So I’ve had my Defender for a little less than a year and I’ve used the ladder a few time. It’s always been a bit finicky but now when I pull the release I can see the lever on the top right actuating but it doesn’t seem to go all the way maybe? I can’t get the ladder to pull out past the locking mechanism. Anyone else ever had to deal with this issue and how did you get it to release?

Any help would be appreciate. Need to go pick up the Christmas tree next week so need to know I can get my ladder down. 😀

 

Yeah, I have the same stiffness. I was going to attack it with WD-40 or some grease, just haven't gotten around to it. Everytime I pull it, I fear I'm going to break some plastic bit.

Much prefer the Lucky8 rear ladder. Was looking at moving to it, but I have a Trophy, so the side panels are wrapped and you can't get single pieces. So am scratching my head, remove ladder, add rear ladder and side trim that is black vs Trophy wrapped. Vs get my finger out and figure out how to make the ladder work smoother.

 

I put some marine grease on the contact points, hinges, and locking mechanism on the ladder and had no issue with opening/closing...before it was really hard to open/close the ladder.

 

So at this point it’s beyond the yank on it until it works - If I’m holding the lever and pry it open with a small pry bar anyone think I’m likely to break something? Or is this like a rotating mech that will rotate out of the way with the bar pushing on it. I assume it’s like a door mech.

I was actually going out to do some grease maintenance on it when I found it stuck this bad so I definitely agree with doing some regular maintenance on the lock going forward.

 

It's got to come straight out. Even slightly up (mentally at least). If the lower part pivots at all it won't come out. Have a third hand undo the latch and give it some welly up and out. I suspect, given how rarely you use it you're just not doing it just right. No judgement there as the first time I used it took me a minute.

Perhaps not but there isn't much to seize up in the mechanism. Sounds more like a slight adjustment in technique is all that's needed. Pry bar don't use as there should be no pivoting.

 

I use spray silicone on mine and it works great. Was stiff but after the silicone no more stiffness will see how long it lasts.

 

Not sure if anyone else has tried this, but when I was shown by my LR Salesman that to get the ladder started coming down after actuating the locking latch, pull the top segment of the ladder outwards away from the car first before trying to bring the ladder downwards. Does that help?

 

So I finally got out there and got it pulled down. For me - it came down to the Gavin C method. Get a third hand and pull straight out. Any kind of pivot made sure it wasn’t coming out. I imagine taller owners have a better experience. Being a bit shorter means I’m either pulling down from the top or lifting up from the bottom. I was just worried the latch was causing the issue but that is very basic and not the cause for sure. Got things lubed up and it helps some but still not awesome. Wanted to close the loop for any future searchers. Thanks for the advice!

 

I think it is of poor design. I got mine replaced twice and finally ended up removing it alltogether. The noise it makes vs the use it gets..