How tall of a ladder should I get

[Brian S]

Looking to get one of those Little Giant ladders that can be step ladders or extension ladders. Question is how tall of an extension ladder do I need? Is it OK to lean it against the side of the unit or does it need to extend up above the roof? Does it hurt the side? The rain getters? I don't need it to get on the roof, just to see it and blow to blow the slide tops before retracting.

[dhuhn]

I just bought this ladder from harbor Freight for 1/2 price of a little Giant works great for Rv and is just as good of quality as little Giant
https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons.../179567-63419/

[Daryles]

We have a 16' Telescoping ladder. I've also seen fold up step ladders at Camping World

https://www.campingworld.com/teleste...der-85201.html

[mlh]

99 dollars versus $260, now let me think.
Lynwood

[Foldbak]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...NJGHWYK4O&th=1

[jimcol]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...NJGHWYK4O&th=1

This is the style ladder, not the same brand that I use. Love the retracted size in the storage area. Use it just for what the OP posted, checking the tops of the slides before retracting, and other various task. If I'm leaning the top of the ladder against the side of the 5'er I have a piece of pool noodle I put on the top rung. If I extend it past the roof line I use two pool noodle pieces putting one on each rail where they rest on the roof. Brings the ladder out far enough where it doesn't crush the gutter.

[Foldbak]

A pool noodle is a great idea!

[dadnjesse]

I believe the latter should extend the roof at least one rung. That gives you a place to hold on while climbing down.

[scattershot]

Be aware that the Little Giant is pretty heavy, you may need to reinforce wherever you stow it. We have slideout canopies, and don’t have to clean the slideout tops before retracting. You might look into those.

[Ttman]

Originally Posted by dhuhn

I just bought this ladder from harbor Freight for 1/2 price of a little Giant works great for Rv and is just as good of quality as little Giant
https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons.../179567-63419/

Thats the same ladder I have. It works great, and is at a decent price. I still need to fabricate an underbelly carrier/holder for it using utility channel, but the rain and cold has delayed my build for now.

[pitman44]

Originally Posted by scattershot

Be aware that the Little Giant is pretty heavy, you may need to reinforce wherever you stow it. We have slideout canopies, and don’t have to clean the slideout tops before retracting. You might look into those.

I think the weight for a comparable length and weight rating isn't as great as you think. The Little Giant M22 ladder extends to 19' with a 1A 300# weight rating weighs 38#. A 15' (4' shorter than the LG) 1A 300# telescoping ladder at Amazon was 33.9#.

When I was looking for a ladder I thought a telescoping ladder was what I wanted. Most people like them, but I look to the 1 and 2 star reviews to see what people don't like about anything. Many of those reviews were for broken ladders. Some with falls. Maybe only 2-3% chance of that. Still more than I wanted. The Little Giant is more cumbersome. but I never felt uncomfortable on it even using it to get on the top of our 5er. YMMV

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by dhuhn

I just bought this ladder from harbor Freight for 1/2 price of a little Giant works great for Rv and is just as good of quality as little Giant
https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons.../179567-63419/

Thanks for the HF coupon dhuhn! Picked one of these up Monday. I was going to build a storage rack to hang from the overhead of the storage bay, but may hold off and look at building some sort of bracketry beneath the underbelly instead. Still comptemplating.

[DaveK]

I have an 11 foot aluminum extension ladder. Hangs in my storage area. I lean the ladder next to my rear RV ladder and step over to the RV ladder at the top. Works great, weighs <10 pounds. Perfect for checking slides. Extremely easy to extend.

[whutfles]

Your ladder should extend at least 2 rungs or 2 to 2 1/2 feet above the roof so that you will have an anchor for your hands to ballance your climb while transitioning from the ladder to the roof and back. The total length of your ladder should be measured at the spot where you will be positioning it to access your roof. We have an attached ladder on the rear of our 5th wheel which I do not use do to my weight and the verticle angle of the attached ladder is too steep for repeated access. Placing my portable ladder next to this attached ladder and tieing the 2 ladders together (at the top) gives great stability to my portable ladder.

My 5th wheel is taller in the front than in the rear so the point beside the attached ladder is the lowest to the ground as-well-as is horizontally level. I purchased one of the Louisville Ladders from Walmart. Folded, it fits across the width of my RV gartage. This is a very stable ladder which I have used a lot over 10 years to wash my RV.

Do not skimp on adhering to the weight ratings and allowing for sufficient length to feel comfortable using. It just takes one fall to never use it again.

[bigred715]

I just lean my folding ladder against the 5th wheel ladder and use that to climb up. I feel safer using my folding ladder opposed to the stock trailer ladder. A little angle instead of straight up on the trailer ladder.