Wescott Experience

Hello all. Just want to document my experience with Wescott Designs. All factual information with no bias to another supplier. I purchased their ladder back in July. Installed it on my 4Runner and the install was fine. I was not crazy about the engineering of the securement of the top of the ladder and in the install video they don't tell you that you wont be able to get one of the all threads installed if you have the OEM rack. I pulled the struts off and when you lift the gate, the rack hits the OEM rack and doesn't provide you enough of an angle to get the second screw installed. I'll pull the rack and get it in eventually.

This car is garage kept. After a month I started noticing rust stains on several of the screws that hold the ladder together and that secure the ladder to the vehicle. Strange given the fact that in their install video they claim the fasteners are stainless steel. So I reached out to them via chat. On September 24th I sent them photos and information on what was happening. There was some return communication but delayed at best. On September 26th I received a return text that the individual I was chatting with was waiting on someone to confirm the ability to send me new hardware.

Finally, yesterday, October 3rd after not hearing anything from them I reached out again. They responded with this... "Hey X, I got new hardware coming, sorry for the delay. Just as a heads up, our hardware is black oxide coated, this coating can show a discoloration from UV radiation from time to time that looks like rust but it is not. It will come off."

I work in construction and have for 30 years. I understand metals and their reaction to the elements and what rust looks like. Black oxide coated stainless should not rust. And could be the best material for this type of application. Type 410 stainless will rust rather quickly in salty environments. Types 314 and 304 typically will not. Galvanized can hold up for a little while but will rust if the coating is nicked. Maybe I received a bad batch? Maybe Wescott's quality control missed it? Nevertheless, the ones I received are not stainless. By all accounts they are trying to do the right thing. Time will tell.

Has anyone else experienced this problem with their ladder?

More to come...

 

What you said about some stainless steel rusting is true. I worked in the steel fabrication industry for 45 years and you'd be surprised at how many people would argue that with me. Also, some will stick to magnets and some will not.

 

Your pictures show zero rust on the hardware but rust on the rack itself around the fasteners holes, which is commonly seen if the rack is alloy steel and not aluminum.

 

I'm not sure why a ladder on the back of a 4Runner is even necessary. It's right up there with raptor lights.

 

Yep

 

The only reason I'd have one is to mount a spare fuel container. However, there must be a better solution for that and I don't want to drill holes, mess up the paint, or overtax the liftgate struts.

 

Yeah, it doesn’t looks like the hardware is the source of that rust. All it takes is one nick that scratches off the paint for rust to start. Or one untreated drilled hole.

 

You have to step up onto the rear bumper anyway. If you can't lift a 5 gallon jug to the roof rack from there, it's probably time to hit the gym.

 

It's not that I can't lift it up to the roof, it's that I'd rather have the fuel be elsewhere.

 

The show-verlanders just get a steel rear bumper with dual swingouts, and put the jerrycans there.

As you know the hatch struts are cheap and plentiful from many vendors including reputable German names like Sachs. And they sell stiffer struts for increased hatch weight.

 

That's too much extra weight for a once-in-a-while kind of thing.

 

Wasn't directed at you. It was a general statement. There's just not any other good place to carry extra fuel. And my point is that the ladders are useless.

 

Love it.

Sure is a pain in the ass when you're trying to load massive amounts of toilet paper from Costco.

 

^Incidentally my plastic jerrycans (which I put in the Tacoma bed with a bungee on longer trips) are from Costco. Good deal on the 2-pack.

 

I have put cans on it and as of late I carry my trash bag in it. But yeah, I don't get on it as much as I thought I would. And it is damn heavy.

 

I just use my rear tires as step stools or if I’m feeling real adventurous I’ll open my rear passenger doors to step up and grab stuff from the roof.

I also wasn’t the type to leave my cargo basket on full time. I removed it as soon as I didn’t need to carry stuff on my roof.

I agree the ladders are pretty pointless.

 

I live locally here in Phoenix and have all Westcott products. Who are you speaking with at WD? Jeff the owner takes great pride in his business and has a hell of a reputation nationwide and even into Canada. Let me know if the communication lacks and I will provide you with Jeff's cell number to speak with him directly.

 

Been dealing with a family medical issue so I haven't had a chance to respond. I have other pics of the fasteners. Upon further inspection it seems that the washers are rusting. I don't want to throw anyone under the bus but I would say the communication has been sub par. I think they are mailing me new hardware.