Roof Ladder Fail

Pops R · 06-24-2019, 07:41 PM

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?

The Gritz Carlton · 06-24-2019, 08:09 PM

WOW...That is crazy!! Interestingly waiting to see what Thor does about it. Find out who manufactured the ladder for Thor and contact therm also..in proper order. Based on how far that fell downward, all the rest of the supports are toast also.

Pops R · 06-24-2019, 08:20 PM

"An authorized Thor Motor Coach dealer can help you with the ladder on your unit. We don’t sell parts direct from the factory."

That is their reply! Unconcerned. Guess maybe I needed to have fallen off the ladder due to this malfunction to have gotten some measure of concern?

I looked underneath to find they do have some block supports on the back side of the fiberglass the screws are suppose to screw into. Two screws on the right side completely missed it so just into the fiberglass of the MH and why I have to assume it failed.

Thor as well as our dealer were so great in the beginning but now their customer support is very uncaring. Might as well have robots working for them.

**16ACE27** · 06-24-2019, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pops R

"An authorized Thor Motor Coach dealer can help you with the ladder on your unit. We don’t sell parts direct from the factory."

That is their reply! Unconcerned. Guess maybe I needed to have fallen off the ladder due to this malfunction to have gotten some measure of concern?

I looked underneath to find they do have some block supports on the back side of the fiberglass the screws are suppose to screw into. Two screws on the right side completely missed it so just into the fiberglass of the MH and why I have to assume it failed.

Thor as well as our dealer were so great in the beginning but now their customer support is very uncaring. Might as well have robots working for them.

I wouldn't think so; that looks like corrosion to me. I know my ladder used to fill up with water when it rained due to poor sealing.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-24-2019, 09:09 PM

Yep...lots of chalk in there.

Bob Denman · 06-24-2019, 10:13 PM

Perhaps they'd be more interested, if you had an attorney contact them.

NOTE: I NEVER suggest this course of action...

(Unless it seems like the only option that will work...)

Pops R · 06-24-2019, 10:49 PM

Thanks for all the input guys but some seem to have to bag and be negative and why is the question for that.
In any case for all to just check their ladder supports as it could happen to you and maybe you might fall from the top of your roof.
At 70 I am not looking for that. This is supposed to be a community of owners sharing things not a place for negative feed backs, who needs that!

In any case I got my feed back so thanks and leaving you all with these last 3 pics

One you can see the supports behind the rear of the MH shell the screws are suppose to go into and two on the right side missed it completely so not a solid support.
The other two pics shows where the screw head just ripped out from the MH. I am not seeing any corrosion. In any case getting the replacement parts ordered so end of story here. Safe travels to all

Yvonnemarc · 06-24-2019, 11:10 PM

Agreed. If you’re trolling. STFU.
Sorry to see that mess. I have the same ladder on my ACE. I think about that every time I step on it. Like you I’m dreading the day that happened.

**16ACE27** · 06-24-2019, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pops R

One you can see the supports behind the rear of the MH shell the screws are suppose to go into and two on the right side missed it completely so not a solid support.

I agree with you there and another example of poor QA/QC/Attention to detail on the part of Thor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pops R

The other two pics shows where the screw head just ripped out from the MH. I am not seeing any corrosion. In any case getting the replacement parts ordered so end of story here. Safe travels to all

No, the screw head ripped out from the ladder's leg base and I can clearly see corrosion in that area from your original pics. You see this type of corrosion all the time on boats that have aluminum parts held with stainless screws. The crappy installation may have contributed to this failure due to the stress/flexing at the point of failure but the main contributor was a crappy design and corrosion.

funmoneypit · 06-25-2019, 10:51 AM

Yep, I would have to agree with 16ACE27. I am sorry but no one was negative or is trolling anyone. This is a community trying to work together to figure out what happened. You seem to want to blame the two screws that weren't in the backer. Well, as has been pointed out, no screws are pulled out of the motorhome. The attaching screw has pulled out of the base of the ladder itself. No one is blaming you either.

Sometimes we all need to get a little thicker skin. Heck, this wasn't even bad. I thought all replies were respectful and trying to get to the root cause. If anything, the other responses are disrespectful.

Safe travels all.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-25-2019, 10:57 AM

I missed the negative comments...maybe I'm just too objective. Most issues here are resolved by dialog an sharing facts/experiences/opinions. Agree about the boat comments with SS combined with aluminum...this is like acid an water mixed. This is one of those classic threads whereby the root cause was quickly discovered. Who was negative?...we need to council with them.

**16ACE27** · 06-25-2019, 12:27 PM

There was a negative comment about people jumping to using lawyers. I got it in my email notification but it was quickly removed by the moderators. I don't even think it was directed to Pops.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-25-2019, 12:29 PM

Roger that....thanks!

Bob Denman · 06-25-2019, 12:32 PM

I believe that the suggestion to try legal avenues was only made by me...

If I caused a ruckus: that's on me.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-25-2019, 12:48 PM

Go back to sleep, Bob...I'm getting tired of telling you this, over and over!!!

Bob Denman · 06-25-2019, 01:13 PM

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1561468409

The Gritz Carlton · 06-25-2019, 01:22 PM

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

jeeepz · 06-25-2019, 01:31 PM

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

Bob Denman · 06-25-2019, 01:31 PM

"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...

stustoner · 06-26-2019, 09:38 AM

A new ladder will cost you....mine costs $250+.....actual ladder is not too expensive....it's the shipping......Christianson Industries, Inc. makes the ladders for Thor but they will not sell them to the public (liability issue with mounting them...I did replace parts of mine after a minor accident...the Thor part number for the 24F ladder is 0293636 (Christianson #TFM2682BLK)...I do have some horizontal and one vertical strut if you are interested....there is a 300# weight on these ladders. After I replaced the ladder I did seal everything.

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