Adjustable first step

[GleamB]

There is too big a rise from the floor of the trailer to the first step which is 10 1/4". Code likes 7 1/4" so I will be adding a 3 inch new tread to the existing step. I had made this adjustable step to place on uneven ground using my leveling blocks. Someone one the proboards forum will try a combo out of aluminum.

[Paul]

Nice!

[PEIslander]

I ordered an adjustable first step from Amazon. I'm expecting it any day now and am hopeful it will help with the currently problematic big first step from the ground up to the factory installed single step. Having the off-road package means that step is often awkwardly high. The step I ordered is a Camco 43676 Adjustable Height Aluminum Platform Step. After I receive it & test it out I'll report back here.

[PEIslander]

As noted above I ordered a Camco adjustable stop. They also sell a non-adjustable version for less $$. Taking it out of the box I was very impressed with the build quality. It is very well put together --- its made of aluminum tubes & channels. The underside of the platform has additional solid bar reinforcing welded on to keep the platform square by preventing any twisting. It is more robustly built than I had expected. The legs will fold up underneath. When they are down they snap into position so there is no risk the platform will collapse. The platform is large -- making it a very easy to use step. The wide stance of the legs further adds to the stability. It is also great that the legs adjust allowing the height to be optimized. If the terrain is sloped the adjustable legs make it possible to get the platform level.

On the top there is strips of anti-slip tape. At one end a few of those strips are having trouble staying adhered. I see that as a relatively minor flaw as they can easily & inexpensively be replaced. The snap buttons used to fold the legs & to adjust the height are quite difficult to use but I imagine the springs will loosen up with more use. As they are now pushing in the buttons takes a fair amount of force. Next time I have to do it I'll use a spoon to protect my finger tip & make it easier to push the buttons in.

Overall -- I'd highly recommend this step to others and feel it was worth the money. I believe it is a quality lifetime product -- made to last. And its made of Aluminum. 

[PEIslander]

If anyone is inclined to by a step --- don't buy this kind. It seemed great at first. It was lightweight, folded compactly, and was easy to deploy -- all good things. Problem is the plastic cracked in multiple locations adding greatly to the safety risk that it could collapse in use. We threw it away and replaced it with the safe aluminum one in my previous post.

[Merlin]

We have an aluminum folding step just like the one above and it works fine, so long as the legs are on solid ground. I put it in a place where one leg was in softer ground. That leg dug in when I stepped on it going up and when I came back out and stepped down the step tipped and dumped me on the ground, bruising a rib and spraining my knee. Lesson learned is for any step not attached to the camper, make sure it's stable (and hang on to the hand-hold, duh).

[Paul]

If anyone is inclined to by a step --- don't buy this kind. It seemed great at first. It was lightweight, folded compactly, and was easy to deploy -- all good things. Problem is the plastic cracked in multiple locations adding greatly to the safety risk that it could collapse in use. We threw it away and replaced it with the safe aluminum one in my previous post.

We got one like that too and on the first weekend it also cracked, the problem is that if you put your foot in the middle of it it cracks, we use one like that for out kitchen and it works fine but we never put our foot in the middle of it but when you get out of the trailer you don't really think of that. So good advice don't use one like that I've tested it too!

[PEIslander]

We have an aluminum folding step just like the one above and it works fine, so long as the legs are on solid ground. I put it in a place where one leg was in softer ground. That leg dug in when I stepped on it going up and when I came back out and stepped down the step tipped and dumped me on the ground, bruising a rib and spraining my knee. Lesson learned is for any step not attached to the camper, make sure it's stable (and hang on to the hand-hold, duh).

Sorry to hear about the details of your fall and I hope you recovered fully. You make an excellent point about the hand hold. Many of us will use a handhold climbing in but ignoring on our way out. I would think it is actually on the way out that we are more likely to slip.

Regarding the legs of a four-legged step I wonder if some form of weight distributing pad may be appropriate on softer ground. I have some carpet tiles kicking around so I might try one; although, I'll have to watch that the step doesn't slide on the tile as that could be even more dangerous.

[Paul]

We have an aluminum folding step just like the one above and it works fine, so long as the legs are on solid ground. I put it in a place where one leg was in softer ground. That leg dug in when I stepped on it going up and when I came back out and stepped down the step tipped and dumped me on the ground, bruising a rib and spraining my knee. Lesson learned is for any step not attached to the camper, make sure it's stable (and hang on to the hand-hold, duh).

Ouch that's not fun! I can relate to that but for stairs, I use to fall often in the stairs that now I always have my hand on the rail. So it's a good advice you are giving here!

[DavidM]

I found this pic which shows what we do when the ground isn't level so there is quite a rise to the first folding step. The orange blocks are also used for extreme leveling. Then we would really have to "step up".

David