Old men and RV ladders

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> Ok, I'm not THAT old, but I am over 60 and climbing up the ladder
and
> getting onto the roof is a pain. I have to bend over at the top to
hold
> on as I get by feet on the platform. Then I stand up with nothing
to
> hold onto. Of course, to get down I have to do the reverse. My
knees
> sometimes give way for a moment and my balance reaction time ain't
what
> it used to be, so it feels pretty precarious standing on that
little
> platform till I get to the roof.
>
> So what I want is a retractable handrail extention at the top of
the
> ladder so I can get to the top standing up. Has anyone made
something
> like this or seen anything on the market. I have a fair idea of how
I
> would make it, but I am always open to anyones suggestions.
>
> It would also have too be wired so an alarm sounds if I leave it
up
> and try to drive off..(my memory ain't what it used to be either)
>
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>
On my new deck extension I have a bar that I can raise up and down to
gain access to the platform. You could do the same thing and in fact
I might just make something up to help you out and me at the same
time. I can see how this would be made and it would not take a
rocket scientist to make a unit that would work for you. It should be
easy to use but steady when in the up position.

I would drill another hole in the ladder or have someone weld on an
attachment so you could have that bar swing up and down and be able
to secure it when it was in the down position. You could attach a
limit switch to the bar so when it was down you could have an
indicator light.

You can get the basic Idea if you look at my picture I attached.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...C02201.jpg

Jon