Fixed RV ladders used to be nearly universal for all campers. Nowadays, not only are certain RVs built without fully walkable roofs, but others sell with ladder prep instead of a mounted ladder. The Lippert ladder prep is one of the most commonly used in the RV industry, but how do you know if your RV is compatible with the Lippert On the Go Ladder?
Do You Have Lippert Ladder Prep?
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Simply inspect your RV’s exterior to see if it has a bracket for a telescoping RV ladder. Most manufacturers mount the Lippert On the Go ladder bracket on the camper’s rear wall. However, some mount it on a sidewall. This is more common for toy haulers due to the rear ramp door. You’ll also find a sidewall bracket placement on some small travel trailers.
The good news is that you can use a Lippert telescoping ladder to access your RV roof, even if it isn’t prepped with a Lippert ladder bracket. Simply use the ground as a base and find a place to store the ladder in your camper. Otherwise, you can install a bracket on your camper or have an RV technician install one for you. Contact a retail specialist to find a Lippert On the Go ladder bracket replacement that will work for your RV.
Should You Invest In a Lippert Telescoping Ladder?
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Whether your RV has a fully walkable roof or not, you must access the roof periodically for seasonal maintenance. Here are some examples of RV roof maintenance tasks you should perform regularly:
- Clean the roof seasonally
- Check roof-mounted accessories before and after each trip
- Clear the top of slide-outs before retracting them
- Reseal roof seams annually
While this isn’t a complete list—see our RV roof inspection checklist—it illustrates the importance of accessing your RV’s roof. If yours didn’t come with a factory-installed ladder, investing in a telescoping camper ladder is a smart choice. It’s a no-brainer if your RV is prepped with a Lippert ladder mount, and it’s still a good solution if it isn’t.
But why choose a Lippert ladder? Here are the benefits:
- Lightweight and collapsible: At just 33.5”, it’s easily secured in an underneath storage compartment.
- Extends 22” above your RV roof, providing a safe, secure way to ascend for inspections or maintenance
- Boast a sturdy 330-pound weight capacity
- Use segmented locks for custom extension and safer, easier retraction.
Convinced? Let’s examine the telescoping RV ladder options made by LCI (Lippert Components, Inc.).
Choosing the Right Telescoping Ladder For Your RV
Photos by Lippert
There are two Lippert ladders to choose from. Luckily, they share the same weight capacities and collapsed dimensions, and each includes Lippert ladder hooks to secure to the bracket mounted on a prepped RV.
The difference is length. Choose between a 12’6” version and a 14.5’ version of the Lippert On the Go Ladder. To determine which is right for you, measure the distance from the ground to the Lippert ladder receiver, assuming your RV is prepped. Based on your RV type, the receiver should be mounted at a height of 10 feet or 12 feet.
- LCI recommends the 12’6” ladder for a receiver mounted at 10 feet.
- LCI recommends the 14’6” ladder for a receiver mounted at 12 feet.
If you’re installing a Lippert ladder receiver to “prep” your RV for this telescoping ladder, you should aim for the tallest of these two heights possible for your RV. For example, most travel trailers will have a shorter exterior height, necessitating the smaller ladder and the bracket installed at 10 feet. Taller 5th wheels and destination trailers, for example, will require the taller ladder with the receiver installed at 12 feet.
Whichever is right for your camper, use the links below to check pricing and availability and compare them to other RV ladders!
Ladder prep is just one example of a factory-installed feature that requires RVers to find the right accessory to make full use of their camper. Here are a few others you might benefit from:
- How To Mount a TV in an RV
- RV Slide Topper Installation Guide
- Do You Need an RV AC Soft Start?
What questions do you have about this ladder or Lippert ladder parts? Let us know in the comments below!
