Roof Ladder Replacement Question

[kazuaki]

My 2013 Raptor 381LEV has a removable ladder (not folding) on the very rear of the street side of the trailer. I've purchased a folding ladder and planning the install. I have a few questions for those that might know.

1) Is the section of wall the original ladder is mounted to reinforced for the ladder screws?

2) If so, how is it reinforced? Do you think it is the entire section of wall from floor to roof?

My concern is that the new ladder has totally different mount locations, so the mounts will be screwed in to different locations than the original. I appreciate any advice or knowledge you may have about this subject.

Thanks!

[chuckster57]

As a rule the only backing is where any original ladder went. Usually about 4” wide.

[kazuaki]

So probably a 4" wide strip run horizontally at each of the 2 original mounting locations? Is that what you are saying? If so, that's not gonna cut it.

[kazuaki]

Basically where I put the highlighter?

[chuckster57]

Yup!! I work in a collision shop, taken many side and rear walls off.

[kazuaki]

Thanks for that. And in your opinion, is the reinforcement totally necessary? I'd guess so. I guess I'd have to pull the luan (or whatever it is) off the inside wall and stick a sheet of plywood inside there or something?

[chuckster57]

The reinforcement is mandatory and it’s usually thicker than plywood. It’s like a 2X6.

[kazuaki]

One other thought. The rear rail for my Happijac bunk bed is mounted in the same area, roughly where the tape is in this pic. You think theres any chance the whole area between the window and rear of trailer is already reinforced due to that?

[chuckster57]

Nope. HappiJack is screwed into a vertical aluminum strut.

[kazuaki]

Not really sure what to do now. I'd have to remove the bed rail to get the wall panel off.

[kazuaki]

Well I got it handled. The middle supports were in the same area as the existing ladder and seemed to hit solid wood. The top and bottom supports did not. For those, I had to cut holes in the interior wall and put some solid wood reinforcement in there, tied into the aluminum studs. The one at the bottom was behind the diamond plate, so easy to cover up. The one up top, was right near the ceiling mostly hidden by the upper bed. I covered that area with some diamond plate as well.