Single Step Clearance Mod

[LivinLite AZ]

Hello Everyone.

Our 13QBB came with a single step. With the existing factory off road package, from the door threshold kick plate to the first step is a 10" drop. From the step to the ground is another 15". We bought an 8" Rubbermaid step to ease the last step to the ground. It's been a just OK solution.

So we began to look into swapping out our installed single step for a double or even a triple step, but the resulting reduced ground clearance took that off the table. Then we found this collapsable 2 step solution from Range Kleen where the steps are each 8.5" high and about 18" wide available here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007EEG7M0/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I8IJE9OJQK77D&colid=T0RI2H5RQ047

Enter my 3.5" axle lift kit that is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. Adding that, our step to the ground will be 18.5". So I took another look at the way our step is currently mounted to the trailer and got to thinking... If I mounted our step above the aluminum step brackets rather than below them, I could easily raise the whole assembly nearly 3".

So I shot some pics and jumped into Photoshop and hacked together something that shows my concept of using two 2"x2" square tubes, getting some longer bolts, and refastening the step assembly as shown in my attached before and after images (click to zoom).

After my lift is installed, if I do this step mod, I should end up with something like 8" from door threshold to first step down. Then with the Range Kleen steps mentioned above, standing at 17" tall divided evenly by two 8.5" steps, we would enjoy easy boarding and unboarding going forward.

My question is, does anybody see any problems with my step remounting idea, or any unforeseen factors that I have overlooked?

Thanks to all ahead of time!
   Steve

[Merlin]

I like your proposed mod of the factory step height to lower that step to threshold jump. Very cool.

I don't like the proposed 2 step collapsible addition you linked to. I'm 99.9% sure (with just a bit of bet-hedge) that the one you have there will feel and be very unstable when on the top step and maybe on any step. Keep looking for a sturdy, non-collapsible step set with wide-spaced legs and solid platforms. Those of us who have fallen out of our campers and injured ribs from unstable step additions have a special eye for bad steps. I'm sure there are better ones----keep looking.

[LivinLite AZ]

I like your proposed mod of the factory step height to lower that step to threshold jump. Very cool.

I don't like the proposed 2 step collapsible addition you linked to. I'm 99.9% sure (with just a bit of bet-hedge) that the one you have there will feel and be very unstable when on the top step and maybe on any step. Keep looking for a sturdy, non-collapsible step set with wide-spaced legs and solid platforms. Those of us who have fallen out of our campers and injured ribs from unstable step additions have a special eye for bad steps. I'm sure there are better ones----keep looking.

Thanks for you observation Merlin. Understanding that safety is paramount, I read through a few hundred reviews on this item, some of them from BIG fellas. Despite my reservations, the overriding takeaway was that they are plenty durable (my wife and I combined weigh well less than its weight rating). My concern was more about the depth of the steps as you noted, but after searching Amazon and Camping World pretty thoroughly, the other non-collapsable 2 step options were the same or less step depth. The reviews on Camping World are overwhelmingly positive (aside from a few capacity failures). I will be getting ours on Tuesday and will give a full report.

: ) S

[Merlin]

When you do your testing, make sure you check it out on the typical uneven ground found at campsites. I get the impression you'll be taking your camper to some very interesting places and I can't imagine a stool like that being stable on anything other than a level floor inside a home. It's not a capacity issue, it's a tipping/stability issue.

If it doesn't work out, you might consider using 2 of these, one adjusted all the way up and the other adjusted all the way down. It's what I ended up with and like a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43676-Adjustable-Aluminum-Platform/dp/B00G258I0G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503837728&sr=8-4&keywords=RV+step

[LivinLite AZ]

When you do your testing, make sure you check it out on the typical uneven ground found at campsites. I get the impression you'll be taking your camper to some very interesting places and I can't imagine a stool like that being stable on anything other than a level floor inside a home. It's not a capacity issue, it's a tipping/stability issue.

If it doesn't work out, you might consider using 2 of these, one adjusted all the way up and the other adjusted all the way down. It's what I ended up with and like a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43676-Adjustable-Aluminum-Platform/dp/B00G258I0G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503837728&sr=8-4&keywords=RV+step

I see your point Merlin. Very true about our uneven campsites. We have never actually camped on a pad. I have been tinkering with another idea of how to utilize the built in step to secure a mild steel or aluminum second step supported by an adjustable step saver support (although the support may suffer on uneven ground too). Then I could use the Camco step you recommend to address uneven ground for the bottom step. See my mockup below.

