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10-31-2015, 12:45 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 155
THOR #2871
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Rear Ladder Repair
The bottom rungs of the rear ladders on the 2016 Thor Challenger 37KT are too close to the ground. The first time I pulled into a driveway the ladder touched the pavement and the bottom rung was bent outward. I got a hacksaw and cut it off at the creases made by it bending. I took two 3/4" pvc 90 degree elbows (slip on), spray painted them, and connected the bottom of the ladder to the two brackets. The paint isn't an exact match but its close enough. It's not a tight fit either, so a few layers of electrical tape around the aluminum tubing is needed to make it tight enough to stay on. I would glue it but don't know what to use to bond pvc to painted aluminum. Here are some pics. I don't know how to put them in proper order, but you can figure it out.
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Robert
Nacogdoches, TX
2016 Thor Challenger 37KT
2015 Ford Focus
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10-31-2015, 01:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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I cannot imagine the latter touching the pavement without the bottom of the end cap dragging on the ground first. You have done a very nice job of repairing the damage with PVC pipe and fittings. You might find that "Goop" will provide enough of a grip on both the aluminum and PVC to make a suitable connection. Or perhaps you could drill through the fitting and aluminum and hold them together with stainless steel machine screws and nuts.
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10-31-2015, 03:38 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2015 Hurricane 34 J
State: Ohio
Posts: 680
THOR #1295
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Nice fix job!!!! My ladder has been used twice by me and once by my 15 yr old daughter and the two bottom supports are bent - I am 180 lbs and she is 110! No more going up this fragile thing - we use the TV antenna tower on the house and walk to the RV on the house roof from now on.
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Darren
2015 Thor Hurricane 34 J
Custom paint 2019 (Pro Custom Inc., Elkhart, IN)
2019 Honda Accord 2.0T Sport 6 speed manual
(THOR)
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10-31-2015, 12:52 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nursx2
Nice fix job!!!! My ladder has been used twice by me and once by my 15 yr old daughter and the two bottom supports are bent - I am 180 lbs and she is 110! No more going up this fragile thing - we use the TV antenna tower on the house and walk to the RV on the house roof from now on.
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I weigh 245 and it didn't take long to realize that the ladder wasn't up to the task of supporting my weight. Now I use a 10 foot step ladder to get me almost to the top of the RV ladder, and I support the bottom of the ladder with a floor jack. I've been thinking about making an adjustable support that can be carried in a storage compartment. It would rest on the ground under the ladder and adjust to the height of the bottom rung of the latter. This is our forth RV with a rear ladder and the first one that has such a flimsy ladder.
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10-31-2015, 01:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,916
THOR #1589
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Coaches with a rear slide like our Vegas 25.2. have no place for a rear ladder. I use a collapsible ladder, that I bought online. Much cheaper there than at the RV stores. It doesn't take up much space in the storage bay, and is rarely used. Perhaps having it prevents needing it, like taking an umbrella sometimes seems to keep it from raining.
Falling from a flimsy ladder is a risk not worth taking!
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Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
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10-31-2015, 01:53 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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How long is your ladder when collapsed and where do you store it?
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10-31-2015, 06:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 155
THOR #2871
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The ladder is very fragile compared to the ladder that was on the rear of my Fleetwood.
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Robert
Nacogdoches, TX
2016 Thor Challenger 37KT
2015 Ford Focus
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11-01-2015, 12:09 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,916
THOR #1589
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The telescoping ladder I have is 12.5 feet long, 32 inches retracted. It is aluminum and weighs about 25 pounds. Takes up much less space than the folding ones from the infomercials or an extension ladder. On our Vegas 25.2, it fits nicely in the back compartment outside, under the bed slide out. It might fit in the pass through between the front compartments, but I have some other longer things there. It would fit nicely on the wall of the jumbo compartment in some coaches.
When fully extended, it does sag some, but still has a safe and sturdy feel. I see them on ebay for around $60, plus another 20 for shipping. Have had mine for 8 years, rarely need it, but priceless on occasion, much like my little air compressor or most of the tools I take along!
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Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
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11-01-2015, 12:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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The latter sounds like it will work for me (if it will hold my weight) and I think I have a space where it can be stored in the RV.
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11-01-2015, 02:52 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,916
THOR #1589
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I think the rating on my telescoping ladder is 225#. For what that is worth. I think the rating is a CYA liability thing.
By comparison, some of these factory RV ladders must be rated around 100#. I once saw an oversize RV tech break the bottom step off of a coach before shifting his full weight onto it.
