rear ladder install

[Montana_1975]

Hi. I would like any information on installing a ladder on my 1999 3555rl Montana recently purchased and it did not have ladder.

[Treecounter]

Camping World.

[jerryb]

You can get the stock one from your dealer that is curved to match the rear of the trailer for a little over $100 but you will have to modify it a little as it is made for the 2005 model which is taller, or you can get an aftermarket one for a little less, neither are any good, made from light aluminum tube and pretty week. I would spend the money on one of those telescoping ladders that would stow easey and have some other uses.

[Montana_1975]

Thankyou for that. sounds like a good plan

[sreigle]

While the unattached ladder seems pretty weak, ours has held up very well through many trips to the roof and two bicycles on a ladder rack for the first 16 months of fulltiming. I can attest to the strength of the mounts on the Montana. On our prior Montana I had the bikes mounted too low and caught a bike wheel on pavement coming out of a serious dip. It bent one of the screws in the horizontal mount at the ladder and cracked a ladder tube but didn't phase the Montana or the mounts on the Montana itself. As jerryb suggested, getting the ladder designed for your unit is probably the best bet. I also have a folding stepladder but mine is not a good choice for climbing up on the roof and, worse, getting back down.

[Montana_2036]

I have asked the question to Montana Corp and they tell me if unit was not originally built with a rear ladder that rear walls do not
have sufficient re-enforced inner cross members to handle a ladder.
I have asked the question twice just to make sure this was true, got same answer. So purchasing a carry type ladder may be the only option.

[sreigle]

JimRohan, what year is your Montana? The prior Montana I mentioned was a 2001. It came from the factory with a ladder. I asked Keystone and they said no problem with bikes on the ladder and I had no problem with it taking my 190 lbs up and down the ladder. The 2003 Montana had the bikes on it as I mentioned above. George's is a 1999 so maybe they're not built to accept a ladder? That's why I wonder which year yours is. THanks.

[Montana_2036]

Sorry should have mention what unit I have. I have a 2005 315RLS TT,
Mountaineer. I wished to add a rear ladder once I purchase this unit from the dealer, but they had none in stock and thought I would just wait until next camping year to have one install, unit winterized and put up for the year. In the meantime I e-mailed Mountaineer, twice to make sure I would get the same answer and did. They told me that since the unit was not built with a rear ladder that the walls where not re-enforced to handle installing a rear ladder. Sounds as though this is a cost savings process during construction to me. So looks as though I will need to carry a ladder, not a real problem, just would have been nice to have one attached. If anyone knows anything different I would appreciate the information.

Thanks
Jim

[sreigle]

Thanks, Jim, appreciate the quick update. I'd tend to agree with you and take their word for it.