Ladders - is there such thing as a narrow telescopic ladder? Anyone 'hacked' a normal one?

da_murphster · Feb 21, 2023

I need a ladder for my young kids to get to the pop top.

Also be useful to get access to the roof as I am likely to be transporting paddleboards around the place (would rather not be in/deflating daily)

I have got a 2m nestle one from Amazon and it does the job....but.....it would be better if it was narrower so smaller to store and fitted between the seats when 'erect'.

Google turning up nothing about narrow telescopic ladders - anyone found one?

My remaining option is to hack mine up and make it narrower - looks possible but a fair bit of work - anyone done it?

(I have seen the pipe versions etc on here - not the path I want to go)

I have seen the 1.4m version in the shop - I dont really want to pay 3x the price and they won't help with roof-rack access.

A narrow telescopic ladder would be perfect if I can find one!

paul_f · Feb 21, 2023

I did it https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/getting-into-top-bunk.14082/page-3#post-415817

da_murphster · Feb 21, 2023

paul_f said:
I did it https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/getting-into-top-bunk.14082/page-3#post-415817

Difficult?

Was it worth the hassle?

I assume you needed to cut little square holes etc for the locking mechanism?

Is it stable enough to still use for roof rack access etc now it’s narrow?

I don’t want to embark on a hacking mission to then wreck it!

If you shortened it then I assume it will no longer nicely rest on the rail when you try to access the roof rack? Not sure I would shorten it as well as making it narrower.

Any top tips appreciated.

da_murphster · Feb 21, 2023

paul_f said:
I did it https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/getting-into-top-bunk.14082/page-3#post-415817

I assume you did not get round to posting up the photos of your ladder diy in a different thread?

Amarillo · Feb 21, 2023

da_murphster said:
I need a ladder for my young kids to get to the pop top.

Also be useful to get access to the roof as I am likely to be transporting paddleboards around the place (would rather not be in/deflating daily)

I have got a 2m nestle one from Amazon and it does the job....but.....it would be better if it was narrower so smaller to store and fitted between the seats when 'erect'.

Google turning up nothing about narrow telescopic ladders - anyone found one?

My remaining option is to hack mine up and make it narrower - looks possible but a fair bit of work - anyone done it?

(I have seen the pipe versions etc on here - not the path I want to go)

I have seen the 1.4m version in the shop - I dont really want to pay 3x the price and they won't help with roof-rack access.

A narrow telescopic ladder would be perfect if I can find one!

My two boys were climbing into the roof bed from the ages of 2 & 3.

If yours can’t, why not tie a two step rope ladder to the headrest of an unswivelled front seat?

2 Step Rope Safety Ladder - Marine Scene

2 Step Rope Ladder. Ref15: LA- 50042 These handy, easily stored, rope ladders are designed to be used on boats for easy boarding. As the ladder secure

www.marinescene.co.uk

paul_f · Feb 22, 2023

I drilled two holes and used a file for the slots.
The indents to hold it together were made with a hammer and punch

edzt · Feb 24, 2023

Yep, I’ve narrowed a telescopic ladder. It’s an afternoons’ job. I had a Marco Polo at the time and copied a guy on the MP forums instructions

soulstyledevon · Feb 24, 2023

edzt said:
Yep, I’ve narrowed a telescopic ladder. It’s an afternoons’ job. I had a Marco Polo at the time and copied a guy on the MP forums instructions

View attachment 105284

Any tips.

edzt · Feb 24, 2023

soulstyledevon said:
Any tips.

Ok, first you don't need to shorten the ladder, just don’t extend it completely.
You have to depress the locks on one side of the ladder and knock that side off the rungs.
Measure the distance of the rectangular lock holes from the end of the rungs. Cut the rungs to the new width you want and replicate the holes the same distance from the new end. Re-fit the clips and knock the ladder side back together
I smeared gorilla glue on the black plastic sides that fit in the rungs
It was a few years ago so I might have missed a few things
These aren’t my pictures by the way, I copied them from the original MP post