kwikee steps

I noticed the same thing when I first bought the MH. I had other problems to fix and did not think about it much. I put a block of wood under the steps as Debishop mentioned. Years later I took my son and grandson camping and my son noticed that there was a #8 screw on each side holding up the steps, one was broken. After installing larger screws the bounciness in the steps went away and I no longer need the block of wood.

LVJ58 wrote:
Up underneath your step assembly frame toward the back, there should be a bolt on both sides of the frame that retain an eccentric type cam. You can loosen the bolt and rotate the cam to a position where the downward movement of the steps can be minimized. Best when adjusting to have someone to put pressure on the steps while you make the adjustment. Anyway, that's the way it works on our Kwikee steps.

Good luck and let us know how you make out...

Hey LV,
Been a while since we spoke. Your instructions on the adjustment of the "cam stops" for the Kwikee two step models is slightly off some. Before I answered this, I went to my PDF file on my two step Kwikee and checked the adjustment procedure. In that step by step (no pun intended) procedure, that cam is used in conjunction with the motor/gear arm travel.

They don't say anything about having pressure on the step, as the adjustment is made. They simply state, loosen the cams so they turn freely, then, extend the steps, all the way out and, that the rotating arm is against the gear housing.
At that point, you rotate the cams, to the point they're up against the step arms. Then, tighten them securely.

Then, retract the step and extend it, several times, to make sure the adjustment remains correct. The cam(s) are there to make sure there is no play at the last point of extension. But, they are not there for support of the steps, when being stepped on. That is all taken care of by whatever type/style of mounting the entire assembly is attached to. If one has a real strong steel structure that the step is mounted to, it will be considerably more stable, than one that attached to mere body components, like mine. I love our Itasca diesel unit but, that step mounting is for the birds.

I would have copied and pasted the adjustment procedures but, PDFs don't let you do that. At least on my computer they don't. Hope this helps some.
Scott

y rig has that same movement, OO bought a little adjustable floor jack that stops the motion. Does your friend have a rig that doesn't move or a car that doesn't move? Most vehicle have a little movement when a grown person enters, especially on a two foot lever out the side of a motor home.

Remember with the two step unit you have the bottom step located further from the mounting point therefore acting as a lever which will add some give to the steps too. Many of these are mounted only to wood (floor boards underside) with little to no anchoring to any kind of steel framework. Just depends on the coach/trailer builder.

Up underneath your step assembly frame toward the back, there should be a bolt on both sides of the frame that retain an eccentric type cam. You can loosen the bolt and rotate the cam to a position where the downward movement of the steps can be minimized. Best when adjusting to have someone to put pressure on the steps while you make the adjustment. Anyway, that's the way it works on our Kwikee steps.

Good luck and let us know how you make out...

STEVE220,
You're not alone in this situation. We have a very similar operation/feeling in our '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT. It feels spongy when you step on it. I've been a welder most of my life and, have checked the structural attachment points on this setup, more than a few times.

The steps are mounted to basically the body of the coach, with some structural support. But, it's just not as good as some of the steps on friends motor homes. Some of those are like stepping on concrete steps. Now, not having been underneath yours, I cannot say for sure, it's mounted just like mine. I'd have to see the mounting system and, observe just how much it flexes, when someone steps on it.

That's what you need to do, if you haven't already. Observe all the attachment points and make sure that, there's nothing "giving" more than it should.

Now, because there's really not much I can do on mine, to bolster the mounting system to make it stronger, I simply use what's called a "Step saver". They're sold by Camping World and other RV parts/equipment suppliers. If you haven't seen them, they're simply a double plate, with a welded set of threads, male and female attached to them.

You get to your camp site, set up your rig, do what's needed to level it, put out the slides and all that. Then, when you're all done, you put this step saver under your step and, adjust it so that it's just tight. Your step will now feel like you're walking on concrete steps.

But, there's precautions to take. First off, you need something as a warning to yourself that, you need to remove that step saver prior to getting ready to leave camp. Otherwise, you could damage not only the step, but, the body etc, where it's attached if you were to leave it under there and start the procedures for getting ready to break camp.

Likewise at home, if you use it there. Anyway, enough blabbing for now. Hope this info helps some. Good luck
Scott