Roof Access Ladder Idea

[goffoz]

You gotta vacume that "Astro stuff" or it gets dusty
Us Kali peeps kno!

[Forthwithtx]

It's so simple you guys don't see it. If I wanted a ladder that I have to store inside the van, then there are many obvious choices. I wouldn't have bothered anybody with a question like that, most probably. I've seen the threads.

The bottom line, which I stated repeatedly, is that I don't want something that will take up space inside the van, in the basket, or widen the van, or cost $250, or end up on the hatch, where I may have a tent. I'm not really too high on the RMW side ladder, though because it is a fairly mainstream solution, acceptable to most.

Storing one in the safari basket makes no sense. I'd have to carry a ladder to go and get my ladder.

The idea of attaching something permanently to the outside of the van is so alien and repulsive to a couple if you that you can't fathom it being done. As if it were some sort of sacrilege. That is presumably why you are trying to talk me out of it. I don't really care if anybody thinks it will look good or ruin the resale. That is your problem, not mine. I don't mind your opinions at all, but it wasn't really what I was asking for. I was looking for ideas or benchmarks within a very narrow set of requirements.

A few of the respondents actually produced the sort of response I was looking for. Some of you only tried to tell me how misguided I am. If I poked fun at your commentary, it was not meant to offend. I honestly thought you were being tongue-in-cheek. If you were deliberately being scornful, then the shame is on you.

Thank you to those who proposed some novel ideas. And I didn't thank "oldschool84" for the mountain climbing gear idea. That was a good one. I may do that in any case.

[TopBud]

That link I posted earlier was a thought. I just wanted to give an idea and if anyone wanted to research it they could. Yes they will bend the metal if not bolted and reinforced, but I have seen them work on many applications.
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86 bostig syncro tin top
66 convertible Karmann Ghia

[Forthwithtx]

[Terry Kay]

"And it is even less expensive and obtrusive than what I came up with."

Here it is Sports Fans--
Not permanent.

Hang it anywhere --
It can be wound up small.
It ain't in the way.
It's cheap.
Much Less Obtrusive.
Simple.
You didn't even think of this--
What more could you possibly need?

Problem Solved----

The Hungarian A team is always thinking---
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T.K.

[Forthwithtx]

[alaskadan]

So where do your toes go when climbing the rope ladder? Right into you paint thats where.

[Terry Kay]

So where do your steel toed boots go on a fixed step, or bolted on grab handles?

Right Smack Dab into the side of the van and into the Earl Scheib paint job.

Do Tell.

How you gonna avoid this phenomena?

You can't--excluding a remote , ground only affixed step ladder arrangement.

Now--nobody mentioned, or even brought up a "saving the paint" upper veranda accessibility gizmo here--
Wasn't even mentioned.
But whatever you hang on that van , and as soon as you go up that devise, your going to Toe Tap the side of the Van.

It's part of the deal--rope ladder or not--your going to screw up the paint behind it.
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T.K.

[Forthwithtx]

I don't give two cruds about the paint on this machine. As I mentioned earlier, I washed it with a Scotchbrite pad. The picture I provided doesn't show the real condition of the paint. It's a beater.

Don't want a tubular ladder on the side or back. Asked for options. Got them.

Dealt with a lot of the usual crud from the usual suspects who only have one way of looking at things.

Shoot the thread. I don't care.

[WestyBob]

A friend flagged me and forced me to come back for a minute

To OP : Clam down and relax. Hardly anyone is attacking you personally. Virtually everyone including the two you chose to marginalize as the prime villians have offered you alternatives as evident in the previous posts.

And I can assure you those of us who've been on this forum for a while, while we may disagree from time to time, are quite flexible in they way we look at things. There are thousands of proposed upgrades and alterations (I'll refrain from using molestations) in this forum and elsewhere and many are good ones that others copy.

There is nothing about what you proposed that is progressive, innovative or novel. Virtually every idea regardless of value that could be done to a vanagon has already been submitted. We are only trying to help recommend some perhaps better alternatives.

On the left coast we still have lots of vanagons around. But many of my friends and I have noticed they are now beginning to return to earth at a very fast rate annually much like the older splitties and bays. The days of cherry picking a fine ***affordable*** vanagon specimen are closing.

Perhaps in Ft. Worth where there may be few vanagons you don't have that kind of bench comparison. Perhaps to you it's simply a beater open to unusual alterations of all types.

This forum is populated mostly by people who like and drive vanagons. Perhaps you would have a more kinder reception proposing your alterations on a motor home and RV forum where exterior steps, handles and monkey bars are rightfully common to the large sizes and need to get way up there. If it were a novel and innovative thing to do on a vanagon, ***given the alternatives***, everyone would be doing it.