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Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
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11-01-2015, 05:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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I suspect that the factory ladders on some RVs are primarily for looks. Sort of like the ladders on the custom vans back in the 80s to mid 90s.
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05-16-2016, 04:53 PM
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#12
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37tb
State: California
Posts: 49
THOR #2678
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbmartiniv
The bottom rungs of the rear ladders on the 2016 Thor Challenger 37KT are too close to the ground. The first time I pulled into a driveway the ladder touched the pavement and the bottom rung was bent outward. I got a hacksaw and cut it off at the creases made by it bending. I took two 3/4" pvc 90 degree elbows (slip on), spray painted them, and connected the bottom of the ladder to the two brackets. The paint isn't an exact match but its close enough. It's not a tight fit either, so a few layers of electrical tape around the aluminum tubing is needed to make it tight enough to stay on. I would glue it but don't know what to use to bond pvc to painted aluminum. Here are some pics. I don't know how to put them in proper order, but you can figure it out.
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Hi Robert,
I have the 2016 Thor Challenger 37tb and now that i purchased the roadmaster tow defender it looks like i'm going to have to trim the ladder and do what you have done. How is the pvc 90 degree elbows holding up for you and what did you end up using to permanently attach the pvc elbows to the aluminum ladder and lastly...do you use the ladder? Wondering how it holds up with weight...
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Raymond and Anna
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05-16-2016, 05:22 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 155
THOR #2871
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The easy answer first. Yes, I use the ladder, but very "judiciously." It has held up so far, the PVC elbows haven't come off yet. Unfortunately, I can't remember what adhesive I used. It may have been one of the J-B Weld products. I remember it indicated it would work on pvs and metal surfaces. The only problem I have with the fix is not being able to get the bottom ladder bolts as tight as I would like (the ladder isn't real tight against the RV body). If you come up with a better way, let me know. Good luck.
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Robert
Nacogdoches, TX
2016 Thor Challenger 37KT
2015 Ford Focus
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05-16-2016, 07:27 PM
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#14
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37tb
State: California
Posts: 49
THOR #2678
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Thanks...
I will let you know the route i decide to take.
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Raymond and Anna
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05-17-2016, 10:29 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31K
State: Florida
Posts: 145
THOR #3520
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I find the idea of using PVC fitting on a ladder quite disturbing. Even more so when you disguise them by painting them. My thought is that some service tech will think you have a serviceable ladder and try to use it. When your plastic repair fails and he falls, insurance may not cover your liability.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca
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05-17-2016, 11:27 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37KT
State: Texas
Posts: 155
THOR #2871
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I understand what you are saying, but I don't believe it's really a problem. The PVC elbows don't support the ladder or even a step. They do hold the bottom of the ladder out from the body of the RV. I suppose the worse that could happen if the elbows did break would be getting the paint scraped up. I don't know what else to do when Thor installs a ladder that is too long for the coach.
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Robert
Nacogdoches, TX
2016 Thor Challenger 37KT
2015 Ford Focus
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08-26-2017, 03:05 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.2
State: North Carolina
Posts: 175
THOR #5494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine
Coaches with a rear slide like our Vegas 25.2. have no place for a rear ladder. I use a collapsible ladder, that I bought online. Much cheaper there than at the RV stores. It doesn't take up much space in the storage bay, and is rarely used. Perhaps having it prevents needing it, like taking an umbrella sometimes seems to keep it from raining.
Falling from a flimsy ladder is a risk not worth taking!
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Thank you Mr. Sunshine, I was thinking of adding a ladder to the side of our 25.2. I need to go up to the roof to set the tailgater up. I really like your idea of a collapsible ladder!
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08-26-2017, 03:38 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
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Rough up the connections with coarse grit sandpaper then use some JB Weld.
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09-02-2017, 08:31 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 37 LX
State: Florida
Posts: 307
THOR #7853
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Clever idea to fix your ladder. 2 part epoxy will hold pretty much anything to anything once it sets and it can fill small gaps as well. Comes in a syringe, Walmart and Lowe's should have it. Hope this helps.
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Work Like a Captain, Play Like a Pirate...
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09-02-2017, 10:27 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 27K
State: Kentucky
Posts: 881
THOR #2817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CasaLoca
I find the idea of using PVC fitting on a ladder quite disturbing. Even more so when you disguise them by painting them. My thought is that some service tech will think you have a serviceable ladder and try to use it. When your plastic repair fails and he falls, insurance may not cover your liability.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca
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Any service tech who scrambles up the back of an RV without checking the sturdiness of the ladder shouldn't be working on RVs.
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