Ladder

[Dino60]

New to the Forum and new to the RV world. Purchased a 2023 Coleman Light 2955RL last year and so far have not had any major issues. A few minor ones that took CW weeks to do anything about. I ended up just taking the parts from them and repairing myself.
Anyway.....Has anyone installed a ladder on the back of a newer Coleman unit, and which side on the rear. Dutchmen doesn't want to reveal any frame secrets and couldn't even tell me where the bedroom TV mount was, use a stud finder they said. Still never found it where they said it should be located.

[franktafl]

We ALL feel your pain! My Keystone RV had a sticker on the bedroom wall that said "Mount TV HERE" unfortunately, there was nothing there to mount to. I used a extendable/Tilt mount that worked just fine since the thing could be moved left or right of center in order to find a stud. Remember, you only have two inch or less walls to the outside of the camper (found out the hard way). NOTE: the folks on the phone have NO idea what you are talking about usually. they are just hired because they can take a vocal beating and survive.

[Firstime RVer]

The dealer that sold me our Aspen Trail told me that behind the sticker indicating the tv mount position, in the wall is a sheet of plywood that the tv mount can be screwed to.. It works for me just fine with the extendable rotatable mount.

As for the addition of a ladder, I was told that units that come with ladders have a similar set up to the tv mount location, with reinforced frame sections to hold the ladder supports. They also said that if the RV didn't come with a ladder it was unlikely that the reinforced sections would have been installed. If I was determined to install a ladder, I would have to be sure to mount into the studs, which would probable require screwing a cross member long enough to anchor to two studs and mounting the ladder to the cross member.

Just my $.02 FWIW

[videoarizona]

Dutchman told me the same thing about ladders. If it didn't come with one the frame doesn't support one. Well ... That's wrong. From a business standpoint why make 2 different rear frames for every trailer? Make one and put the ladder reinforcment in there! I've looked at brochures and it looks like the area the ladder mounts to it's nothing more than a small extension of the frame in each screw area. My suggestion is to use an newer stud finder that can work with aluminum and using the brochure as a guide... Look for your frame extensions.
I confess I haven't done it as I'm about the same weight as the ladder might hold so I use an regular extension ladder. What you are looking for is a small extension off each vertical frame. Maybe only 2 inches by 2 inches. Good luck!