My poor little ladder . . .

[Expidia]

So since I do so much trailering, I keep this little 3 foot wooden folding step ladder in my vehicle to make it easier to jump in and out of the boat.

Does anyone else forget to do stuff as much as I do? I've only been boating for like 40 years!

I just backed over it again last friday Bent it's brackets all up again. I think I've had this poor little ladder on my basement workbench 4 times already. Last year I broke one of it's legs running over it and had to re-build it a new one.

Twice last year, I came back from 6 hours or so on the water only to see this nice little ladder just sitting there all by itself at the marina and I said "hey, someone left that nice little ladder there'. Both times it was mine . At least this says something for the honor of other boaters not stealing my ladder.

If I put it on the side of the boat, so I don't run over it . . . I tend to drive off with out it. If I have it behind the boat I tend to run over it backing down to the ramp.

I do a walk around and then forget something and use the ladder to jump back in climb out and whacko I just ran over that ladder yet again .

I guess I tend to be in a rush as a courtesy to others to be quick at the launch area. But then forget to do stuff. That's why I at least I know better than to ever take the plug out!

 

[Splat]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

Sounds like you need to do what I did. I built two steps coming off the tongue of my trailer slightly off to the side of the winch tower. Works like a charm, and I never have to worry about picking them up before driving away.

Bill

 

[Expidia]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

Sounds like you need to do what I did. I built two steps coming off the tongue of my trailer slightly off to the side of the winch tower. Works like a charm, and I never have to worry about picking them up before driving away.

Bill

Ya, I thought of that but it's a lot easier to get in by the "back" of the boat.
I use the ladder on the side to put the back vent cover pole in too.

 

[Splat]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

Fair enough. I have to confess, I stole this guys idea and built my own. I made a hybrid of the second up from the bottom on this page, mainly because it was easy to do. Just some 2" square tube and about a hour of fartin around, ok 3 hours later, a 6 pack of beer and one painful sliver later it was done.

http://www.ezeestep.com/reviews.htm

He cantilevers his steps out to the side, perhaps you could adapt something like that. Just thought it may be something to get the gears grinding a little bit.

Bill

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

My EZ Loader had 2x6 U-channel bolted to the frame in front of and behind the fender. This was primarily there to attach the fender to, but also made for a great step-up to load or unload the boat.

 

[Expidia]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

Fair enough. I have to confess, I stole this guys idea and built my own. I made a hybrid of the second up from the bottom on this page, mainly because it was easy to do. Just some 2" square tube and about a hour of fartin around, ok 3 hours later, a 6 pack of beer and one painful sliver later it was done.

http://www.ezeestep.com/reviews.htm

He cantilevers his steps out to the side, perhaps you could adapt something like that. Just thought it may be something to get the gears grinding a little bit.

Bill

Wow, I'd love a set of those steps. I feel as old as the guy in the middle pic looks hahahahaha!

My fear would be they would be swiped off the trailer with my luck. I can imagine how expensive they are. I might do a little design on my own now that you've got me creatively thinking.

I've seen one of those little add on steps in the catalogs but they wanted like $65 . . crazy!

I just went back to his site and noticed he makes detachable steps too! That would solve the swiping issue (if I remembered to take them off each time). I suppose I could have them spot welded on too as I did with some other trailer items.

I emailed him for an estimate for the steps.

 

[Expidia]

Re: My poor little ladder . . .

My EZ Loader had 2x6 U-channel bolted to the frame in front of and behind the fender. This was primarily there to attach the fender to, but also made for a great step-up to load or unload the boat.

Ya, for awhile, I purposely moved the boat forward a few inches on the bunks to give me a little step on the back, but because of the rivets, it eats through the carpet so I had to move the boat back again even with the bunk ends.

It was OK getting in, but still quite a balancing act getting back down of the boat. It's just a matter of time before I fall off flat on my face

Maybe I'll just invest in a indestructible titanium ladder and keep it on a tether to the frame, so I don't forget it

I do like those 2 or 3 steps up to the bow. What a great invention.