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11-07-2014, 07:05 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Campbellsville, Ky.
Posts: 37
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Heads Up.
Just a word of caution for anyone using their Rv Ladder:
The Ladder on my HC 343rl broke causing me to fall about ten feet landing on my back across a concrete curb. The Hand Rail pulled loosed on the roof and broke at the top step. Rated for 300 lbs. and I weigh 185.
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11-07-2014, 07:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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Hope you are ok. That is a shame, wonder if the correct bolt was used.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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11-07-2014, 09:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: missouri
Posts: 171
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Wow, so sorry to hear about your fall. Hope your O.K. Been a nurse for 35 years and falls injuring your back are bad enough. Good Luck!
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2010 Fusion 403
2011 Chevy 2500 6.6 diesel with Allison trany
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11-08-2014, 06:27 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 375
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The ladder on our Montana did not come apart but was very shaky so managed to convince dealer to replace it under warranty. New one seems fine athough I don't go on the roof much any more. Got a fold up ladder from CW so can reach what I need to from it.
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11-08-2014, 06:48 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Hope you're not hurt...
At 65 and 300 pounds I leave climbing to younger, skinnier folks so I'm in no danger of falling off the ladder on my trailer..
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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11-08-2014, 11:20 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,687
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Hope you're OK as well. I just had a conversation with my dealer yesterday about the ladder on our 2014 Cougar High Country. I've never been up it but when we did the PDI the tech went up on the roof and I saw the ladder flexing. When he came down we both looked at it and it seemed OK. After the purchase I had them add a 2nd AC. I had not looked at it until about a week ago and noticed all the supports were pointing in a downward fashion instead of 90degrees from the trailer wall. I pushed up on the ladder and there was about 1/4" play up and down. My conclusion, and what I told the dealer, was that the ladder is not supported correctly. The first trip up the ladder during the inspection sort of told us that but them using it to go up and down to install the AC did it in. They're lucky one of them didn't have the same mishap you did. It goes in Nov. 14 to be inspected/repaired. I would encourage anyone that's going to use their ladder to really look it over because I'm not so sure there isn't so sort of error in the way they have anchored them.
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11-10-2014, 04:22 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: sandusky ohio
Posts: 94
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i never use mine on 2014 343rl high country!!!!its so wobbly where it connects on roof im afraid of it ripping out causing roof leaks!!i carry a very heavy cosco (collapsable)ladder like the little giant type.weighs probbably 40 or more lbs but will make large stepladder to reach slideout roofs to sweep off debri!it adjusts for uneaven ground etc.i also go 280,but wont let my little wife up there either.if i have to go up on roof i make ladder 17 foot tall and lean it on trailer to go up.what happened to you is EXACTLY what i fear!! i am so sorry this happened to you and i always look at that curbstop and think thats where i would land when i fell.
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11-10-2014, 05:13 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
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Agree with the above. Always use an extension ladder to access the roof. To avoid abrading the corner of the roof and/or scratching the gutter, I cut some thick rubber hose lengthwise and zip-tied it to the ladder rails.
__________________
Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
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11-10-2014, 12:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: In our 5th wheel, somewhere.
Posts: 112
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I hope your ok. Thats a hell of a fall. I'm 255 and use our rear ladder occasionally, and it doesn't give you that warm and fuzzy feeling when your using it. Since I bought a new collapsible ladder from CW, I haven't been up the fixed one since.
I use one of the corner noodle pieces I cut to fit on the slide, and put it on the ladder wrung that touches the side of the 5er where it will cushion it, and prevent scratches.
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Full-Timers since 12 Aug 2014
2014 Ram 2500 CTD. 6 Burning 4 Turning
2015 Montana 375 FLF Mountaineer
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11-10-2014, 01:06 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Campbellsville, Ky.
Posts: 37
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Heads Up.
Thanks everyone. I escaped being paralyzed or any broken bones, but my back is still sore. I was in Intensive Care one day. I know my Lord was with me that day.
I normally don't use the Rv ladder, but we were camping at Holmes Bend (COE) Campground and it stormed the night before we were to leave. I needed to remove some twigs off the top of the slides and that my Good Friends was my downfall. No pun intended.
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11-11-2014, 03:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Okla
Posts: 363
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Mercy! Thank goodness you didn't break anything, or worse! Coulda easily cracked your skull on that concrete :-( Very scary.
On last rig, the ladder was very unnerving to use, sagging and bouncing and feeling like it was about to give. Even so, I've been missing having a ladder on the rear (current rig doesn't have one). With that horror story, though, I think I'll be content using a folding ladder.
Sorry to hear that this happened to ya. Get better soon!
__________________
2012 Keystone Vantage 32FLS
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11-11-2014, 04:02 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: sandusky ohio
Posts: 94
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my last 5er was a heartland sundance and i started up the ladder and the bottom rung busted .i got to looking at it and all the screws were broken off about 3/8ths of an inch just inside rungs.musta used a power driver and snapped um off,only the tip was holding rungs.i removed em all and replaced with hd deck screws.i called the ladder folks and all they did was send me new end caps!!whoopie!!
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03-05-2015, 01:12 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Preble county, Ohio
Posts: 261
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The only thing the factory ladder is good for is hanging a better ladder from it! We haul a 10ft step ladder with us.
__________________
2008 Silverado 3500HD 4x4 SRW Duramax Allison trans
2014 Cougar 327 RES "Campy"
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07-19-2015, 06:25 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Baton Rouge, La
Posts: 127
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Used my ladder the other dat to get on the roof. It seemed solid but when I got down and looked at it the brackets mounting it to the fiver were bent downward. I weigh 205lbs so that weight rating is off. Needles to say I ordered a standoff kit to remount it straight.
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06-18-2016, 01:55 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Packerland
Posts: 50
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Sorry to hear about your accident. Sounds like a bad one. When I'm at home and have to go up on the roof I set my separate ladder up right behind the rv ladder and go up my ladder before stepping over onto the top rung of the rv ladder. The RV ladder feels solid enough, but I don't want to really test it. I'm 250#.
__________________
Jim & Kristie
2002 F-350 PSD, 4X4, Lariat, crew cab, long bed, SRW
2015 Cougar X-Lite High Country 28SGS 5'ver
Reese 16K & Tekonsha PrimusIQ digital controller
The K9 crew: Ginger the terrier, Yorkies - Heidi & Dora, & Buddy the Chihuahua
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06-19-2016, 02:48 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 23
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Well, now I don't feel short-changed because my Bullet doesn't have a ladder on it. They sound worthless. Are you sure they're not just for drying towels and swimsuits?
__________________
--Rob
U.S.A.F. Retired
Pensacola, Florida
2015 Keystone Bullet 310BHS
EZ Lift W/D Hitch + Sway Control
2014 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab LTZ 4x4 Z71 Package
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06-19-2016, 03:56 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
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I wonder what the differences are in the ladders. I've never really looked at them closely. I've been up and down the ladder on my Alpine more times than I can remember and it's always felt solid. I don't see any bending or give to it. Mine has 3 attachment points on the back of the 5er in addition to the roof mount so 4 total points of support. Are the others that are bending/breaking similar?
__________________
Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
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06-20-2016, 06:50 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ocean Isle Beach
Posts: 1,431
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Watched a tech run/up down the ladder on my Cougar. At 68 I never plan on using any ladder to go on the roof.
Old bones take too long to heal.
__________________
2022.Montana 3855 BR
2019 F350 6.7 4X4 DRW
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