Too bad the Camco tops out at 9". If they had one that was more like 16-18" tall, I could get one of each and be done with it. Another thought is to get an off the shelf 24" double step assembly and somehow slide it over/hook it onto my built in 20" step. But those kind of steps all seem pretty narrow depth-wise, with not much drop.

Regarding my idea to remount the built in step to raise it a couple inches; my original intent was to regain some ground clearance, and that making the last step up to the trailer that much easier was a secondary benefit. But I would imagine that others would be interested for just that reason. Maybe the thread title should be changed to reflect that benefit?

: ) S

 

[Chappy133]

We have a TBS with the off road option. This is the two step that came with ours:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Steps/Lippert-Components/LC341500.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrtvNn5D41QIVB7bACh3iaQS-EAQYAiABEgJ7BPD_BwE

Might work for you? 

[LivinLite AZ]

We have a TBS with the off road option. This is the two step that came with ours:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Steps/Lippert-Components/LC341500.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrtvNn5D41QIVB7bACh3iaQS-EAQYAiABEgJ7BPD_BwE

Might work for you?

Hi Chappy133.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered such solutions over the last couple of weeks. My primary objective is to increase ground clearance. Our single step hangs too low as it sits, hence my mod to mount it higher above the frame brackets. The frame mounted two step options are taller still and would more than cancel out any clearance gained from this. I am also working an a mod to lift the exposed plumbing up an out of the way in transit, described here - https://aluminumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=627.0 We tend to camp in remote spots assessed by abused, rocky and rutted 2 tracks and need all the clearance we can muster, so I'm on a mission to reduce all potential contact points. See attached photo of the kind of terrain we typically go through...

: ) S

[Diversteve]

This is neat.
http://www.morryde.com/products/194-the-stepabovetm

The dimensions of the factory model are too big for our door but i bet someone clever could make it work.
This is a zero clearance option!

[Chappy133]

Understand your challenges after seeing that picture. The step above option looks like a work around.

[Merlin]

We have a TBS with the off road option. This is the two step that came with ours:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Steps/Lippert-Components/LC341500.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrtvNn5D41QIVB7bACh3iaQS-EAQYAiABEgJ7BPD_BwE

Might work for you?

Hi Chappy133.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered such solutions over the last couple of weeks. My primary objective is to increase ground clearance. Our single step hangs too low as it sits, hence my mod to mount it higher above the frame brackets. The frame mounted two step options are taller still and would more than cancel out any clearance gained from this. I am also working an a mod to lift the exposed plumbing up an out of the way in transit, described here - https://aluminumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=627.0 We tend to camp in remote spots assessed by abused, rocky and rutted 2 tracks and need all the clearance we can muster, so I'm on a mission to reduce all potential contact points. See attached photo of the kind of terrain we typically go through...

: ) S

Was that your Land Cruiser?

[LivinLite AZ]

We have a TBS with the off road option. This is the two step that came with ours:

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Steps/Lippert-Components/LC341500.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrtvNn5D41QIVB7bACh3iaQS-EAQYAiABEgJ7BPD_BwE

Might work for you?

Hi Chappy133.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered such solutions over the last couple of weeks. My primary objective is to increase ground clearance. Our single step hangs too low as it sits, hence my mod to mount it higher above the frame brackets. The frame mounted two step options are taller still and would more than cancel out any clearance gained from this. I am also working an a mod to lift the exposed plumbing up an out of the way in transit, described here - https://aluminumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=627.0 We tend to camp in remote spots assessed by abused, rocky and rutted 2 tracks and need all the clearance we can muster, so I'm on a mission to reduce all potential contact points. See attached photo of the kind of terrain we typically go through...

: ) S

Was that your Land Cruiser?

I wish it was Merlin. Those solid axle 80 series FJs with front/rear/center lockers have always tempted me. Although I love my solid axle Jeep. I don't have pics of our previous similar Popup TT offroad on this computer, so I grabbed one from google images for the purpose of illustrating an indicative example of why ground clearance is important in our travels.

Nice rig tho.

: ) S

[LivinLite AZ]

Understand your challenges after seeing that picture. The step above option looks like a work around.

Every little bit helps avoid scraunching on unfriendly terrain : )

[LivinLite AZ]

This is neat.
http://www.morryde.com/products/194-the-stepabovetm

The dimensions of the factory model are too big for our door but i bet someone clever could make it work.
This is a zero clearance option!
[/quote

Hey Driversteve.

Somehow I missed this the other day. I love it! I'll see if they make one that will fit my 13 footer. Camping world has them for like $300. Sounds like a steal. Thanks for the tip.

: ) S