TheSamba.com :: View topic - Van attached ladder people

Fri May 16, 2025 3:02 pm

I did some searching and saw a lot about ladders. I currently have a nice collapsible ladder that we keep on the rear cushion. Nonetheless, it is a bit in the way and I’ve considered a mounted ladder.

However… I’ve always had this concern that random idiots, drunks, whomever will decide to climb the ladder at some point! Has this happened to any of you?

Fri May 16, 2025 3:44 pm

Only this drunk idiot!

I thought the same thing but haven't had an issue yet. My ladder is usually freighted and if I add bicycles to it, there's no room to climb.

Fri May 16, 2025 4:30 pm

Timwhy wrote: Only this drunk idiot!

I thought the same thing but haven't had an issue yet. My ladder is usually freighted and if I add bicycles to it, there's no room to climb.

LOL

Fri May 16, 2025 5:18 pm

“I’m going to claim ignorance here” are the ladders that hang on the exterior of Vanagons and Bay Window buses for reaching the top of vehicle or is it a device for climbing (bridge) out of tricky off road situations. I’ve been too embarrassed to ask my friends that have ladders attached to their vans. I might ask them tomorrow.

I ask, because I’ve never seen a ladder used while camping. And I know many and camp with many Vans and Bay owners with ladders attached. Mostly Vanagons have the exterior ladders. :oops: :oops: one of my buddies uses a telescope style ladder to get to his tin top roof rack with gear.

I have a telescoping ladder for Xatie that fits under the bench seat in the 85 van so Xatie can climb up to the top bunk easily in the weekender Vanagon. The 76 Bay has the kitchenette so it’s easy to stand on the stovetop to access top bunk.

Just curious.

I have this. It’s really nice.

https://gowesty.com/products/telescopic-ladder?srs...6654888101

Fri May 16, 2025 5:27 pm

Icebox500 wrote: Timwhy wrote: Only this drunk idiot!

I thought the same thing but haven't had an issue yet. My ladder is usually freighted and if I add bicycles to it, there's no room to climb.

LOL

Rake, Shovel, gardener business??? Is the lawn mower stashed inside?

Fri May 16, 2025 5:32 pm

Xevin wrote: “I’m going to claim ignorance here” are the ladders that hang on the exterior of Vanagons and Bay Window buses for reaching the top of vehicle or is it a device for climbing (bridge) out of tricky off road situations. I’ve been too embarrassed to ask my friends that have ladders attached to their vans. I might ask them tomorrow.

I ask, because I’ve never seen a ladder used while camping. And I know many and camp with many Vans and Bay owners with ladders attached. Mostly Vanagons have the exterior ladders. :oops: :oops: one of my buddies uses a telescope style ladder to get to his tin top roof rack with gear.

I have a telescoping ladder for Xatie that fits under the bench seat in the 85 van so Xatie can climb up to the top bunk easily in the weekender Vanagon. The 76 Bay has the kitchenette so it’s easy to stand on the stovetop to access top bunk.

Just curious.

I have this. It’s really nice.

https://gowesty.com/products/telescopic-ladder?srs...6654888101

Its a fair questions. There's "cool" ladders and used ladders. My roof carries things we frequently access when camping. I do like my nice extendable ladder. I'm unlikely to switch but its tempting to have just one less thing to manage in the van.

Fri May 16, 2025 6:02 pm

zerotofifty wrote:

Rake, Shovel, gardener business??? Is the lawn mower stashed inside?

Have brought the weed wacker with us. We tend to camp on Public Lands most frequently and campers don't always leave the sites better than they found them.

Fri May 16, 2025 6:47 pm

You can use the ladder to search for the Jerry’s you can’t find in those silly red cans people put on them

Fri May 16, 2025 7:32 pm

I put together a diy ladder using 3/4" sch80 PVC pipe with 1/2" EMT conduit inserted into the PVC. Load up the PVC with epoxy and then push in the EMT (which is a slip fit).
This creates a super strong pipe that doesn't need paint and I like the look. I'm 210lbs and it's plenty strong for me.
The pipe foam rests on the van when the ladder is in use to prevent scratches. Two threaded knobs keep it in place.
The ladder is a necessity for retrieving gear from the roof rack. Two threaded knobs keep it in place.

Fri May 16, 2025 8:03 pm

Fwiw I use my "Kitchen" box to access the cargo box
I like to Dual-purpose every thing on board

Fri May 16, 2025 9:12 pm

Abscate wrote: You can use the ladder to search for the Jerry’s you can’t find in those silly red cans people put on them

Why are they silly?

Fri May 16, 2025 11:28 pm

I find the only person climbing it is me. I have a vancafe ladder on the driver side to access my Thule storage box, works well, I can get to stuff with the roof up even, although it's a little sketchy it's pretty doable if you have your wits about you. I stow the ladder except when I'm climbing it, I wonder if that makes it less tempting to climb, an adult can't get the middle of their foot on it until you extend it out and lock it in place, it can be done if stowed but the weight goes onto your toes and it's not as easy to climb.

Sat May 17, 2025 5:40 am

Use a telescopic ladder, can reach all areas of the roof and the roof box, can use it for other ladder needs, store it under the van when at a campsite. Never understood the fixed ladders, they look cool but...

Sat May 17, 2025 8:56 am

Icebox500 wrote: I did some searching and saw a lot about ladders. I currently have a nice collapsible ladder that we keep on the rear cushion. Nonetheless, it is a bit in the way and I’ve considered a mounted ladder.

However… I’ve always had this concern that random idiots, drunks, whomever will decide to climb the ladder at some point! Has this happened to any of you?

I've never had anyone mess with mine. As for the collapsible, I store it right in front of the pop-top latch. One ends rests on the spice rack and the other on the vent channel above the sliding door. I use a good bungee cord to hold it to the pop top latch.

Sun May 18, 2025 5:11 pm

No one has ever climbed on my ladders , since I made them and installed on both sides to get crap on the roof whenever i need to .

Since 1997 .

Mon May 19, 2025 5:01 am

We keep a 6.5' telescopic ladder in the closet inside the closet in our Westy. My wife uses it to access the top bunk. It could certainly also be used outside to access the top but since we do not carry anything on the top it's never been used for that purpose.

Mon May 19, 2025 6:24 am

Plus 1 on the GoWesty Ladder. Once getting it, we kind of said nah to installing or making a fixed ladder. With a free moving ladder, we can put it to any side we need at the time. Far more useful than a ladder at a fixed point on the Vanagon for us. Main uses are Kayak access on the roof, and Sheets of Plywood or other things that wouldn't fit inside the Vanagon.

Mon May 19, 2025 9:02 am

Our rear ladder holds a 5lb propane tank and possibly one more later on. Our side ladder is to access a cargo

rack on top.

Mon May 19, 2025 4:43 pm

old vanagon wrote: No one has ever climbed on my ladders , since I made them and installed on both sides to get crap on the roof whenever i need to .

Since 1997 .

en suite laundry, perfect for those extended campouts!