Dob ladders

[Ships and Stars]

I have a relatively small 20" SW dob I only purchased back in March, so haven't had a great deal of time on it. I haven't used it near zenith yet, most of my targets were around or below 60-70deg. I've used a small step ladder for lunar viewing at home, but my plan is to construct a small elevated platform so I can move around a bit without faffing with a ladder. The platform will need to be easily broken down into flat sheets, so thinking something like dzus fasteners, or some other quick release fasteners so it can lean up against the inside of my van. Before I make something like this, I will look around in more detail for some type of ready-made platform, something besides a ladder, because moving around in the dark, and going up and down a ladder holding expensive eyepieces sounds like a quick way to find trouble!

Alternatively I googled 'mobile platform ladder' and came up with a slew of goodies like this:

https://www.theworkplacedepot.co.uk/access-mobile-safety-steps?p=33238&vat=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqZexooKH4wIVA53VCh2z2AqOEAkYBSABEgKgRfD_BwE

Not the cheapest, but neither is a big dob and a handful of TV eyepieces! However, portability kind of goes out the window if travelling to dark sites.

[Rusted]

I have recently acquired a "so-called" Japanese "tripod" stepladder.
In welded aluminium tube it is very light but has a very wide base to the steps. 
It feels ridiculously safe compared with any other stepladder I have ever used.
I have been trimming our 20' high boundary hedges from the top so you get the point.
I own at least five other stepladders and have fallen from most kinds over the decades.
Fortunately I usually land on my head. So have avoided serious injury so far.

[barkis]

I don't think we'll ever see a structure like the one built to support the Lord Rosse of Parsonstown Leviathan again though. 😁.

Ron.