What do you use your Aluminess ladder for?

[Ben10281]

Just curious what everyone uses their ladders for. Do you use it to access a roof box, hang a grill/stove on it, just for looks, access to stand/sit on your roof?

I currently have a ladder on the back of my SMB and never use it. We have a decent amount of storage inside so we don't typically have a roof box on top even though I do have roof racks.

Just curious to see what everyone's uses for their ladders are.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rallypanam]

Access to clean solar panels, get MaxTrax if needed, and eventually, once I get around to it, my stove mount.

I would not consider it an essential accessory.

[Jeffrey]

Uh, I guess I use it for it's intended purpose, to get on the roof. Well I have used it to dry out a wet pair of socks......

[Ben10281]

Yea, I can see how it might seem like a weird question but I guess I was trying to gauge its usefulness. $400 seems like a lot for a drying rack. Do you use it every time you camp, do you use it once a year, somewhere in the middle of that? To Rally's point how essential is it? Also, just curious to hear about unique uses for it that I may have not thought of.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1der]

Definitely used for accessing the roof rack (skis, basket, Treds, tables, etc) and checking/clearing the solar panels. I know some, and I would like to do the same, have created BBQ mounts, or table mounts that go over the rungs. It does also, become a handy area for hanging/attaching things.

If you are doing/storing anything on the roof, a ladder (or two) is a necessity in my book. If nothing up there, then not much else would justify the investment. I personally think the roof is an awesome storage space helping to keep non-interior living items out of the prime real estate of the cabin.

[LenS]

Use ours to get at the solar panels so I can clean them. Try to do it daily.
Yes have used it to dry socks, towels, etc on. Also have hung a Sun Shower on it for kids to clean up at rather then always coming inside.

Did not pay $400 for it. Make my own out of 3/4" electrical conduit for less than $75 I think

[mikracer]

I have a question for those that have the passenger side ladder. If you have to parallel park in the street (something I do every day), have you ever found someone climbing it or messing with it? For that reason alone, I've been thinking about getting a drivers side ladder instead of passenger side.

[rallypanam]

Originally Posted by mikracer

If you have to parallel park in the street (something I do every day), have you ever found someone climbing it or messing with it?

Nope......

[arctictraveller]

I didn't think I'd use one very much, but RPA had a used one so I bought it. Since then, I've used it more than I thought I would. Aside from regular cleaning of my solar panels I used it a lot when fabricating my new solar panel rack, and to access the roof to watch races from up top. Additionally, I have a large shade tarp I tie to the rack, and use the ladder to access the tiedown points. Finally, I once wedged a tree branch into my old rack and used the ladder to access and remove it. I'd say it's been a very useful accessory. I've also got plans for an exo-skeleton of sorts and will use the ladder to tie in the tubing running to the rear of the van.

[daveb]

Got em on both sides. I've had both kids and adults jump and climb on them w/o asking (or even knowing) me. Had a lexan plate locked to the bottom section for a while to keep people off.
They catch limbs every now & then but they're tough. Sometimes rock outcroppings come close but I haven't had to remove them to get through a narrow section of trail. With the Yakima storage on top it's the only way to get there. I also store my Max-trax on the side. For a while I was using a cargo bag to haul stuff on top and the driver side ladder was useful but now with the pod (and how it hinges open) I rarely use the driver side ladder anymore. As mentioned they do make a nice tie point for tarps and what not.