Welding rear ladder possible?

[Nomore9-5]

I submitted an earlier post asking if anyone knew who made the rear ladders (I have a 378 ) Ken and Terry were kind enough to give me FR contact info. I have a minor crack in my ladder which I'm thinking could be welded .I highly suspect FR being a sales business will tell me it can't and gladly sell me a whole new one. Has anyone out there know it's possible to weld these?

[dustman_stx]

That ladder is likely aluminum. And super thin. Good luck finding someone that can weld it. And don't expect someone to fire up a TIG welder and make that repair for peanuts.

[BarabooBob]

Very thin aluminum gets weaker when you weld it. Most of the ladders are weak to begin. They are just barely strong enough to hold a light person. I would not weld it. By the way, I do welding but would not touch that job.

[D W]

Given it's aluminum, and cracked, that means the ladder has been stressed. False economy and safety risk to have it repaired. The prospective repairer most likely would not want the liability.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by BarabooBob

Very thin aluminum gets weaker when you weld it. Most of the ladders are weak to begin. They are just barely strong enough to hold a light person. I would not weld it. By the way, I do welding but would not touch that job.

100% Correct in every regard! Youroo!!

[joy-rick]

Check out this source:


https://factoryrvsurplus.com/product...-repair-parts/


I damaged the ladder on my TT and was able to repair it satisfactorily with their repair products.


The repaired section of the ladder is actually stronger than the stock ladder.


I was very satisfied with this product and the repair was quite easy.

[mlmay12]

Originally Posted by joy-rick

Check out this source:


https://factoryrvsurplus.com/product...-repair-parts/


I damaged the ladder on my TT and was able to repair it satisfactorily with their repair products.


The repaired section of the ladder is actually stronger than the stock ladder.


I was very satisfied with this product and the repair was quite easy.

I would do a mechanical repair with some split aluminum tubing and u-bolts or something similar. I wouldn't touch it and I have a Tig Welder and a degree in welding : )

[Joe_GA]

I had to repair mine. I got EMT conduit. i think it was 1/2". Cut all the way through where the break is and insert half of an 8" long piece of conduit. Run a 1/2" self drilling screw through the ladder tube into the conduit. Then slip the other end of the ladder tube onto the conduit and secure with self drilling screws. I believe I used 2 screws on each side of the break. So 4 screws total. It's now as good as ever.

[Nomore9-5]

To everyone thanks to all who replied . To Joe GA - great idea and one I might try to copy ( I actually considered using a wooden dowel with OD just under the ID of the tubing and securing with screws too but EMT may be better and not split)

[Joe_GA]

Originally Posted by Nomore9-5

To everyone thanks to all who replied . To Joe GA - great idea and one I might try to copy ( I actually considered using a wooden dowel with OD just under the ID of the tubing and securing with screws too but EMT may be better and not split)

I tried to find you some pics, but couldn't. I fixed mine about 2 years ago with this method and I've been up and down my ladder several times since. I weigh 198 and have been up to 210 in this last year.

[Wood2Cook]

After an embarrassing encounter with a steel fence I repaired my badly crimped ladder. Cut out the damaged section and replaced with these parts found in an exhaustive internet search.

-

1 inch diameter tube:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Alexandr...AT012-AM096C03
-

.875 inch diameter tubing (fits tightly inside the 1 inch tube):
True Value #0955460154 (M244 anodized) or

ACE hardware #5117734
Boltmaster 8 ft. L x 7/8 in. Dia. Aluminum Tube Round
-
#8 x 3/4 in. Zinc-plated self-drilling pan-head phillips Drive Sheet Metal Screws
-
Paint.

[blackfly]

Maybe unpopular - but if it's just a 'minor crack' and not located right on one of the steps, why not use duct tape?

The Gorilla duct tape comes in various colours and is very strong and durable.....

[jeff64]

Originally Posted by mlmay12

I would do a mechanical repair with some split aluminum tubing and u-bolts or something similar. I wouldn't touch it and I have a Tig Welder and a degree in welding : )

X 2 or a piece of split PVC, neither will rust. I backed into something with mine and put a bend in one of the legs. Luckily with a couple pieces of 2 x 4 and a couple of big C- clamps I got most of the kink out of it and no cracks