Best RV Folding Ladders for 2024: Maintain That Roof!
Are you on the search for the best RV folding ladders so you can reach that RV roof? Look no further. We’re sharing our top picks based on our personal experience. We also include a few other multi-purpose ladder options based on discussions with RV neighbors and research. We hope that by the end of this article, you have found the right ladder for your travels.
RV Maintenance and Ladders Go Hand in Hand
It didn’t take long after we embarked on our full-time RV adventure for Todd to realize he needed a ladder for a few crucial RV maintenance tasks. But which ladder was the big question?
Only With a Ladder Can You Maintain the RV Roof
Reach the Roof of Your RV
It’s incredibly important to keep an eye on the roof of your rig. You have to make sure the seals are solid. Climbing on top of your RV is the only way to properly wash the roof, remove debris, check solar panels, and prevent deterioration. RV roof maintenance can help keep some major problems from happening down the road. Can you say L-E-A-K?
Clear Off the Sliders
Trees at the campsites often dumped a lot of leaves, pine needles, and other things on our parked trailer. So we also used our ladder to clean off the slides before pulling them in on travel days.
You do not want to leave that debris on your slide outs. Keeping the slides clean and well-serviced is another important part of quality RV maintenance. Taking great care of all parts of your RV will increase the life of your rig while helping you avoid high repair costs.
The Ultimate Guide to RV Folding Ladders
Not all RVs come with a built-in ladder attached at the back that enables you to access the roof. I’ll admit we were a tad bit jealous a time or two watching owners of large class As step quickly up their motorhome ladder, climb on their roof, and take care of what needed to be done. If we were to try and walk on the roof of our travel trailer, well, I can only imagine the damage that might cause because it did not have a walkable roof.
But just because the roof was not walkable didn’t mean we could get away with not inspecting it and cleaning it regularly. We just had to get a little more creative with our approach.
So the search for a ladder began. But not just any ladder! There were a few things we had to consider.
The Ladder Should Be Lightweight
There were two reasons we needed the ladder we were going to purchase to be lightweight.
First, we were always trying to keep our cargo weight as low as possible. And the more you RV, the more stuff you accumulate. (Such is life…even on the road.) A ladder was an RVing essential for us, but it had to be as light as possible.
Second, the ladder needed to be easy to move around our travel trailer so we could reach all parts of the roof. The one we ended up purchasing could easily be moved by our teenage son.
Folding, Collapsible, and Small
Not only is weight an issue for RV travel, but so is space. In fact, space is a more pressing issue on a daily basis. We had one pass-through storage compartment on our travel trailer. I also purchased a great truck bed cover that created a secure space in the bed of truck so that we use that space for storage. That was it.
Since we were traveling full-time with four (sometimes five) full-sized people, you can only imagine how much stuff we had in that 26-foot travel trailer. So I needed a compact ladder that could fit in either the pass-through or the bed of the truck.
Tall Enough to Reach the RV Roof
This is kind of a given, but we wanted to point it out to make sure we’re covering our bases here.
It’s important to make sure you know the height of your roof. Travel trailers tend to be shorter (10-11 ft), while motorhomes and 5th wheels have roof heights that reach up to 14 ft. Measure the actual height of your RV roof. Ensure that you’re purchasing a good option that allows you to safely and comfortably reach places you need to clean or maintain on your specific rig.
Durability
Was it possible to find a heavy duty ladder that was also lightweight, collapsible, and durable? We wondered if that even existed. We’re happy to report that it does.
Being money conscious, I was also focused on ensuring we purchased a high-quality ladder that would last a long time. Because, keep in mind that you may also want it for home use. It’s great to have a reliable ladder to change light bulbs, install a smoke detector, and other home improvement projects.
We spent quite a bit of time to take a good, hard look at customer reviews related to durability and quality construction before making a purchase decision.
Types of Portable Ladders for RVs
Although we called this buying guide the best “RV folding ladders”, there are two different kinds of ladders to consider for your RV: RV folding ladders and telescoping ladders.
Folding and Telescoping Ladders
They both fall under the collapsible ladder category, but they are a bit different.
- Folding Ladders. These are just as it sounds. A folding ladder folds flat so it’s easier to carry and store.
- Telescoping Ladders. These ladders slide in to close and store and slide out for height extension.
The type of portable ladder you need will depend on your rig size, storage, and personal preference.
Thoughts on a Standard Aluminum Ladder
We have seen many RVs with a standard 8-ft or 10-ft aluminum ladder strapped to the back of their rig. That is an option, but it’s not one we would choose or recommend.
One reason is because that type of ladder is both cumbersome and heavy. Neither of those features is a good fit with RV travel. The other reason is because of safety concerns. I don’t like the thought of an exterior ladder coming loose and flying off the trailer while driving along Route 66.
Best RV Folding Ladders for 2024
I have one quick note to make before we dive into the details. With telescoping ladders in general, including the best ladders we cover in this review, you are dealing with features you won’t find in a standard aluminum ladder.
Even the best telescoping ladders have collapsible parts, retraction buttons, and locking mechanisms that may be more prone to fail than components in a step ladder or a simple foldable ladder. You will see some product reviews to that effect. Please consider this factor before choosing to purchase and always use it at your own risk.
Alright then, let’s cover our top picks of the best ladders for RV owners. We’ll start with our first choice, which is the ladder we used during our travels all over the United States and Canada.
TREKKN’s #1 Pick: Soctone Extension Ladder
Description: This telescopic ladder by SocTone extends to a height of 12.5 ft, and has safety locking pins, non-slip foot grips, a carrying handle, and a storage strap to ensure that the ladder is secured while on the road.
