Best RV Camper Ladders – 5 Telescoping Choices

Let’s talk about ladders for a bit. Don’t get too excited!

Ladders aren’t the most stimulating topic, it’s true. That said, when you need to use it to gain access to the roof of your rig, it’s going to matter a whole lot more to you.

If you are a DIY person, or simply enjoy doing some small maintenance things for yourself, you absolutely must have a secure way to access your roof. 

Of course, this always brings up questions…

Do I need a ladder for my RV?

Your roof should be inspected regularly and sealed as needed. This may be more often than you think depending on your climate, how you store your rig, etc.

In order to do this, you will need to gain access so you can perform a thorough inspection and apply sealant as needed. This is simple and easy maintenance that will prevent you from springing leaks, which can cost major damage.

Check out some of the damage we had due to a water leak. This water damage is what started this whole project for us. Needless to say, some maintenance on the front end would have save us a lot of time and money.

As you know, AC units are also installed on the roof and if you’ve ever had any issues with one, having access is paramount when you are trying to troubleshoot. More so when you are on the road. It can be the difference in a small DIY project and having to call a service tech.

Any issues with seals around air vents, roof-mounted antennas, or installation of them will require access to the roof. If you’ve got a good ladder in place, it makes your access so much easier and safer.

A good ladder for your RV will also allows you to perform other random tasks as needed while you are on the road. Cleaning the roof, removing leaves, trimming branches, etc., all had to be taken care of from time to time.

If you are curious as to how you can prevent roof leaks, check out our article on How to Prevent RV/Camper Roof Leaks.

What kind of RV ladder is best?

We recommend a telescoping ladder for several reasons.

First and foremost, telescoping RV ladders are compact and versatile enough to stow on trips so you can have it with you when you are on vacation. There is nothing worse than having the right ladder for your job, 100 miles away, in your garage.

They are also lightweight and easy to handle. Telescoping ladders are also easy to carry because of their aluminum construction, yet sturdy enough to handle even the largest guy.

They can telescope to lengths allowing access to even the tallest of rigs. Seriously…some Class A motor coaches are over 13 feet high. That’s pretty high when you are looking for a compact ladder

You want a ladder that is, at the very least, OSHA certified. You’ll be able to find this on the box or in advertising materials. ANSI ratings mean that they’ve been tested. When you see both ratings on the box, you can feel very secure with the ladder you’ve chosen. 

What is the best telescoping ladder?

When it comes to which telescoping ladder you want, there are 5 options to consider and they will all depend on what size your rig is and what weight you are comfortable handling.

There are plenty of folks who are older who can’t handle a heavy ladder to lug. There are also many women who RV and they need something more suitable for their physical ability to handle as well. 

So, the answer is up to you. Take into consideration the type of job you’re going to be doing, how heavy you are, what the height requirements are and that will lead you to the ladder that is going to work best for you.

Choose the ladder that will give you the basics that are important and then further whittle your list down by the bells and whistles that you like the most. 

Today’s extension ladders are nothing like your grandfathers and probably unlike your father’s too. They’re all made from aluminum that will never rust. They can take quite a beating and last for years.

If you leave it in the rain it won’t hurt a thing. You won’t need someone to help you carry it into place and it won’t take brute strength to raise it into place either. 

5 Best Telescoping Ladders

Here are the top 5 ladders we recommend, based on what we carry and what some of our friends and associates use.

Luisladders Aluminum Telescoping Telescopic Extension Ladder 330 Pound Capacity (12.5 Feet)

This is a great ladder that is both economical and tough. Despite it being the least expensive on our list, it’s got the highest weight capacity rating. It’s very easy to use with an effortless system for extending and releasing.

It’s also a very lightweight choice for people who are looking for something that is easy to handle for basic jobs and maintenance. 

• Compact Length: 34″
• Extended Length: 12.5′ (can be adjusted in increments)
• Weight: < 25 lbs.
• Weight Capacity: 350 lbs.
• Cost: < $90

Ohuhu 12.5 FT Aluminum Telescopic Extension Ladder 

ANSI certified with a spring-locking mechanism that makes one-hand operation possible. As you slide it up, it will lock into place at each rung as you pass it.

This means no more pinched fingers which is a huge benefit to many people. It comes with a bonus carrying strap for quick and easy storage. You’ll really enjoy using this ladder. 

This ladder has a super compact size which allows it to easily be stowed in closets or in the under-the-floor storage of your camper.

• Compact Length: 2.6′
• Extended Length: 12.5′ (can be adjusted in increments)
• Weight: 25.1 lbs.
• Weight Capacity: 330 lbs. 
• Cost: < $99

Lionladder 12.5FT EN131-6 Telescoping Ladder, One-Button Retraction

One of the neatest things about this ladder is the ease of retraction. With one touch of a button, it will automatically lower, under control. This allows you to hold tools in one hand and lower your ladder with the other hand. What could be easier?

