Kevin H Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 I'm looking for suggestions on a telescoping ladder. 12-15feet. Any suggestions? Big variety out there in quality and cost. Appreciate feedback. Quote The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappir Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 Watching, I purchased a "Folding" Warner Ladder many years ago. It goes up to almost 20 feet, but is big bulky and difficult to use. Folds into 4 5ish foot sections and can be used as a small short scaffold, but you need a wide sturdy board to walk on. Using the rungs is a recipe for disaster. Rod Quote White 2000/2010Volvo VNL 770 with 7' Drom box with opposing doors, JOST slider hitch. 600 HP Cummins Signature 18 Speed three pedal auto shift. 1999 Isuzu VehiCross retired to a sticks and bricks garage. Brought out of storage the summer of 2022 2022 Jeep Wrangler Sport S Two door hard top. 2007 Honda GL 1800 2013 Space Craft Mfg S420 Custom built Toyhauler The Gold Volvo is still running and being emptied in July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinx & Wayne Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 I've been through three ladders before I found this Gorilla ladder. It is great. Wayne & Jinx 2017 F-350 diesel, dually 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ Quote Jinx and Wayne 2006 Carriage Carri-Lite 36KSQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will B. Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 We went with this one, pretty happy with it:https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XLQ8ZNB/ One thing I will say about these extension ladders, though, is that when you don't need the full height, that last step can be tough, as you'll have several "steps" collapsed to make one BIG step. You said 12-15', but I find that this one works just fine to get up on top of my 13'6" (all things height) fifth wheel. Hmmm. Well, I went to my Amazon orders to see what I had gotten, mine is actually 15.5 feet. Either they don't sell it anymore or.... I don't know. Mine is also not orange like the picture. Here is my order pic: Sorry, this post might not have ben a lot of help. I will say that I bought it, primarily, because I HATE the ladder on our rig. Not this ladder specifically, but rather how close it is to the rig, and just so vertical. We have a toy hauler, therefore the ladder is on the side. And it folds out and in. I take the telescoping ladder, at an angle, and hook it over the top of the rig's ladder. Just feel so much safer to me. Good luck in your ladder-hunt. Quote 2018 Grand Design Momentum 399TH • 2019 Ford F-350 (DRW) 2016 Harley-Davidson Heritage • 2013 Harley Sportster with a sidecar Web: https://MyRVRadio.com • Facebook: https://fb.com/MyRVRadio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin H Posted April 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 Quote Thanks for the responses. I have one of the foldables. It's great for in the back of my pickup & 5th wheel. I'm wanting a telescoping to carry in our van. Quote The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durangodon Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 I have had THIS ONE for about 10 years, used it to wax my fifth wheel twice a year or so. I really like the fact that they can be made very small for storing and transporting. Mine is pretty sturdy, I always felt comfortable going to the top on it. Where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwtraveler Posted April 10, 2021 Report Share Posted April 10, 2021 I bought this one in 2017. I paid about $350 then. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KGBIKC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The ladder extends above the 5er roof line but I put it next to a slide and step off onto the slide roof. I ordered our 5er without an OEM ladder so definitely needed a way to get on the roof. I opted for a telescoping ladder because it didn't take up much room in the basement. Quote Kim and Betsy 2017 F450 Lariat 2017 Arctic Fox 35-5Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms60ocb Posted April 12, 2021 Report Share Posted April 12, 2021 I bought a standard 16 foot extension ladder. Many of the telescoping ladder are not solid me or getting heavy. The 16 foot extension ladder is light weight (important for me) and just fits in the basement. I don't consider this ladder a daily user as I have items stored on top of the ladder. Clay Quote Clay & Marcie Too old to play in the snow Diesel pusher and previously 2 FW and small Class C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packnrat Posted April 21, 2021 Report Share Posted April 21, 2021 i have never understood a ladder than collapses for storage. as how can it be safe for a 200+ pound man to be working on. as just trying to get up it, the 200 pounds becomes a LOT more pushing the body up, or "wiggling" around doing something. one would think the hold outs would fail and the ladder would collapse while you are on it. and a couple i have seen move around as in Not stable in the build. like a fixed ladder is. weight can even be heaver due to more material in the tubing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaydrvr Posted April 21, 2021 Report Share Posted April 21, 2021 5 hours ago, packnrat said: i have never understood a ladder than collapses for storage. as how can it be safe for a 200+ pound man to be working on. as just trying to get up it, the 200 pounds becomes a LOT more pushing the body up, or "wiggling" around doing something. one would think the hold outs would fail and the ladder would collapse while you are on it. and a couple i have seen move around as in Not stable in the build. like a fixed ladder is. weight can even be heaver due to more material in the tubing. I have carried a telescoping ladder on my step deck to get on top of loads for many years. I don't use it a whole lot, but it works perfectly and I feel completely safe on it. But then, I'm not 200# plus, soooo.. It is something of a pain to put up and down, but I don't use it often enough to matter. