Even with the NL bumper, that first step can be a bit of a reach.
I welded up a hang on step extension that simply slips on & 2 small bolts are inserted to pin it. Plus I found that the TL hitch extension with ball is perfect when installed with the ball upside down to support the last folding step. With it all in place it is very solid indeed. The stock fold out handrail is adequate for us on the way up and down.
I am considering an adjustable post support so that I don't feel obligated to always tote the hitch extension. Steps work fine without it, but it flexes and has some bounce to it. With the extension there it is only the truck suspension that moves.
After these, I don't think I would ever like the scissor steps.
And YES, it would be a long way down...
Dave & Sue,
DINKS and dedicated to having fun as much as possible.
05 GMC LT crewcab dually
07 Northern Lite 10.2 CD SE, highly optioned version...
A lot comes on a SE.
Okay, now I have a question. Why doesn't someone make a folding stair that goes up sideways instead of straight in. That way a handle could be fastened to the rear of the TC for support. It would still do the job and not stick out so far to the rear of the TC either. The top step could be a wider step like a small platform. Just a thought.
Frank
When the camper is off, like mine right now...I need flexible stairs to deal with access issues when camper is low to the ground. My scissors hang under my NL-type bumper/step I built and hung on the jack mounts (4" aluminum tube for poop shoot with long flat step on top). So the fixed stairs of a Snow River would not work for alternating heights. George
geusterman, WA state, 04.5 Dodge, 3500 SRW flatbed, Cummins, 99 BigFoot 9.6 "Wherever we are, we're there!"
My wife took a nasty body slam type fall on our steps Presidents day weekend. They were wet and she had her hands full of snacks. We have 4 steps, one hit her head, one mid back, and one lower back just below her belt line. She hit the back of both arms on the sides and has big lumps now. Her lower back still hurts and she hopes the lumps go away on her arms. I had sprayed the steps with grip paint, but I am putting some really grippy grip tape on them for our Memorial day trip. Don't get in a hurry going down stairs.
Travis..
Love 'em! Let me qualify before getting flamed out of here! As soon as we put the 4 stepper's up on the new TC, the dog refused to go up or down them and I'm not going to pick up/down a 100lb lab everytime we stop! Like many dogs his fear was of being able to see through the steps. According to the vet, that is quite common... sooooo, I picked up some cheap I/O carpeting and ran a strip from top to bottom, attaching at the front edge and rear edge. The steps still fold up and everyone is happy and there's been not even a close mishap!! Now since this forum won't let me just paste a pic like every other forum I'm on, send me a note and I'll be happy to email a couple of pics so you can see how it was done.
Hey, got question for alot of you who had had slips. Are you walking forward down the steps when you had your accidents, or were you turned around stepping down backwards? Myself, I've always had to turn around and step down out of my camper so I could grab the hand hold.
At the moment, I'm trying to track down a set of used scissor steps to use for when my friend Mason is with me as he has a great deal of difficulty with the one big step up from the hitch extension.
CBChannel 17Space Ghost '1991.5Dodge W-250 Power Wagon - Club Cab Long Bed V8 5.9L 4spd H.D Auto 4x4 4.10 Gears '1974KIT Kamper 1106 - 11' Slide-in '1987Pullman Mini Camper '2004Bi-Mart 4x8 Cargo Trailer
JoeChiOhki,
In my case, I was walking down facing away from the TC as you would any normal stairs.
I have since cut up a door mat that looks something like grass but stiffer and with more open space and attached it to the step. It definately feels more secure when going down and it also acts as a last chance door mat before tracking dirt into the TC.
I must have missed this old thread. I fell about ten years ago or so when the steps slipped out of the hanger and I tumbled onto some big chunks of broken concrete as I was getting ready for a trip to Colorado. I went anyway, and became concerned when my foot turned purple. The doc at the rural CO hospital told me my leg was broken, but he'd take an xray to make sure. He came back shaking his head, saying it wasn't broken because I had MASSIVE bones. He gave me some drugs to reabsorb the blood and I ended up with a nasty scar. What I learned from this is to clamp the steps to the hanger with Vise Grips.
2001 F350 CC 4WD PSD dually, chipped, 4" SS exhaust, 350 hp
1986 Avion 25-H
1967 Avion C-10
I didn't want to temp fate...I made this portable 'railing' to help a bit to keep our balance. It's perfect for grabbing going up and down...the difference it makes is unbelievable!
It fits into a larger SS pipe, and I put a quick release pin in the bottom to keep the 'rail' from twisting.
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