Roof Ladder Fail

[Yosemitebob]

I had the same problem starting as far back as two years ago. Mine never did as your had, but I felt like additional support was in order. It may not look really pretty, but it fixed my movement issue. I'm guessing that you never hand anything on the ladder, especially while you are moving. Here is my fix, never has moved on me sense. But I do use my step ladder to give me a good start.

[fairfieldwizard]

Look at the first pic. Mine looks the same way. It doesn't take a genius to figure out these ladders are decorative only and not meant for use by the average adult esp if the ladder is older than a few years. You are so lucky you weren't hurt. These ladders are an example of how coaches in general are constructed.
Waiting to read about a lawsuit...

[Cabinetmkr]

Originally Posted by fairfieldwizard

Look at the first pic. Mine looks the same way. It doesn't take a genius to figure out these ladders are decorative only and not meant for use by the average adult esp if the ladder is older than a few years. You are so lucky you weren't hurt. These ladders are an example of how coaches in general are constructed.
Waiting to read about a lawsuit...

Oh I’m sure there has been a few... but most settled and not disclosed. I’ve owned an RV of some type for over 50 yrs, a close friend is a dealer... so I’ve seen and heard many stories.
The most surprised I’ve ever been, is getting behind the wheel of my 32 hurricane on a secondary road.
It amazes me how the manufacturers take a chassis... which has a load rating, and change the center of gravity which leads to almost uncontrollable sway at times. The aftermarket for all these correction devices is huge, and they boast the simple ease of installation to correct known control problems and to increase safety. I cannot believe these are not standard items on any MH that rolls off the line. Would it really $1000 to bottom line?

My ladder actually seems pretty sturdy... but I do go up and down taking slow steps as not to jerk or jolt more pressure on the mounts.

[efhatfield]

Same thing happened to me on my 2014 Miramar.

[Calico]

Whenever I go onto the roof for cleaning, inspection or maintenance, I cringe. I always felt I was putting an awful lot of pull-pressure on that ladder, especially boosting up onto that first rung. After the first time, I now always climb onto the ladder FROM a ladder, and in my plans for my new RV garage, I've designed in a catwalk from the 2nd floor so we can just walk out and onto the RVs roof. I'm getting too old to risk falling off ladders.

[OHpink2]

Originally Posted by Pops R

Doing some spring maintenance on the roof today when I stepped off the roof the bottom ladder support mounts broke loose under my weight of 190 lbs.


This seems like a safety issue fail to me so have contacted Thor about under Customer Care. will see what feedback I get. we bought our 2015 Challenger new so sure did not expect this to happen.


Anyone else ever have this happen?

That happened to my 150 pound husband. He was at top of ladder and just stepped onto the ladder from the roof. The supports were not bolted correctly and they broke and he swung around the passenger side of the rv. He was able to hold on as he was slammed into the side of the motor home. Thor replaced it through camping world. That was a fight but finally done. If you are over those weights or are not fit enough to jump to the ground, don’t go up there.

[Calico]

Originally Posted by OHpink2

... If you are over those weights or are not fit enough to jump to the ground, don’t go up there.

Honing my parkour skills as we speak.

[HaRVey]

Originally Posted by jeeepz

My ladder felt loose, i removed the 4 screws into the fiberglass to expose the 1 screw into the post,noticed the 1 screw was loose and deforming the metal,added a large washer,tightened all with loctite and seems much better now

Looking at the OP failure pics, my first thought was the "single screw" design and without a washer to spread the load is the primary issue, coupled with the corrosion potential is a recipe for disaster!
I was just on my ladder yesterday (2018 Palazzo) and thought there was more movement and noise than I'd like (I'm 180 lb), now I will inspect more closely!

[Kmatthiensen]

I am so glad to have found this!! Our whole ladder started to bend down and ripped the screws from the wall out of one of the posts. We have no idea how to fix it now since the wood is stripped. Any ideas? I'll try to get a picture and post it.

[Kmatthiensen]

Our coach is a 15 Thor Ace 30.1
We’ll definitely be adding a bracket but just need to figure out how to fix the post since the screws are stripped out of the wood.

