Use ladder for bike rack?

[breeves2245]

Got a new Passport SL 229RK. No bumper. I want to mount my e-bike somewhere. I can carry it in the bed of my truck but would prefer something else. It's 48 lbs, so lifting it high to mount ain't going to work.

Anyone used a bike rack on the ladder? Haven't looked up the ladder capacity but have to figure it's north of 200 lbs or so.

Don't care for the racks that go behind the trailer jack next to the camper front.

Any advice on certain bike rack models?

[chuckster57]

I wouldn’t ever hang anything on the rear ladder. Years of seeing them sag, and fall off on customers units has me convinced.

[jasin1]

I wouldn’t even climb on the ladder…it’s more of a decoration …like a movie prop

[sourdough]

I will reiterate what was said; don't put it on the ladder rack. They are NOT built to withstand the weight and forces (LOTS) that will come from placing that bike on it. They look nice but I've never had one that didn't want to come loose from the back wall.....and I don't use them. To use my ladder I put another 12' A frame beside it and use the top step to get on the roof of my trailer. Anything more and I figure the ladder would either crumple with me on it or tear out the back wall. Put it in the truck.

[gearhead]

Maybe a front receiver hitch on the truck?

[wiredgeorge]

Put it in the bed of your truck. When I got my 5th wheel (old one) I redid all the ladder attachment points and was kinda shocked at how poor they are. I use my rear ladder as a place to steady my 12' extension ladder but wouldn't want to climb the camper's ladder itself.

[sahively]

Every year I see kayak(s) strapped to other campers' ladders and it just scares the hell out of me.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by sahively

Every year I see kayak(s) strapped to other campers' ladders and it just scares the hell out of me.

I see Kayaks as the least issue, they have a support to support the weight, and the attachment to the ladder just holds them upright.

It is bikes that really scare me, I have watched many bounce pretty badly on the back of a trailer.

[CedarCreekWoody]

That 48 lb bike becomes a 48 lb sledgehammer when bouncing down the road. Do you trust your ladder to withstand that? I don't.

[travelin texans]

Even if you had the flimsy bumper it's no more appropriate carrying anything attached to it than the ladder. Put them in the truck bed!

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by sahively

Every year I see kayak(s) strapped to other campers' ladders and it just scares the hell out of me.

Ya especially when I see 2+ft of it sticking above the roof line driving down the highway at 70mph!

[jxnbbl]

I'd look at one of those bike racks that mount above the tongue jack

[jawsmon]

Attaching 48lbs. to the rear of an RV has lots of issues. Primarily, It gets whipped around and bounces severely when you hit a bump or get on a slightly washboard stretch of road. It the furthest point behind the trailer axles so the forces it sees is multiplied. If you insist then weld on a bumper/receiver and attache it super well keeping in mind that 48 lbs. may become 2 or 3 times that when you hit a bump in the road.
DON'T mount it on the ladder.....

I carry a small bike on a bike rack attached to the back bumper. I know a little about what I'm talking about.

[dutchmensport]

Take a moment and REALLY look at the screws holding your ladder attached to your camper. These are nothing but 1 1/4 (or less) metal screws with Robertson heads attached to your camper in 1/8 inch fiberglass or plywood. More than likely, those screws DO NOT hit the studs of your camper, if that be wood or metal.

Now ask yourself, do you really want to hang 40 pounds of weight on there, bouncing down the road with force up and down every bump you hit?

If you don't believe this, take a Robertson headed screw driver and tighten the screws holding the ladder on. I think you'll be shocked at what you discover.

[Camp CA]

If it was my rv I would have a hitch installed of adequate capacity to carry your bike rack and bikes. I would not hang anything off the ladder, even a portable ladder, although I see it done all the time.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Camp CA

If it was my rv I would have a hitch installed of adequate capacity to carry your bike rack and bikes. I would not hang anything off the ladder, even a portable ladder, although I see it done all the time.

I'm looking out my back window at an older Cardinal that carries a Gorilla ladder on his ladder rack. Every ladder mount that attaches to the trailer is angled downward. I would not want to climb that ladder nor would I want to be on the highway behind him.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

Take a moment and REALLY look at the screws holding your ladder attached to your camper. These are nothing but 1 1/4 (or less) metal screws with Robertson heads attached to your camper in 1/8 inch fiberglass or plywood. More than likely, those screws DO NOT hit the studs of your camper, if that be wood or metal.

Now ask yourself, do you really want to hang 40 pounds of weight on there, bouncing down the road with force up and down every bump you hit?

If you don't believe this, take a Robertson headed screw driver and tighten the screws holding the ladder on. I think you'll be shocked at what you discover.

The screws attach to star shaped fittings to be retained in the fiberglass. I can't recall how this works since it has been awhile but they definitely don't hit studs at all.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20359098363...3ABFBMuNP02dRf

[JRTJH]

Stromberg/Carlsen probably builds the majority of RV roof ladders.

This caution is located (in red) on their installation instruction sheet:

CAUTION: All screws connecting the ladder to the RV must be fastened to the RV’s blocking or sub frame. If you are uncertain about the blocking or sub frame location, contact your trailer manufacturer. It is unsafe to use a ladder that is not connected to the RV’s blocking or sub frame. Be sure to maintain safe contact with your new ladder at all times while ascending or descending.
Maximum weight capacity – 250 lbs. when properly installed.

You can download a copy of the instructions here: https://www.strombergcarlson.com/wp-...NS-LA401BA.pdf

A similar caution is located on the "Top Line Ladder" installation instructions. They are, probably the second largest RV roof ladder manufacturer and what S/C doesn't build, they do. https://toplinemfg.com/wp-content/up...aight-502l.pdf

I wouldn't tow a trailer with a ladder mounted to the FILON skin without the screws being anchored in the trailer frame or blocking that is attached to the trailer frame. I also wouldn't tow a trailer with anything (at all) mounted on the ladder. They are "flimsy enough" without adding to the problem with bouncing cargo strapped to an already frail ladder.

[friz]

Originally Posted by gearhead

Maybe a front receiver hitch on the truck?

Best answer!

[BruceinDFW]

We carry two 70+ pounds (each) RAD ebikes on our flimsy rear bumper of our Montana 3811MS, but only after installing a pair of bumper reinforcement brackets and a bolt-on 2” receiver hitch. I use a Holllywood 2-Bike Fat Tire bike rack. We have traveled over 10K miles with no issues. Our trailer is just over 40’ and the rack adds another 2.5’ or so.