I'm looking at a rear ladder for my 02', but am a little concerned about the potential for rusting the rear door. How do these install? Drill through the door? I don't like the idea of drilling into the door. If you have installed your own, what did you do to avoid future rust on the rear door?

Thanks,

Chris

 

You will need to drill into the rear door...if you don't want to drill then - don't get a ladder.
you'll drill 2 holes right above the license plate- and 2 holes right above the rear door.

No issues with rust if you follow the instructions.- it takes about 15-20 mins...and most of that time is just lining up the ladder and making sure it's not crooked.


I did it myself and it was one of the easiest installs that I've done on my Disco II.

 

Drill the holes, paint the holes, install the provided bolts in the holes....slightly more complex than changing a light bulb. Go for it.

 

If you are concerned, why are you wanting to install a latter in the first place, few if any of them ever get used, which to me makes it a great waste of money.
Yes, by the way, there are ways to install them so you won;t have to deal with much rust, plus if i remember right, the rear door panel is not metal.

 

I have and use mine quite a bit. It helps to load bikes and gear on the roof, but really isn't all that necessary.

My favorite is seeing the dorks with a ladder and no rack. Maybe it's so they can climb up to look down through the rear sunroof??

 

I`m one of those dorks! Because I haven`t found a roof rack yet. I will have one soon though. Don`t want to look like a Dork for too long!!!

 

I bought my ladder first as they were more easily available...finding a Safety Devices Highlander rack was more difficult, but I found one brand new- unused. It took me about 3 months to actively search everywhere for it.

Then, I installed the rack flooring. Thus,my ladder serves it's purpose.

 

[hr]The other option is to put in rivnuts, I'm going to switch over when I manage to get a tool for compressing them

 

Doesn`t the riv nuts compress themselves when you tighten them?

 

I may be using the wrong term, what I'm talking about is an alloy insert you put into a hole then use a tool to compress it. We used them to attach steering dampers to the frames of superbikes when there was no pre-welded threaded fitting.