[Paulred]

I knew from the moment I saw the attached ladder, that it was an accident waiting to happen. When you see RVs running down the road, count how many have another ladder clipped on to the RV ladder. Not only are these attached ladders unsafe, but they are fixed in place, so you need to go up them and crawl over the roof if you have any issues in other parts of the rig.

There are a number of good ladders that fold or compress. I took my useless RV ladder off and sold it. I filled the drilled holes with caulk. My replacement is a folding ladder that works as a step ladder or long straight ladder. I added two O rings on the back of my rig and tie it to the back bumper. Much easier to use on the rig or around the camp site.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Kmatthiensen

Our coach is a 15 Thor Ace 30.1
We’ll definitely be adding a bracket but just need to figure out how to fix the post since the screws are stripped out of the wood.

Once the bottom 90 degree bend at the bottom starts to bend, the ladder cannot usually be repaired. If the bottom is not bent bad, you can repair the bracket by filling the old holes with Dicor sealant and inserting a couple wooden tooth picks in the stripped-out hole and re-inserting the screws. You can also turn the bracket plate 15 to 20 degrees an drill pilot holes and reinstall the screws. The ladder is optimistically rated rated at 225 lbs, but my 170 lb weight has bent two. I now use a telescoping ladder.

[saddlesore]

Originally Posted by halfprice

Just found a broken screw on the bottom right bracket on my ladder. Ladder looks a little bent, downward, must be from my fat stomach

I'll be looking for a telescopic, collapsible ladder when I get home

Jerry

re: telescoping ladder..
Pay real close attention to how far they actually extend.. ours says 14' "reach" but the ladder is only 12' tall

[halfprice]

Originally Posted by saddlesore

re: telescoping ladder..
Pay real close attention to how far they actually extend.. ours says 14' "reach" but the ladder is only 12' tall

I got the telescoping ladder already. I think its 13' if I ever need to use it I'll rest it on the mh ladder

Jerry

[DenverTransplant]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

"I've also told you...quit posting that picture of us at the Jazz Festival!!! You're the one that brought the Moonshine!!!"


I think that we're legally married in several States...

If a man and woman get divorced in the state of xxxxxx (fill in where you don't like), are they still legally cousins?

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Kmatthiensen

Our coach is a 15 Thor Ace 30.1
We’ll definitely be adding a bracket but just need to figure out how to fix the post since the screws are stripped out of the wood.

How about filling the holes with epoxy, and then re-drilling them?

[ducksface]

Take it to a professional who will Run bolts through the wall and bracket them on the inside.
Someone who doesn't know how to fix the problem is the last person you want fixing the problem.

I would like everyone who gives advice here to consider the tone of the question:
'we can't figure out how to fix the holes'
Is not a prescription for
'fill it and use the same type screws'

Not everyone need be a self doer.
The question often reveals this.

[brucev]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Take it to a professional who will Run bolts through the wall and bracket them on the inside.
Someone who doesn't know how to fix the problem is the last person you want fixing the problem.

I would like everyone who gives advice here to consider the tone of the question:
'we can't figure out how to fix the holes'
Is not a prescription for
'fill it and use the same type screws'

Not everyone need be a self doer.
The question often reveals this.

What do you do when the dealers charges $300 an hour labor rate and even then they repair to stock, never do any improvements or modifications and sometimes just shotty workmanship.

[Bob Denman]

That's why we try to figure out the options that might let the mechanically-inclined do a better job of fixing it.
It's true: not everyone should try to D.I.Y. a lot of these projects.
But it doesn't hurt to take a peek: particularly if you know where your skillsets can get you.

$300 buck an hour?!?
For that price: I'd expect a massage and shower after she's done...

[Bill in Redlands]

A couple of things to consider. I checked the screws holding the ladder on our Axis and found a couple had rusted through. I replaced all of them with stainless steel to prevent a similar situation in the future.

Rather than attempt to remove the portion of the two screws that remained in the motorhome, I rotated the attachment bases 45 degrees and inserted the screws in a new location.

Also, as a result of a serious step ladder injury to friend, we now do not use any ladder, including the one on the motorhome, without someone at the base "spotting" the one person on the ladder. This is something we learned when our children participated in a community circus. The key is not to try and catch the person if they fall, but to divert their head away from the surface so that they bust their butt, not their cranium.