MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Stan Bryant on March 27, 2012, 08:57:17 AM
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Hi all,
our camper came with a nice shiny ladder for access to the bed,,
problem is its steep and with a bit of arthritis,, sometimes difficult to climb.
looking for hints & tips on an alternative that will still fold down nice and compact.
all help appreciated.
Cheers Stan
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Hi Stan, drove past your place a couple of times last night again. Be coming past again tomorrow, get the kettle on.
Do the steps you have lean against the trailer? Could you look for a less steep set that you could place beside the bed, such that you walk up beside the camper rather than up onto it? Climbing S-N instead of W-E?
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Hi
Our CT had no ladder when we bought it so after lugging a full size 3 step ladder around I found a slim 3 step, one sided, opening ladder at the green shed that is about 50mm thick when folded and is fairly strong (to hold my slight 120kg frame.) Wasn't keen on the one sided ladders that hook onto the side as I also needed a step ladder to attach the annex at the highest point. This way it has 2 uses and takes up the same amount of space. Looked on their site and is not listed but did buy it only a couple of months ago. As Big Jules said though it stands beside the bed, not onto it. Have to twist a bit to get off the bed platform. Getting onto it is not so much of a problem.
If you need any more info PM me and I'll have a look at it. Be quick though as I'm going camping all next week.
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We use something like this, placed sideways at the foot of the bed. SHMBO puts it there as she dont like me climbing over her ;D
Also used when fitting spreader bars to tent.
Folds down flat and left on top of bed when travelling.
:cheers:
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x2 MACE, handy for set up with a vertically challenged wife
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x2 MACE, handy for set up with a vertically challenged wife
Yerp, that's what I was suggesting. A picture tells 1000 words...
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Thanks all,
the steps is undoubtably the way to go..
I was thinking all sorts of ideas,, forgot the kiss method.
To big Jules..
drop in any time.. kettle is on.
0428317356
cheers Stan
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My dodgy knees aren't keen on steps generally, and ladders are right out. We have a nice solid step like this:
(http://www.outbackcampers.com.au/images/photos/wimmera-camper/gallery-interior1.jpg)
Ours is actually most of the width of the tent and deeper so it is easy to stand on and functions as a seat and a bench as well. It has a bit of steel tubing at each end which slots into tubing on the trailer, and there are zips in the tent at the appropriate spot (although I have also seen it with just holes cut in the canvas). So it goes in easy and is solid as. It travels on the bed.
This step is just a little far off the ground for me, so I also have one of those small foldable single steps to get up onto this. Getting from the big step to bed is quite easy, as it involves a leaning motion rather than stepping. Getting off the bed is exactly like getting out of the fourby - aim feet at appropriate point and slide off.
Depending on your flexibility this might not suit, but I found the standard folding steps were a bit unstable when I have tried them, and I was pretty sure I was going to go for a tumble at some stage.
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I really like the idea of that one big step redcheroke! I think Johnnos trailers have something like this in their campers.
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We also got ours from green shed 3 step has handle on top similar to photos posted and put it side on. I am not very tall either and it is easy for me to climb up plus if need to can hang towel on back of it to dry. Ours is a size where we can get it into the ladder bag that came with camper ladder so it is not digging into anything.
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You could always visit a boat accessories shop and see what's available there ladder wise.
Kit_e
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We travel with the bed North South at setup we turn the bed East West . The mattress is supported on a 600MM bench top that clips on to the combing rail of the CT & sit on the step labber . Neither of us have to climb over each other to answer the Wee hour call ;D ;D
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We use a step ladder to help set up the camper. I noticed on our $50 Bunnings ladder, the feet were quite sharp. We use a foam mat under it to protect the floor - just something to keep in mind.
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My camper came with a ladder but we don't use it at the moment, we use a clothes box i built out of marine ply. it has a drawer down the bottom and the lid lifts up. It is just high enough to fit in the camper and I have a smaller box that we use for our cookware that we use as a first step.
cheers
Pete
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The Tambo Cooper has a solid step that when not used stores under the mattress. When camped it slides into two box sections of steel at either end of the base of the guard, the tent has two corresponding holes which allow it to slide in. I much rather this than a ladder that could fall over especially with the kids
The Omeo is a different story, a great walk up one end ;D
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any chance of a pic ggpatrol?
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any chance of a pic ggpatrol?
I will see if I have one, if not next time I get the trailer out, maybe another tambo owner has something
GG
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We never used the ladder provided in the Trackabout, replaced it with a "3 step" ladder that was more useful in setting up the awning & took up less space.
Even with the new CT, we have kept the step ladder.
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Hi,
The boss had no hope of using a ladder so I made this up. Takes up a bit of room & a gunna do is to make the legs removable or folding.
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4335.0;attach=14993;image (http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=4335.0;attach=14993;image)
If the link doesn't work (Read I stuffed it up) Look in the My camper trailer build Topic "Another build"
Ray
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well made ray :cheers:
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I brought a standard stepladder, I then cut it down to the length I wanted with a 25mm box section riveted to the top to lock it in place.
I have found it very handy as a short stepladder around the camp as well.
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc145/jclures/Camp%20Trailer/newladder01.jpg)
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The Tambo Cooper has a solid step that when not used stores under the mattress. When camped it slides into two box sections of steel at either end of the base of the guard, the tent has two corresponding holes which allow it to slide in.
In regards to the two holes in the tent for the step to side through, do you get many ants or creepy crawlies getting inside your tent through these holes? or are the holes a neat fit around the step shafts?
Gary
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In regards to the two holes in the tent for the step to side through, do you get many ants or creepy crawlies getting inside your tent through these holes? or are the holes a neat fit around the step shafts?
Gary
It is a neat hole around the steel and we have never had anything that has worried me come through the small gap around it.
GG
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I took some photos of the step in the Tambo last weekend, the step slots into some RHS which forms up braces at each end of the guards to the wheel
GG
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The rickety 3 step ladder that came with our used camper isn't going to cut it. Both my parents have bad backs and dad has bad knees. I'm tossing around the idea of folding stage stairs, it will take up a bit more room but I think it would be a lot easier for them.
Something like these http://www.ezi-flor.com.au/products/staging-systems/stage-steps/ (http://www.ezi-flor.com.au/products/staging-systems/stage-steps/) these seems to be in the $500+ price bracket though so probably leaning towards home made.
I like Raym's version above, but I'd prefer it to fold down a little more. I suppose I'll chuck it on the list of things I'm going to have to think about, my head might explode soon, who'd of thought a CT would be so interesting to mod?
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I forget which one, but at rosehill this year one of the CTs had a step that went over the tyre/wheel, much like the ones sold for use with 4WDs to access the roof rack.
There was a velcro'd flap to cover the gap in the canvas.
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We use something like this, placed sideways at the foot of the bed. SHMBO puts it there as she dont like me climbing over her ;D
Also used when fitting spreader bars to tent.
Folds down flat and left on top of bed when travelling.
:cheers:
x2 for the flat folding step ladder. :cup:
With nice wide steps that don't hurt the arches of your feet when you climb them, and for putting in spreaders, the bees knees. This one is $29 from Bunnings, folds flat to about 30mm. Fits easily in our tub on its side
(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/39175-1/Step+Ladder.jpg)