Alister, Have you made a folding aluminium ladder that can be used inside the Vanagon to facilitate access to the upper sleeping bunk?  
What I am thinking is one inch aluminium round tubing from Princess Auto with perhaps one folding area.  The ladder would have kid sized steps to assist the little monkeys in getting to the upper bunk without stepping on the stove (etc..).  I think the optimal length of the main ladder would permit it to be stored in front of the bunk area from passenger to driver side. What are you using for the dowel at junction.  Is this solid aluminium, or does it have a center hole for the bungy cord?  It seems to me these could be made to size on the lathe from solid stock....  For inside use, the foot sections could have Delrin inserts.....
Your thoughts?
Stuart 

    On Thursday, May 19, 2016 11:37 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
 

 Friend of mine is slightly vertically challenged and would like to access roof racks and ski box easier. So I had a go at making a ladder.
We both agreed we didn't like the idea of having it semi permanently attached to the van like the RMW one. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just a personal preference .

I had some left over rungs from my tire carrier prototypes ( decided to make the carrier a little wider  but had cut a few rungs at old length) and used them in this pretty quick and Roy build.

The ladder folds up to store in luggage rack. It's pretty sturdy, takes my weight, but of course it does flex a little (nominally 1" diameter 6061 ). I believe it's plenty strong for the recipient.

Pics here
https://shufti.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/vanagon-a-ladder-not-a-tire-carrier/

Alistair