Forum Discussion

sandtsherman's avatar
sandtsherman
Explorer
Jun 23, 2013

Steps too tight

Before posting this, I tried searching for this. I probably put in the wrong criteria.

Our 5th wheel is only a few months old, 5 times out so far. The fold up steps to the door are so tight we can't hardly pull them out or put them away. We assumed they would loosen after the first few uses, but they seem to be getting harder instead of easier to fold out.

Any suggestions on making them easier to use? I'm going to assume something like WD40 will help, but I'd prefer to keep the area clean.
  • I overkilled it with synthetic oil from a oil can. I put paper underneath the steps and flooded the joints with oil. Then open and closed the steps a few times, then oiled it some more. Finally my wife can open and close the steps. There is one other thing, they could be bent and out of alignment. Dealer can determine and fix that.
    Good luck.
  • I bought a can of white lithium grease at the parts store. It came with a small straw like WD40 so you can get it exactly where you want it. Sprayed it on all the joints on both sides of the steps and wiped off the excess. Worked all year and made the steps easy to pull in and out. WD40 dries out too fast......
  • I think WD40 would work well in this instance, just don't overdo it. Spray on a bit using the straw and work the steps and they should loosen up.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,115 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 27, 2025