And while I'm considerably older than you, I'm surprised at your age (50) you still have an 'everything about me' attitude. That's why I suggested in my first post you give your proposals a lot of thought first. Of course it's your call.

As an aside, what is it about the inside of your vanagon that's so special that you can't store a fold-up alu or rope ladder ? It's not a hostile question, I'm just curious.

[jimf909]

[WestyBob]

[jimf909]

[WestyBob]

Good ideas.

Actually, like Terry, I'm actually riveted to seeing if the OP will actually follow through and bolt something on like recessed fold-out steps.

And if they work out and look good I'll be the first to say "good job".

And if the side sheet metal shears off the first time he climbs I'll be the first to say absolutely nothing

In my westy with the upper bunk removed, I have two "L" shaped brackets with two bungee cords spanning across to keep everything up there. Been working for about 20 years now - nothing crashing on people yet. But anything that can squirm out between the bungees is more deliberately secured.

[Terry Kay]

"And if the side sheet metal shears off the first time he climbs I'll be the first to say absolutely nothing "

Boy, I'd have a real hard time biting my tongue on this one--
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T.K.

[Forthwithtx]

So, I have this van, which I have put 1,000's of hours of work into (mostly mechanical), and I really like it. I reserve the word "love" for animate things, generally, so "like" is good. I could have had any van on the planet, within reason, and I chose this one. A Vanagon. That I like. And it belongs to me.

Anyway...

I appreciate that folks like to restore, repaint, rebuild, shine, accessorize, improve, and otherwise shower their Vanagon's with gifts. I have done this many times with other vehicles, myself. The cockpit area of the van has received this sort of attention.

So, I have spent a chunk of change on this vehicle. It has a Subaru swap (done by me), and the only driveline, suspension, or cooling system parts that have not been replaced at this point are the rear bearings and the transaxle - literally, but the bearings are next. I did every bit of it myself, because I know how. Been doing it for decades. Maybe not on Vanagon's, and so sometimes I have Vanagon-specific questions.

As for the space issue. It is a GL with the middle seats tossed and replaced with a wall-to-wall rubber mat. So, it has no cabinets, cubbies, shelves, etc. Just the hole under the back seat, and the glovebox. I may make some, someday, but for now, storage space is limited. It is spartan. And the underseat cubby is full already.

So, I need a ladder to get to the roof basket...

I could go the online catalog route for my solution, but you know how it is: First it's a ladder, then it's a tire carrier, then a bumper, then I have to coordinate this bumper with that ladder, and I have to save up my GoBucks so I don't have to devote an entire paycheck for that one purchase, etc. Then when I do ($2300 later), I'm thinking I could have bought a couple steel bars and bolted them to the side of my van and been done with it.

So, I have this vision for the Vanagon as a dirty, dusty, work-truck-like vehicle for hauling Boy Scouts, camping trips, grocery, firewood, lumber, and dirt hauling (whatever you would use a beat-up pickup truck for). Slop it up and hose it out. But still camp in it and have a cool fold-out bed.

Is that evil? Am I being irresponsible to future generations? Think of the kids! How will they ever make-do without shiny Vanagon's in the future?!

My description of my Vanagon as a "beater" was pointing not only to its condition, but its purpose. It's not a commentary on Vanagon's in general. I think they are pretty cool. That's why I bought one. It may not look pretty, but it will do what "me" wants it to.

Sorry I had to explain all that. Maybe I should have started off that way and dispensed with all of the other mess.

Cheers,

Karl

[zak99B5]

The funny thing is, ladders you can buy to put on an RV can be had all day for $100 or less. Just look at Amazon.

Tree-fiddy for the Gary Lee rear ladder. Not saying it isn't nice...

Two-fiddy for the RMW side ladder. Which is what I would get if $$ were no object.

I understand economy of scale and all, but the premium attached to Vanagon items can be hard to swallow.
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1991 Tintop GL Manual tranny, EJ22

[j_dirge]

A couple of flip down mast-steps, as used on taller-rigged sailboats.

They are usually installed with simple rivets to an extruded aluminum mast.. PLENTY strong.

But an added backing plate within the creases of the Vanagon sheetmetal panel would work fine, too.

For me?
I just use my Burley swing away to get to the racks on top.. I can dance all day on that thing...cuz.. ya know.. its pretty burly...
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-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[raoul mitgong]

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84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[Gruppe B]

Weld some indentations into the body where you can place your feet, nothing sticking out to get caught on trees or pedestrians