RV Ladders

Picking the right RV ladder or ladder part

Sort out which ladder you actually need first, because a rear roof ladder, a telescoping ground ladder, and a bunk ladder solve completely different problems. Stromberg Carlson covers most of the fixed and bunk hardware; the telescoping aluminum ladders handle the get-up-there-from-outside job.

• Fixed rear ladders and hardware. If your roof ladder is loose or missing pieces, you usually don't replace the whole thing. The stand-off assemblies hold the ladder the right distance off the wall, roof-mount brackets tie the top into the roof, and some stand-offs are cut-to-length so they trim down to fit your rig's contour.
• Telescoping ladders. A collapsing aluminum ladder like the 14.5-ft On-The-Go stores small and reaches the roof from the ground — handy on a rig with no rear ladder, or when you don't want to trust the factory one with your full weight. Mind the capacity; that one's rated 330 lb.
• Bunk ladders. The 60-inch Stromberg Carlson bunk ladders, in black or aluminum with padded rubber treads, get kids up to the loft or bunk. They're rated around 250 lb and the rubber feet and tread covers are replaceable when they wear.
• Safety rails. A grab rail like the MORryde Safe-T-Rail extends past the top of a rear ladder so you've got something to hold while you step onto the roof — the sketchiest moment of any roof job.

Before you climb up to inspect, it helps to have the roof sealants and coatings on hand so one trip up does the looking and the fixing. Coming back down, a set of replacement rubber treads or feet keeps a worn bunk ladder from turning slick.