Adding a rear Ladder ???

[Rideandslide]

Considering adding a ladder to the rear of our TT,2015 Grey Wolf 26RL i understand you really need to hit the wall studs ! How do you find them, and, are the ladders made to the same spacing as the studs ? Is there a industry standard on stud spacing ?

Thanks Jim

[Dave Lyon]

You only have one chance at drilling it ..........pay the dealer to do it!

[ApexBunk]

Some can't add ladders. We have a 2016 Apex 300BH and were told it isn't possible. Definitely a discussion for the dealership in my opinion.

[TURBS]

Normally a ladder cannot be added after the fact as there is no blocking to fasten to.

Check with the factory they will let you know if blocking is installed on your unit or not.

If it is your golden!
If not you'll have to use an extension ladder


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[Rideandslide]

Thanks All

Will rite that off !

[MilCop4523]

Originally Posted by Dave Lyon

You only have one chance at drilling it ..........pay the dealer to do it!

WELL NOT ENTIRELY TRUE

you have heard of the 50-50-90 rule?

its when you have a 50% chance of getting it right and a 90% probability of getting that 50% chance wrong.

Take the trailer to the dealer and ask them if:

1. they can actually add one onto that model and
2. Get them to do it if they can.

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

WELL NOT ENTIRELY TRUE

you have heard of the 50-50-90 rule?

its when you have a 50% chance of getting it right and a 90% probability of getting that 50% chance wrong.

Take the trailer to the dealer and ask them if:

1. they can actually add one onto that model and
2. Get them to do it if they can.

so true !

[PSU Turf]

If installing a permanent ladder isn't an option consider a telescoping ladder. It takes up very little space in the basement. I think I paid about $140 for a 12 foot ladder.

[jtesta1]

go to harbor freight tools, they have a little giant knock off ladder for 149 bucks. sturdy ladder that folds up pretty small . fits in my salem storage fine.

[satdog01]

As stated before, check with factory. My dealer said no to the ladder, checked at factory while on tour. For the 2012 Flagstaff txt the blocking was added to all the tts. Have had the ladder added since touring the factory. Also carry a little Gaint knock off I got at Lowes on sale. Comes in handy for cleaning off slides and upper running light work.

[Jim in Halifax]

Will a stud finder work?........I know on my CC I can see every stud when it is cold outside and warm inside...No condensation on outside where studs are.....I took my tape and drew up a sketch showing where all the studs are.....Full length & shorties!!!!

[TURBS]

Several have a ladder that will fit in your rear bumper [emoji848]


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[satdog01]

IF blocking exists, should be horizontal between studs! If I remember correctly was like 1x4 s, 1 set just below where roof and rear wall meet, one below taillight,. In the Flagstaff the blocking was on both sides of the rear of trailer, for right or left mounting. Ladder is is narrower than the spacing of the studs. Again, check with trailer plant. Like many things, the blocking may have been discontinued to save a couple of bucks on blocking. I would not drill a hole without knowing the blocking should be there!

[satdog01]

Another thought see if there is a ladder on the same model as yours at a dealers. That is how I discovered it was an option, had seen a ladder on another Flagstaff. When I toured the plant, one of the FR techs told me that all units in that production year got the blocking for ladders. They did not have a procedure to identify which units got ladders and which ones did not, so all units got right and left blocking.

[vasnipe]

Fellow in my travel club has a Sunseeker also. He wanted to add a ladder and checked with the factory (he is a member on here). They sent him a diagram where the blocks were and he took it to a local dealer whose initials are C W. They mis-read the diagram.
They boogered it.
Drilled holes on the wrong side and all. Checked with the factory again and they got things figured out and fixed. So, ladder is on the port side instead of the starboard side as it should have been.
Sorry, Port is the left side and starboard is the right... Sailor CRS kicking in again...

[Coolcat2424]

I actually added a ladder off of an old Elkington camper.I took my travel trailer to a dealer and they sourced the builders build plan for stud spacing and installed the ladder for $170.00 labour,Canadian>

[doc73]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Several have a ladder that will fit in your rear bumper [emoji848]


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

Do you think the bumper will support all that weight?

I have a little Giant knock off I keep in a storage compartment as well. Gets the job done and is portable for other tasks.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[KyDan]

You won't know about possible ladder mount blocking unless you contact
the manufacturer.
I talked mine into emailing me a PDF print of the rear wall studs that showed
where the blocking is in my trailer.
Either you or your dealer should be able to get a definitive answer from
the factory about your particular rig.

After all that I opted for a telescoping ladder kept in the pass thru storage.
Dealer said ladder was nearly $350 + labor to install due to large size requiring
freight delivery rather than UPS or Fed Ex. Plus he was claiming 5-6 weeks to
receive and install. We were leaving for a 3 weeker to Maine with many
stops along the way. I needed something NOW so I could sweep off slide
roof after nights under the trees.
Buddy of mine found a telescoping ladder still in the box at a garage sale
for $40. I still wish I had a permanent one on the back end but I'll save the
money and use what I've got.

[bob caldwell]

Got a 7' double sided one at the 'show' here in Quartzsite that fits in a 5x5" fence post...pretty sturdy also..

[Thurman]

1) I went back to the selling dealer to ask about the rear ladder and they told me that they would have to get with FR with the VIN of my unit and see IF FR could come up with an answer. The dealer called me: NO, none of the FR Coachmen Freedom Express unit were built with blocking for a rear ladder. Interesting--sitting on the lot when I went to ask were three FR Coachmen Freedom Express units with rear ladder. On each build sheet it plainly stated that the ladders were factory installed at a $360 price. I'm sending FR Coachmen the VIN on my unit and tell them I want an answer direct from them on this matter. I really need the ladder to go up and clean off the top of the slides when we break down. I know this sounds weird but I have been climbing ladders doing industrial maintenance for 38 years. A light heart attack and stroke last September has me a bit off balance now. Non attached ladders now give me an uneasy feeling. Secured ladders I still dance up and down them. Old age is getting to be a pain, in a large number of places at that.