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Thread: Install of Front Runner D3/D4 Ladder

  1. 18th October 2020, 04:15 PM #1
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    Install of Front Runner D3/D4 Ladder

    Last weekend's COVID project... installing the Front Runner Ladder to the D4.
    The ladder is well made and comes with good instructions, but I did make some slight modification to the rubber seal that FR supply as it made it virtually impossible to bolt home the bottom mounting plate of the ladder. Happy with the result, a sturdy solid fit and a ladder that is pretty easy to climb. Some pics to show you what I ended up doing:

    Front Runner Ladder 01.jpg
    Removing the rear number plate light and camera housing is pretty easy ready for the fitting of the rubber seal that FR provide to seal and buffer the bottom metal base of the ladder that goes behind the light/camera housing. No hole drilling required, the FR ladder uses the existing mounting bolts to hold the base of the ladder firmly in place.

    Front Runner Ladder 02.jpg
    The rubber seal was about 4mm thick and really caused some grief in reattaching the rear housing with the ladder plate... as the extra thickness of the rubber seal strip made it crazy difficult to relocate the bolt threads through the holes in order to get the nut threads to align. Despite lots of clamps, pushing and attempts to reattach the nuts... the answer was to shave down a couple of mill with the Dremel. Otherwise it would have been a trip to Clark Rubber for a thinner strip.

    Front Runner Ladder 03.jpg
    With the thinned down rubber seal and padded out clamps it is then possible to get a socket onto the mounting nuts and screw them home.

    Front Runner Ladder 04.jpg
    The top bracket attached with the tailgate door hinge bolt hods firm the top mount of the ladder.

    Front Runner Ladder 05.jpg
    All up, happy with the result and a neat sealed finish.

    The ProSpeed ladder from the UK was my first choice as I liked the lower step that they provide, but the crazy high cost to import from the UK, and some feedback from others on the forum made Front Runner, the Front Runner for install

    Cheers
    Naps
    MY16 D4 SDV6 HSE 3.0L MOAB 265/60R18 KO2 - Carbon 12K Winch - DO 35 Hitch - RedARC TowPro - Rhino Rack Backbone & Pioneer Platform - Front Runner Ladder - 100Ah 'The Lithium Box' - Full Boar Fourbie Drawers & Travall - APT Front/Sump/AC/Sliders - Safari snorkel - Oricom DTX4200 - Cel-Fi - GAP IID - TyreDogs
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  2. 18th October 2020, 07:07 PM #2
    DiscoJeffster
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    I did find the seal tight but somehow managed to get it done up and squished up
    2010 TDV6 3.0L Discovery 4 HSE
    2007 Audi RS4 (B7)
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  3. 20th October 2020, 07:21 PM #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster View Post
    I did find the seal tight but somehow managed to get it done up and squished up
    Hi Jeff, I just simply could not clamp it down enough to get even close enough to thread the nuts... didn't want to risk over clamping and breaking something or cross threading. It all came together really well once I had shaved the seal down a bit.

    Cheers
    Naps
    MY16 D4 SDV6 HSE 3.0L MOAB 265/60R18 KO2 - Carbon 12K Winch - DO 35 Hitch - RedARC TowPro - Rhino Rack Backbone & Pioneer Platform - Front Runner Ladder - 100Ah 'The Lithium Box' - Full Boar Fourbie Drawers & Travall - APT Front/Sump/AC/Sliders - Safari snorkel - Oricom DTX4200 - Cel-Fi - GAP IID - TyreDogs
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  4. 20th October 2020, 08:43 PM #4
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    That looks great, and no interference with the rhino rack? I've been meaning to get the FR ladder for mine, but I thought it would hit the rack as the tailgate door swings up.
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  5. 20th October 2020, 09:31 PM #5
    DiscoJeffster
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric SDV6SE View Post
    That looks great, and no interference with the rhino rack? I've been meaning to get the FR ladder for mine, but I thought it would hit the rack as the tailgate door swings up.
    No, doesn’t touch.
    2010 TDV6 3.0L Discovery 4 HSE
    2007 Audi RS4 (B7)
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  6. 21st October 2020, 07:08 AM #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric SDV6SE View Post
    That looks great, and no interference with the rhino rack? I've been meaning to get the FR ladder for mine, but I thought it would hit the rack as the tailgate door swings up.
    Depends how far back you’ve put the rack.
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  7. 14th March 2021, 04:14 PM #7
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    I recently bought the Front Runner LR3/LR4 ladder (LALD004). I tried to install it today but I can see no way that the holes on the bottom plate will line up with the light cluster holes. I have sent an enquiry to Front Runner. I will post the reply in case someone else in the future has a similar issue. My bet is the top plate, and possibly base plate, has been welded at the wrong angle.
    Base.jpgTop.jpg
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  8. 18th March 2021, 09:14 PM #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by iannicki View Post
    I recently bought the Front Runner LR3/LR4 ladder (LALD004). I tried to install it today but I can see no way that the holes on the bottom plate will line up with the light cluster holes. I have sent an enquiry to Front Runner. I will post the reply in case someone else in the future has a similar issue. My bet is the top plate, and possibly base plate, has been welded at the wrong angle.
    Base.jpgTop.jpg
    Hi Ian,
    I think that I also had to wrestle with getting the holes to line up...but not to the extent in you picture. You may be right about the weld alignment. Let us know how you go....hope you get it sorted as they are a good ladder.
    cheers
    Naps
    MY16 D4 SDV6 HSE 3.0L MOAB 265/60R18 KO2 - Carbon 12K Winch - DO 35 Hitch - RedARC TowPro - Rhino Rack Backbone & Pioneer Platform - Front Runner Ladder - 100Ah 'The Lithium Box' - Full Boar Fourbie Drawers & Travall - APT Front/Sump/AC/Sliders - Safari snorkel - Oricom DTX4200 - Cel-Fi - GAP IID - TyreDogs
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  9. 18th March 2021, 09:55 PM #9
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    Install of Front Runner D3/D4 Ladder

    Quote Originally Posted by Naps View Post
    Hi Ian,
    I think that I also had to wrestle with getting the holes to line up...but not to the extent in you picture. You may be right about the weld alignment. Let us know how you go....hope you get it sorted as they are a good ladder.
    cheers
    Naps
    Define good?

    If it doesn’t line up without being forced or coerced I’d say it’s a pretty crap product.

    Regardless of finish quality, it not on spec - it’s poor.
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  10. 19th March 2021, 12:42 PM #10
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    Standing on the rear step or even wheel works for me, don't see the need for a rear mounted rust magnet.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
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