Weight: Weighs 22 pounds
Weight Capacity: Up to 330 pounds
Dimensions: 19″W x 149.6″H
Why We Love Using This Telescoping Ladder
This was the perfect ladder for our travel trailer maintenance needs. We use it almost daily during full-time RV living. It easily fit into our travel trailer pass-through and was lightweight enough not to be a huge burden. We placed it flat on the bottom in the pass-through storage so that other items could be placed on top of it, maximizing our available storage space.
The safety locking feature never failed us, plus it was easy to extend and collapse, and we simply could not have been more satisfied with the purchase.
On Amazon, it has 4+ stars on more than 1,200 reviews. You will see some negative reviews as with any product. Read them and just do your due diligence before purchasing.
Pick #2 – LUISLADDERS 12.5′ Telescoping Ladder
Description: This ladder has many of the same features as the pick above.
This ladder features:
- Spring-loaded Locking Mechanism
- Release buttons on the side of steps so fingers don’t get pinched or crushed (this was the only drawback of the ladder we had)
- Rubber non-slip feet for added grip and stability
Weight: 32 pounds
Dimensions: 35.2 in x 19.5 in x 3.5 in (fully retracted)
Pick #3 – Little Giant Ladders
Description: The Little Giant ladder is constructed of a special alloy that makes it 20 percent lighter than comparable ladders. It has so many innovative features, including the dual-pin hinge and the easy-to-use Rock Locks for quick adjustment.
For those of you with taller rigs (Class A, Fifth Wheel, etc.), this option is going to be more up your alley. With rigs that are as high as 12-13.5 feet, this ladder should give you the ability to reach past the edge of the roof.
That’s a benefit because you avoid leaning the top of the ladder against the side of your rig, which can damage the exterior. (Trust me, that can happen. Be watchful of the mobile RV repair tech who uses your ladder to work on a roof issue.)
It does not collapse down nearly as far as the telescoping ladders we have looked at so far. But, if you have a larger rig with more storage, this may not be much of an issue. You gain a great deal in overall stability and quality with this beauty, no doubt about it.
The Little Giant Velocity ladder can be used in many different configurations:
- A-frame
- Extension
- Staircase
- 90-degree ladder
- With Velocity Trestle Brackets (sold separately) to form a trestle-and-plank scaffolding system
This ladder comes in several different sizes: 13, 17, 22, and 26-foot.
The following weight and dimensions are for the 17-foot version.
Weight and Height: The 17-foot version reaches a full 15 feet, weighs 30.5 pounds and can hold up to 300 pounds.
Dimensions: 8 in x 24 in x 55 in (fully retracted)
Pick #4 – WolfWise 15.5FT Telescoping Ladder with Stabilizer
Description: This ladder from WolfWise that is one of the highest rated 15.5 feet telescoping ladders available. If you are really hoping to stay with the compact storage size of the telescoping ladders but would like that added stability factor, this option with a stabilizer bar may be perfect for you.
It’s kind of the best of both worlds, though it will obviously require a bit more storage space than other telescoping ladders because of that stabilizer bar. A small hassle for added safety.
This ladder features easy one button retraction, is crafted from high-quality aluminum alloy, lightweight and easy to carry. It expands and retracts safely, meaning no pinched fingers.
Weight: It weighs 35.3 pounds
Weight Capacity: Holds up to 330 pounds.
Dimensions: 19 in x 39 in x 2 in (fully retracted, but I don’t believe that 19 in width includes the stabilizer bar…I’m guessing it adds 8-10 inches in width)
14.5-foot folding, telescopic aluminum ladder is lightweight and collapsible to help you reach your RV roof and other projects. Holds up to 330 pounds.
Final Thoughts on the Best RV Ladders
Whether you RV full-time like we have, or plan to make multiple road trips each year, we would highly recommend getting a telescoping ladder for ease of use and its space-saving capabilities. It’s definitely one of the best purchases we made when it came to being able to perform maintenance tasks on those hard to reach areas.
RV travel can be unpredictable! Roofs leak, tires blow, and bad weather comes out of nowhere. It’s important to have a few products on hand to help with maintenance.
As you know, RVs aren’t cheap, so it’s important we take extra good care of them. With proper RV maintenance, your rig will stand the test of time. Purchasing a portable ladder for your RV is an investment you’ll be thankful you made!
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Julie specializes in helping you whip up delicious meals in your tiny RV kitchen, as well as RV organization tips and helping fellow RVers make their RV feel like home. Her favorite RVing spot is in Banff National Park in Canada where yes, the water really is that blue and the people really are that nice.
I just bought a Stromberg Carlson LA-401 Exterior RV Ladder. The ladder arrived in a good sized box in great condition and within quoted time. I am pretty handy so the fact that there were pieces to put together was not a problem. Had to cut the ladder twice in order for it to look and work correctly. Once installed it is quite solid and anyone within their suggested weight range would be more than ok. My I-Go Evergreen has a fiberglass laminated outside sidewall with storage cabinets on the inside of the trailer so I drilled the wall and but backer pieces inside the cabinets where they can’t be seen. That helped to make this such a secure install.
Hi Gary,
Glad to hear this setup worked out well for you! Sounds like you are probably handier than I am…not sure I could have pulled off this retrofit, but kudos to you!
Happy adventuring!
The OxGord is a Very sturdy ladder. Surprised at the quality. Weight is substantially more than expected, but still manageable. Steps move easily and lock in securely.
Little Giant is also very good. I love the flexibility in length and compact storage size. Lets me access the second story of our home.
Thanks for the tip, Philip! I have eyed the Little Giant for years, tempted to get it when we were living in a home we owned, but never bit the bullet.
Good to know it’s a great option RV travels as well!