Fitting Front Runner rear access ladder without drilling

[andylandy]

Hi All,

I recently bought a front runner rear ladder, as I couldn't justify the $768 that landrover quoted me for a genuine one, however I didn't want to drill 3 holes through the rear door as the instructions advised, so using the landrover idea of hooking it over the top of the door I made a bracket with 3 studs that allowed me to fit the ladder without drilling the holes. Fitting the bracket saw me having to unbolt the door hinges and lifting the top of the door slightly to give me the room I needed, but the hinges bolt straight back in place without the need for aligning the door again and only took about 10 minutes. The ladder was slightly the wrong shape but a little light bending saw it fitting. One of the biggist issues I had was that you take the rear door handle off put the ladder bracket behind it and put the door handle back on, but with the foam padding on the ladder holding the handle further out getting the nuts started to hold the handle on took a while! after taking the photos shown below I took it all apart again for cleaning up and painting. when I do the final install the top bracket will be fitted to the door with double sided tape, it doesn't really need it as the bracket is very secure, but I just want to make sure incase the foam that is between the bracket and the door compresses and allows movement. Very happy with how it turned out and can be removed leaving no holes!

[andylandy]

As I said very happy with it, now just need to find a roof rack and a D4 hitch reciever!

Andy

[captcam68]

Thanx Andy, done a great job, what was the thickness of the top bracket 3mm?
cheers Cam

[andylandy]

Hi Cam,

2mm steel, bent it around an 8mm rod to give the required diameter bend allowing for 2mm thickness of foam on ether side of bracket to protect the door. drilled 11mm holes so the bolt heads sat flush with the underside of the bracket and welded them in place. took a while to make the bracket, but better than drilling holes in the door!

Cheers

Andy

[ADMIRAL]

As I said very happy with it, now just need to find a roof rack and a D4 hitch reciever!

Andy

Hi Andy,

Check out my pics on the Frontrunner slimline roofrack post. No need for rails, factory or otherwise, which will save a fair bit of coin. It bolts into your existing roof riv nuts. I have more pics if you are interested.

Admiral

[Tombie]

My concern, the foam will move being not bolted and the grit and muck will scruff up the paintwork under that entire foam pad.

There will be more damage to that area of the vehicle than 3 holes from vibration, grit etc if this vehicle does any corrugation travel.

Cheers

[andylandy]

Hi Tombie,

The foam is stuck to the bracket and the vehicle, it is a very snug fit with out fixing the foam, so I am confident that there will be no movement when fixed, and this is how landrover fit the OEM ladder, so I am not worried about it. Also by drilling holes, no matter how well it's sealed it would allow moisture in which in turn would lead to corrosion, and if I ever chose to remove the ladder it would leave 3 holes and possible corrosion, so even if the worst were to happen and the paint were to become scuffed, paint is easier to repair than holes and corrosion! That's my theory anyway

Cheers
Andy

[Tombie]

No problem - as long as you're happy is all that matters...