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11-25-2007, 02:17 PM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Ladder loose
My ladder has a little movement to it at the legs that attach to the back of the cap. How much is acceptable? My neighbor freaked out today when he watched it when I went up and down on it. He claims it is supposed to be absolutely rigid. I believe it has been this way from the factory, but now I am not sure. I have used it many, many times. Any help/suggestions are welcome.
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11-25-2007, 02:49 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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There is no movement on ours at all that I have noticed, but it is only subjected to a scrawny 180 pound load on the rare occasions that I venture on the roof to sweep the water off of the big slide topper. Seems there was mention on another thread about the ladder bolts actually shearing off, may be worth checking to see if they have worked a little loose???
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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11-25-2007, 03:03 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Blanc
Posts: 2,508
M.O.C. #5965
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Our ladders on all of our RVs, earlier TT, MH and another Monty, were all tight. I am over 200 and go onto the roof regularly and would not if they were loose.
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11-25-2007, 04:06 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St. Charles
Posts: 216
M.O.C. #6098
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On our 3400 the ladder deflects a good inch when you step on it. Surprised it doesn't crack the fiberglass.
Edit
Everything is tight. Just not a quality ladder. I don't think you would find any ladder at a major retailer that poorly made. I would think the liability would scare them. But since I don't read posts of people falling off with the ladder in their hand I guess there just good enough.
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11-25-2007, 04:31 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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I'll contact the dealership and/or Keystone and see what they say. In the meantime I am staying off of it...
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11-25-2007, 04:59 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
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Dave, on my 3400 ('06) it is rigid and I use it at least once a week. It may flex somewhat under use, but all attachment points are secure.....
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11-25-2007, 06:16 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leona
Posts: 6,382
M.O.C. #2059
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I agree, it should be tight at the connecting points, At least it is on the 340RLQ.
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11-25-2007, 11:31 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Tight is one thing..Movement is another. Mine is tight at the connection points but I can cause it to flex (is a better word)..
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11-26-2007, 12:01 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 10,917
M.O.C. #420
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Tight, tight, tight is the word. Flex? Yes mine flexes a bit but I am over 300#s.
All it takes to tighten is a Phillips screw driver.
BTW- On my old Monty, I did carry a bicycle on the ladder one summer. By the end of summer the ladder and bike was ready to fall off the Monty. Had I not noticed the looseness in the bolts it probably would have fallen off and probably when I had a few vehicles following me. Huge law suit time.
If anyone insists on carrying a bike or bicycles on their ladder be absolutely positive every thing is tight with NO movement whatsoever. The ladder should be TIGHT to the rig and the bikes should be TIGHT to the ladder. Any movement between the 3 will cause the ladder to loosen up and/or possibly shear the bolts.
REMEMBER-In all states the DRIVER is 100% responsible to always have a secured load. Have a ladder and a bike fall off in traffic. Now, guess who's going to be held responsible for all damages, injuries and deaths caused by that load failure? Also, this type of death, in most all states, will get you jail time. Guess who has also opened himself up for a major lawsuit.
I am fully aware that many RVers do carry their bikes and other stuff on their ladders without incident and have been doing so for years BUT these ladder assemblies were not designed as cargo racks and sooner or later the bike or other stuff and ladder will be bouncing down the hiway. You can only hope and pray no one was behind you when they came off.
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11-26-2007, 12:30 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bayswater
Posts: 317
M.O.C. #6781
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You know Glenn, your fears there of legal liability for unsecure loads got me to thinking about the same liability if we were to be involved in an accident using a TV that was over loaded to manufacturers specs. Yikes, I shudder to think... 
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11-26-2007, 12:45 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 10,917
M.O.C. #420
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You know Jim, I fully agree but than again iffn you ain't overloaded than there ain't no problem is there?
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11-26-2007, 01:11 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bayswater
Posts: 317
M.O.C. #6781
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Glenn and Lorraine
You know Jim, I fully agree but than again iffn you ain't overloaded than there ain't no problem is there?
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Right on the money Glenn. And thanks for your response to my LP question.
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11-26-2007, 01:53 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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My screws are tight, but the aluminum sleeves that the screws go through have a little gap between the assembly where it attaches to the back of the cap, and you can move the sleeve slightly.
Guess I'll have to break down and drag it to a dealership. Glenn, is Lazy Days our closest (best) Montana dealer?
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12-01-2007, 11:57 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location:
Posts: 2,156
M.O.C. #6920
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David, not sure where you're anchored in Central FL, but Suncoast RV (Montana dealer) in Winter Garden FL on Highwy 50 just outside Orlando and Tri-AM RV Center in Ocala FL just off I-75.
Ladder on my new 3400RL still has weight label indicated up to 300 lbs tolerance. Dennis
Noticed your signature indicates Loughman so you're probably just north of I-4 near US 27, so maybe the most direct would be I-4 to Tampa area LazyDaze?? Ocala is too far north and Winter Garden is almost downtown Orlando.
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12-01-2007, 12:35 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Mail2us, I believe you are right about Lazy Days...
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12-01-2007, 02:54 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Down the Road
Posts: 5,627
M.O.C. #889
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Dave,
My connection points are all solid, but the ladder will "flex" as I climb up or down. Can you cause any movement in the ladder by pushing up or pulling down on it while standing on the ground??
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12-01-2007, 03:22 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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No I can't Dave. Ladder seems very sturdy when I go up and down it. Seems solid. The supports at the bottom do not go straight into the fiberglass at a 90 degree angle, though. Not sure if that's the way they are suppose to be. I will look at Richfaa's ladder when he gets here Tues to compare.
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