Rear hatch ladder search

Post pics of your hatch ladders, mention the brand and what are your pros and cons?

 

What are you putting on the roof if I may ask?

 

Ive got a Prinsu rack and had the Gobi ladder (see avatar pic) but didn't like the ladder so sold it. Looking for other choices in ladders now.

 

I don’t have a ladder so no personal experience. I was going to ask why you wouldn’t go for a Prinsu ladder, as you’ve got their rack. But seeing pictures of it, it looks a little chunky. How about the C4 ladder? It looks like it goes well with your rack.

 

Yup Ive looked at the C4, still curious about what else is out there.

 

I had the Bajarack ladder. It seemed to be of decent fit and quality, but I decided I didn't need it. I ended up selling it to @dcwn.45 . Hopefully it serves him well! Either way, it was good meeting and b*********** with him.

 

Bajarack ladder. I like it no issues. I don't climb on the ladder supporting my body weight but use it more as a handle hold while stepping on bumper putting stuff on roof rack.

It's also kind of the handle for the rear door opening and closing it. Left hand catches the ladder nicely for door control on swing.

 

C4 ladder for me.

 

This is nuts. I was going to post a question on this, but decided to search just in case......

I specifically want to get a Gobi ladder as I plan on switching my Prinsu later for a Gobi rack. Did you have any fit issues? What spurred the change? Thanks!

 

It fit okay, probably better than the C4 ladder I got to replace it. I did feel however that it wasn't substantial enough, flexed under my weight (205lbs) and looked a bit minimal.

 

LOL...... if it flexed on your weight, it will cry sweet baby Jesus when I step on it (I'm WAY Over 205........)

Guess it will be the escape side for my wife and ill exit the side

 

My gobi rack came with the ladder. I've used it a few times and works ok (im about 200#s and felt fine). I think the biggest issue with any ladder is that they sit so close to the hatch you better have strong toes to climb. I usually don't go all the way up but it provides a great handhold to pull yourself up onto the bumper and grab the rack from the back for ratchet straps, etc.

I've heard shit about gobi ladders (and others) with round rungs being slippery and not as great as flat bar steps. I could see that but if I had wet or muddy boots I probably wouldn't be trying to climb the ladder anyway

 

Thanks guys! I went with the bajarack. Love the look. I may be a bit large for it's functionality but I can always make the 'ol lady climb it lol.

 

I'd love some sort of outside handle to aide in stepping up onto the bumper. I'm going to improvise something to clip onto the rack or the crossbar - something that could attach/detach quickly at the time of use. Unfortunately, it won't be as cool as a ladder or able to (safely) carry a Rotopax full of gasoline.

 

What about something like this as a low tech easy grab handle attaching/detaching as needed?

Unrelated to handle but I also have on order a smittybuilt receiver hitch step kind of same purpose. Hoping the extra step will be a little easier than using bumper as primary.

 

Yeah, that's pretty similar to what I had in mind.

 

Can't grab a pic right now but I've got the Westcott Designs hatch ladder and LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! it matches my Shepra Crestone full rack PERFECTLY and the build quality is off the charts good for both imho.

Personally, I'd NEVER buy a Gobi styled rack or ladder (round) because of the safety concerns trying to walk/step on a tiny, rounded piece of metal, even when my shoes/boots are dry.

The 2" flat steps on the WD ladder (and C4s I believe) are ideal for SAFE climbing (I've even gone up barefoot,,, try THAT on your round bars!!!)

As much as I pimp Shepra & WD you would think they'd send me a discoount code...

 

I've never seen one in person but the Wescott Designs ladder seems to be pretty robust. They even drive on top of one to show how strong it is.

 

Thanks Stitches......that's the one. He didn't drive up but still, I don't think you could do that with most ladders out there.

 

I'd prefer a ladder that fails before whatever it's attached to.

 

I respect that opinion and agree for the most part.

I did use my gobi today though, in sandals, even when they were muddy without issue. Only used the first two rungs when dry and just the bottom run when muddy. It was great for a grab handle to pull myself up and down to load, strap down, and unload a queen size matress and two box springs. I probably looked like jed clampet driving to the dump

 

My C4 ladder:







Pros: Getting into my RTT or closing it makes it a lot easier.

Cons: expensive and first original batches weren't all that great with fit and finish but C4 customer service came through and replaced my top plate due to concerns from me and several original testers.

 

install advice for WD ladder....

Make absolutely, positively, 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000% sure you align the top plate all the way into the groove CAREFULLY and without touching the double sided tape to the airfoil....

Once that tape touches it's absolutely, positively, 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000% NOT MOVING from that spot... I don't know what alien reversed technology they used to make that tape but I'd liken its sticking holding power to that of the Middle Ages when they put Excalibur into the stone and only Arhtur could pull it out... LOl!

I didn't realize mine was slightly misaligned when it locked down and now I have the top right corner scratching into the metal frame and it's rusting...

Not a WD issue,, it was a user install (read ME) issue...

Looking back I should have used a grinder to smooth over that corner and avoid the damage it's done but eventually I'll clean it all up, sand it down, prime it and paint over it...

 

Question for you guys climbing on ladders. The strength of ladder is not my concern but weight impact on the rear door. I haven't looked at how each brand attaches but assuming same concept as mine attaching to top and bottom of the door.

Messing up the door has always been why I am cautious not putting my body weight on it.

 

I cannot speak highly enough of WD products and quality!!! I have their ladder, low profile roof rack, and sliders. If you want a quality ladder and a decent place to put your foot on and won't slip this is the one. Jeff and his team are amazing!!

 

I'm about 200 lbs but don't make a habit of climbing it all the time. Seems like there a fair amount of people with them and I have only seen one thread about a hatch that didn't have appropriate gaps because of what looked like a bent hinge. I think the consensus is they may have been trying to slam it on a dog kennel. I have yet to see a thread that pointed to a messed up hatch due to people climbing the ladders.

I've seen this brought up before too. Someone made a good comment - the hatches are designed not to fly off during a crash so my guess is they can hold someone on a ladder

 

Any idea who has highest weight rating? I think Bajarack is 200 lbs.

 

Gobi website says 250 lbs

 

Exactly, I'm a large framed, heavy, but kinda spry guy and would worry about the hatch hinges deforming way before the ladder itself. They're not manufactured to support my kind of weight (270 lbs or so). This isn't an issue with the ladder manufacturers, just not liking the concept in general unless they can make them attach to more anchored locations.