Climbing aid and alternative to a ladder into your pop-up
- Up
- To the top, where it fits. In the middle, between the seats. No stepping on the sensitive seat heating.
- Down
- Easy and safe. The step surface is ready in the middle, coated for a non-slip grip.
- In
- Remove it, wrap the stable 50 mm strap around it, store it in the door. Until next time.
- ROPDA
- Name + design: Nordic and clear. "rop da" is low German and means ... "get on there".
Length 1,850 mm, Width 100 mm, Height 40 mm,
€ 49.99
Price incl. VAT, can differ in delivery country. Plus Shipping
Order for more €50.00 to receive your order free of shipping costs.
Available
FAQ - Your mostly asked questions on the ladder alternative
How much weight can the step aid support?
When properly secured, it can hold up to 100 kg.
Can the handles withstand that?
Yes. Like all our products, we tested the step for the pop-up roof ourselves for an entire season.
Only velcro? Will that hold?
The interlocking mushroom-shaped heads of the Dual Lock pads (no velcro!) provide five times the tensile strength of traditional hook-and-loop fasteners. For the seams, we use extra-strong thread. It holds.
Where is it made?
All products are self-developed, personally used by us, and 100% practical.
Since 2016, our bus essentials are locally manufactured in Northern Germany. You can count on it 🤝
Yes, we also have a ladder with us. If we have it with us, it is on the roof and helps us access the reserve canisters or other items stored up there.
You can find the ladder in the blog, in the equipment list.
Why not a rope ladder?

We already tried this with our first California. Yes, for the kids, it was cool to climb up the "boat ladder." And at a boat dock, it was useful once. But we weren’t convinced.
What didn’t convince us?
You need a separate ascent and descent on each side.
This option works best when the seat has not been turned. That takes up space or involves unnecessary back-and-forth if more than two people are traveling.
Why not a telescopic ladder?
The answer is simple: Less storage space. Those things are bulky. In the Coast, Ocean, or Comfortline models, they take up a lot of space in the large drawer or end up in the trunk. So, walk all the way around the car just to get to the roof? Nope.
They’re also bulky when set up. If you use a small cooler or extra console in the middle, it gets cramped. When eating with four people, it’s in the way and has to be removed. Turning the seats is also not possible without disassembling it. Nope.
What alternatives are there for accessing the pop-up roof in the California?
What should the climbing aid be able to do?
- It should be between the driver’s seats so that it can be used together and no one steps on the sensitive seat heating.
- The seats must remain rotatable.
- The packed size should be as small as possible and
- it should not be too heavy.
I'll keep it short: Our solution is the ROPDA climbing aid (Low German for "up there").
You simply hang it between the grab handles above the driver’s doors.
When not in use, you release one side and let it hang in front of the door. This way, it’s not in the way.
Done camping? Remove both sides and wrap the seat belt around the non-slip step.
This way, it fits, for example, in a storage compartment in a door, the glove compartment, or likewise.
Length | 1.850,00 mm |
---|---|
Width | 100,00 mm |
Height | 40,00 mm |
Weight | 280 g |
Material: | Plastic, Webbing, Wood, Multiplex |
VANZEIT®
#organiceyourvan in no time at all: Plug-And-Camp set-up for your campervan.Still got questions about the product? Write us.
Illustrations and photos are similar, subject to change and errors excepted.
The VANZEIT ® Difference?
We think different.
Instead of average, with us, you get creative, practical, and durable setups from original ideas.
Our own camping experience is reflected in the attention to detail – and you’ll feel it in every use.
Trust in expertise for a relaxed time in your van!
🕐 New Product Ideas
A missing coat hook in our first California led to my invention: THE well-known hook for the pop-up roof, our ABHÄNG.
Why drill into your bus? From my incomprehension of this and the limited headroom under the existing roof cabinets, our EINFACH was born.
Every idea matures between my own ears, from actual need and missing solutions.
🕑 Thoughtful Product Design
Initial sketches turn into prototypes.
Once I'm convinced, I construct it using CAD, based on the already specific dimensions.
The design is then implemented with 3D printing and in the workshop, then being tested.
In the refinement process, I remove unnecessary parts from the design.
🕒Tested in Camping Life
Nicole and I take new accessories on tour directly with our bumblebee (aka T6 California Beach).
Is a contour not perfect, or is a feature not used while camping?
If so, it gets adjusted and tested again. And possibly again...
Only what convinces us over a season and proves its value gets produced.
🕓 Made in Northern Germany
We found our production partners within a few kilometers of us.
This guarantees short distances and quick, personal agreements by handshake.
Small series' production ensures fast adjustments, even with your suggestions.
🕔 Ensures More Freedom
Simple design integrates timelessly into your individual setup.
Focusing on the essentials gives you more space.
Less ballast means less fuel consumption. You go further.