of the ladder to be an excellent place to mount a couple of floodlights. I wrapped the wires in a flex tube and zip tied it to the side of the ladder, then tied into the truck's upfitter switches with a connector under the bumper. I also put a small camera above the door (wires follow the floodlight wires).

No holes to drill and when backing up at night I just hit a switch and can see everything.

-Joe

[ejfranz]

Carb Cleaner wrote:
Fork mount bike rack. This is our last campsite after 19 days and 3,400 miles with two different pairs of bikes loaded. First, two 26" bikes. Then, in Austin, both 26" went to the roof rack and two new 29ers went on the ladder rack. That's a story for a different day. I'll do a write-up on the rack build, eventually. I gotta make it longer for the 29ers' wheel-base. You guys have seen this before, about a month ago.
The ladder is completely intact. The bikes are about 30 pounds, each, less the weight of the front wheel. I used a four foot step ladder during loading/unloading.


Mock-up, before I added PVC to hold the rear tires:

Perfect!, that is the setup I have been looking for.

[Carb_Cleaner]

Fork mount bike rack. This is our last campsite after 19 days and 3,400 miles with two different pairs of bikes loaded. First, two 26" bikes. Then, in Austin, both 26" went to the roof rack and two new 29ers went on the ladder rack. That's a story for a different day. I'll do a write-up on the rack build, eventually. I gotta make it longer for the 29ers' wheel-base. You guys have seen this before, about a month ago.
The ladder is completely intact. The bikes are about 30 pounds, each, less the weight of the front wheel. I used a four foot step ladder during loading/unloading.
EDIT: Link to bike rack write-up, HERE.


Mock-up, before I added PVC to hold the rear tires:

[starcraft69]

workhardplayharder wrote:
Mother-in-law

:@ :S

[trail-explorer]

My thought is that bikes are too bulky and heavy for the ladder.

[thundercloud]

tdium wrote:
I bought a standard aluminum L shaped ladder bicycle rack and used it to carry my 2000 Honda generator. I made a plywood base with recesses to accomodate the generators feet, then bolted the base to the rack. I found a small generic outboard motor cover at Princess Auto ($19.95)that looks great and fits perfectly to cover the unit. The unit is locked down and has a simple double tie down system.

It has withstood the test of time...about 6 years and all types of weather. I have even run it for a while on the ladder rack for short periods to run the microwave.

I have occasionally used it for a bike too.

Cheers

Can you provide us with a photo? That sounds like a great project.

[tdium]

I bought a standard aluminum L shaped ladder bicycle rack and used it to carry my 2000 Honda generator. I made a plywood base with recesses to accomodate the generators feet, then bolted the base to the rack. I found a small generic outboard motor cover at Princess Auto ($19.95)that looks great and fits perfectly to cover the unit. The unit is locked down and has a simple double tie down system.

It has withstood the test of time...about 6 years and all types of weather. I have even run it for a while on the ladder rack for short periods to run the microwave.

I have occasionally used it for a bike too.

Cheers

[Mello_Mike]

jdcellarmod wrote:
Mike, which wind generator are you planning on using? I thought of doing the same.

Jeff

Probably through these folks. I met them at last year's Overland Expo.

Free Spirit Energy