It’s also capable of taking on a lot of weight, so if you’re carrying materials up with you, this ladder can handle it with ease. The rugged aluminum feet can rotate 160-degrees for maximum leveling and footing.

• Compact Length: 35.8″
• Extended Length: 12.5′
• Weight: 30.6 lbs.
• Weight Capacity: 330 lbs.
• Cost: < $160

WolfWise 15.5FT Aluminum Telescoping Ladder

This ladder is equipped with stabilizer bars to give you added stability with less sway when you’re up on top.

One-hand retraction that is simple and safe. You won’t pinch your fingers and it takes a mere few seconds to lower your ladder. Adjustable in increments of 1-foot. 

• Compact Length: 39.9″
• Extended length: 15.5′
• Weight: 35.3 lbs.
• Weight Capacity: 330 lbs.
• Cost: < $200

Luisladders 16.5 Feet Telescoping Ladder A-Frame

This is another by Luisladders, but it is a telescoping A-frame, which is a little different. When used as a single ladder, it can reach 5 full meters high.

When folded into an A-frame, it still reaches 2.5 meters which are incredibly stable. A-frame design allows for far more types of use while providing a lot more stability. 

• Compact Length: 36″
• Extended Length: 16.5′
• Weight: 39.96 lbs.
• Weight Capacity: 330 lbs.
• Cost: < $130

Are Telescoping Ladders Safe?

These ladders are very safe. They are made of durable materials that are tested and inspected for safety.

Our recommendations are rated for certain weight limits so be sure you take those into consideration and your ladder will be very safe. 

Look for OSHA certified and ANSI 14.2 tested ladders. These are going to be the safest ladders that you can find. They’ve met all the criteria set forth by the safety commissions that oversee workplace safety. 

Make sure that you follow guidelines for the proper use and don’t exceed the weight capacity ratings and your ladder will be very safe and highly functional.

It’s also advisable to add-in some weight to your body weight to cover any tools or materials that you may be carrying up and down the ladder. 

Do Telescoping Ladders Have to be Fully Extended?

All of the ladders we’ve recommended are designed to be used in incremental lengths with the only caveat being that you must fully extend to the next rung so that it is locked in place correctly.

Once you’ve secured your ladder and locked it into the desired height at the closest rung, then you may use it. 

The adjustability is what makes these ladders ideal. It doesn’t matter if you’re using it to clean the gutters on your house or service the air conditioner on your RV, you can easily adjust it to do the job.

Even your wife can use this ladder for reaching the tops of cupboards without any help from you. 

Another consideration in making your purchase is that your ladder should extend at least 2 feet higher than the place you are climbing to.

You should never step higher than the second rung from the top to access your work and you should never stand at work on anything higher than the fourth rung from the top. These are basic safety tips from the manufacturers. 

You should always have three points of contact – two feet on the ground and leaning on the structure you are climbing. If your feet aren’t level and one leaves contact with the ground as you are climbing, the ladder can pivot and toss you right to the ground.

Trust me, it’s no fun. Bones can be broken from ten-foot falls. 

Conclusion

No matter who you are, no matter what job you need to get done, there is an extension ladder for you. RV owners simply have to have one. It’s very difficult to own an RV and get by without a ladder. 

If you’re going to purchase a ladder that extends, you may as well get a good one that will come in handy around the house too. You want one that will pay for itself in the jobs you can do on your own and you also need one that will store in a very compact space so that you can travel with it. 

Pay attention to the feet on the bottom of the ladder and ensure that they will give you a good, secure grip on whatever surface that you may be working on. Campgrounds, for example, may have a gravel pad for you to park on. Will your ladder securely stand on loose gravel?

Read the reviews on the model that interests you the most. There is no better judge than someone who has already purchased and used the ladder. Check to see what sort of guarantees it comes with. A ladder with a twenty-year guarantee is hard to beat, but someone may have a lifetime guarantee. You can’t beat that! 

The majority of ladders are made with aluminum now. Check to see what other pieces on the ladder are made from. Will plastic parts hold up to the job you’ll be doing? Is the ladder in your budget?

It’s an investment and it will pay to do your homework before you make a purchase. Impulse buying is for a bag of nacho chips at the supermarket, not for a ladder that you hope will last you for several years. 

Is this something that your spouse might need to use sometimes? Will they be able to use this with ease? Is it pinch-free on the fingers? If you’ve got children, you probably already know that they tend to get into things.

Hang your ladder in the garage if you can, but if you can’t, at the very least you want to make sure that it won’t take a child’s fingers off if they play around on it. Kids will be kids, after all.