The patented LakeEze® ladder. offers a sleek, modern design for safe and convenient access to your favorite lake or waterfront. Featuring EzePull stow-away technology, and a design that accommodates any platform with a 90° angle, this easy climb ladder is the perfect solution for users and pets of all ages seeking safe and easy access to the water. This guide will help you get started with installation, so you can start enjoying your new lake ladder in no time.
Prepping For Lake Ladder Installation
Before you begin installing your LakeEze® ladder, you’ll need to gather up the following tools:
-
A Phillips head screwdriver.
-
7/16” wrench or socket.
-
A measuring tape.
-
A pencil or marker.
-
You’ll need a drill with ¼” bit for pre-drilling.
-
A torque wrench for proper bolt tightening.
As with any improvement project, safety is of top priority. Make sure you have a stable working surface and protective gear available before moving ahead with the installation of your LakeEze® ladder.
5 Steps To Install Your LakeEze® Ladder
1. Position Your Easy Climb Ladder.
The first step is to determine the ideal location for your LakeEze® ladder. You’ll want to place your lake ladder in an area with at least 4 feet of water depth for safe entry and exit. The LakeEze® ladder can be installed on both floating and stationary docks, and can be mounted to the side of the dock or to the deck surface, providing versatility for various waterfront setups. Consider the ladder’s dimensions:
-
32" wide from outside of dock handrails.
-
Ladder width of 27 ½".
-
5-Step model: 86" tall at peak rotation, bottom step 44 ⅜" below deck height.
-
6-Step model: 101" tall at peak rotation, bottom step 53 ⅞" below deck height.
-
Tread depth: 11 ¾" with 1 ⅜" of overlap.
-
Riser height: 9 ½".
2. Prepare to Mount Your Lake Ladder.
The LakeEze® ladder comes with adjustable mounting brackets that can either attach to the frame, or multiple boards of your deck to avoid damaging them. You’ll need to position the mounting brackets differently, depending on how your deck is structured, and where you want to install your ladder. Most decks are built with either 16” or 24” gaps between supports - view our detailed scenario guide here
-
If the ladder will rest parallel with the deck boards, attach the mounting brackets directly to them with the backing plate, using a frame member if possible.
-
If perpendicular to the deck boards, try to position the mounting brackets so that either both sit directly on top of the deck’s frame, or as many frame members fit evenly between them as possible. If only one support can fit, consider using filler blocks.
To attach the mounting brackets:
Position the ladder so that the brackets rest where they will attach to the dock. The front of the spring housing should be 8.5” from the edge.
Mark all hole locations with your pencil.
Remove the ladder, then pre-drill the holes using the ¼” drill bit.
3. How to Secure Your Lake Ladder.
Once you have all your pre-drilled holes complete, it’s time to attach your LakeEze® ladder.
-
Reposition the ladder, then secure using the provided stainless steel hardware and brass nuts, tightening most of the way.
-
Lower the sloped ladder to the down position, avoiding putting any weight on it, then tighten everything until all housings are pressed firmly against the dock.
-
Use a torque wrench to ensure all bolts tighten to 25 ft-lbs.
4. Install the Handrails
-
Line up the rear holes of the handrails with the 2 holes on the back of the spring housing.
-
Mark their positions and drill out the holes, ensuring you drill all the way through the backer plate on the rear holes of the handrails.
-
Secure using the provided bolts, nuts and washers, tightening to 25 ft-lbs.
5. Final Adjustments and Testing
-
Use the locking pin to help align the latch plate. Both the latch plate and ladder should touch the deck.
-
Line up the mounting holes of the latch plate to sit on the edge framing of the dock and mark their position.
-
Drill out the holes and secure using the provided self-tapping metal screws, fastening the pin tether nearby.
-
Lift and lower the easy climb ladder several times to ensure it operates properly and smoothly.
Note: these instructions are primarily for wooden docks. Other material-based docks simply require the appropriate drill and drill bit. Example: working on a concrete dock, simply use a hammer drill with a masonry drill bit.
LakeEze® Ladder - Built to Last
The LakeEze® ladder. is designed to be a durable and user-friendly solution for lake access, supporting up to 350 lbs for the 5-Step model and 300 lbs for the 6-Step model, and has been load cycle tested 28,000+ times with no failures. Its sloped ladder design and innovative features provide safe and convenient water access for all your lakeside activities.
Have Installation Questions About Your LakeEze® Ladder?
If you still have questions after reading through this guide, don’t hesitate to check out our installation PDF (with image-based scenarios) or watch our LakeEze® ladder installation tutorial on Youtube. If you do encounter any challenges during installation, check out our LakeEze® ladder FAQ section or contact us at 864-581-3469