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipclopez Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 (edited) We use Ohuhu aluminum telescopic extension ladder. My favorite feature of this telescoping RV ladder is its easy retraction feature. Just press down on the two thumb buttons, and it would retract smoothly. Edited May 3, 2021 by Philipclopez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcodger Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 We have carried a Little Giant folding ladder for 8 years and it's been great for us. Paid $149.00 for it at Costco and it fits real nice in the basement of the fifth wheel. Dave Quote 2004 Volvo 630 left tandem with 12 speed Freedomline 2014 Sandpiper 35 ROK 42' fifth wheel Western Golf & Country Cart (EZ-GO frame) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 (edited) FYI, OSHA and general safety rules require a ladder to extend 3' past the top of the roof. I never gave that much thought when i was <60 years of age, now in my 70's I really need that 3' of ladder to remain steady transitioning from roof to ladder or visa versa. Edited April 24, 2021 by Ray,IN Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Ray,IN said: now in my 70's I really need that 3' of ladder to remain steady transitioning from roof to ladder or visa versa. Now in my late 70's I just stay off of the roof of the RV and pay others to do what must be done there. I stopped going up there after I saw another "old guy" slip on the ladder of his motorhome and end up hanging upside down by one leg, after that foot went between the rungs of the ladder and into the space between the ladder and the rear cap. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 (edited) Thanks Ray and Kirk for causing me to recalibrate my risk assessment of getting on and off my roof. I use the rear ladder on my fifth wheel to get up on my roof for inspection/cleaning. I think it has about 1.5 foot of railing above the roof. But it's solidly attached, unlike a ladder. Still, I do find it awkward to make the transition off and on. In my case, the most risky activity is probably carrying 5 gallon bucket of water and other smaller items up the ladder. This seems like an accident waiting to happen. I need to adopt a safer approach. -------------------------- I purchased a 22' Little Giant, for my two story house, and anticipated using it with my 13+ ft truck and 5th wheel trailer. I've used it a few times at my house. It's very sturdy and versatile. But it's bulky and heavier than most alternatives. I've used the standoff option for some exterior work on my house and to wash my truck and it works better than tying rags around the top of a ladder. My favorite option is the "work platform". Here's a small (8MB) video describing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raQtR9BVjV0 ------------------------ However, I think it's very unlikely for a Little Giant to be the best choice for someone's RVing Van. A collapsible one does seem more practical. One consideration that hasn't been mentioned. Is the treads. One inch wide, or even worse, a tube will likely be very uncomfortable standing on it after more than a brief period of time. Sorry for contributing to the thread drift. p.s. This seems like a reasonably inexpensive way for me to reduce the risk carrying things up to the roof. https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Bucket-Shoulder-Carrying-Strap/dp/B07F6P6C3F/ref=pd_rhf_cr_s_vtp_ses_clicks_nonshared_3?pd_rd_w=lDJ7Z&pf_rd_p=f818a79d-4393-4f85-8a51-3c71ea371f3e&pf_rd_r=90330RATF0RYK955MV4B&pd_rd_r=8def31bd-101e-4449-a60b-47a6e16af653&pd_rd_wg=DQsbL&pd_rd_i=B07F6P6C3F&psc=1 Edited April 24, 2021 by DanZemke Additional info Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 10 minutes ago, DanZemke said: I use the rear ladder on my fifth wheel to get up on my roof for inspection/cleaning. That is exactly what the "old guy" I posted about above was doing. He got a wet shoe on the second rung of the ladder, while hanging on to the curved rails that rise up from the roof and bend around to become the vertical side rails of the ladder. As he was lowering his other foot to the third rung, the first wet shoe slipped toward the motorhome's rear cap, sliding off of the rung and down between the run and the fiberglass rear cap. Somehow he lost his grip on the side rails as his body dropped toward that rung and he went over backward, ending with his head down and his right leg bent over the rung that his foot had slipped off of. The stopped hanging by his right leg, head down until help arrived. Fortunately other saw his accident and help came quickly, but he was taken by ambulance and I never heard the final outcome. We were parked some distance away and I only became aware of the accident when all the noise and commotion began as efforts began to rescue him. What I saw when I arrived at the site is something that I will never forget and can visualize in great detail, even though it has been nearly 5 years ago. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanZemke Posted April 24, 2021 Report Share Posted April 24, 2021 Kirk, Genuine thanks for the vivid description of a real accident. I vaguely remember a similar story (albeit without such a a bad outcome) of one of the rungs on a Teton ladder breaking while someone was climbing up it. That said, although I am 72 years old, I haven't experienced a significant physical decline in the last decade or two. I realize that I'm extremely fortunate. For me, I don't think that climbing up on my trailer's roof is overly risky. However I am very careful when doing so. Perhaps I'm foolish, but I'm looking forward to down hill skiing again, with my good friends next year for a week or so above Lake Tahoe. That is probably more risky than using the roof ladder, but I'm not willing to give either up until I really need to. 🙂 Quote Volvo 770, New Horizons Majestic and an upcoming Smart car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted April 25, 2021 Report Share Posted April 25, 2021 (edited) 38 minutes ago, DanZemke said: Perhaps I'm foolish, but I'm looking forward to down hill skiing again, with my good friends next year for a week or so above Lake Tahoe. That is probably more risky than using the roof ladder, but I'm not willing to give either up until I really need to. I'm not a skier, but understand that choice as I have similar priorities that I choose the risks I take and put several hobbies above most risk prone work. If I remember accurately, the person in the accident was somewhere around 75. At the time I was about 73 and am 78 now. I never really liked working on the roof even as a much younger person so it was not difficult to give up doing so. Edited April 25, 2021 by Kirk W Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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