How do you secure your scissors steps?

happycamper1942 wrote:

tuna fisher wrote:
I just lift them off and set them inside the door.

Me too

Me three

tuna fisher wrote:
I just lift them off and set them inside the door.

Me too

Here's my response to my own OP question: Because I am better equipped for woodworking than for metalworking, my step-support assembly is made of wood rather than metal. The assembly is five pieces of 1 x 4 fastened together with 2-inch drywall screws. The first photo shows the assembly before installation, sitting on top of the scissors-step framework. Notice the shelf that is fastened on top of the two horizontal 1 x 4 cross pieces. When the step-support assembly is in place and the steps are stowed, part of the shelf projects toward you, beyond the front 1 x 4 crosspiece. This projection slides between two of the steps and supports the step above it. By supporting this step, the step-support assembly supports the entire scissor-step assembly. And the steps no longer bounce against and damage the camper as we drive down the road.

The other photos show various perspectives after installation.




The picture below shows the step-support assembly in place. It hangs from the two bolts that secure the original step assembly to the camper. When the steps are stowed, they secure the step-support assembly against the camper.

What I like about this arrangement is that nothing needs to be fastened, unfastened, or picked up and carried when the steps are deployed or stowed.

basslbbig wrote:
I take them off and put them in the camper.

Me too. But it's annoying to have to do that and I'm worried that they'll bang something up. I usually put things on either side and carpet under them, but I'd prefer not to have to.

I fold them up and hang the bottom bar on the towing ball. Gravity holds them snug. 9 years and counting after 2 TC's and rough roads, no issues.

Dave

Two EPDM bungee cords. Cheap and effective. I also have a padlock on them so they don't disappear.

I have a pair of small safety chains for each side of the steps that clip to a small eye-bolt on the outer edge of the lower step on each side. Has redundancy since either chain will hold up the whole thing. About 10 years experience with this system.

Wow, HMS Beagle, beautiful design and build!

Kayteg1, looks like I'll have to check out your link too.

Thanks to you two and to the previous contributors as well.

I guess using search on this forum is unpopular?
So let me bring it one more time.
The way I did my steps give me everything.
- steps rest on top of the bumper, so simple securing will do
- I can enter my basement camper with steps on the bumper
-I can use my factory step if I am in hurry.
Here is link to the post https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28420784.cfm

If you can find a way to really secure them in place, life is good. Having to remove them every time I drive for me meant I tried to avoid getting inside to get a drink, check things, whatever; due to the work involved in getting the steps out and hooked up. Also, unless the stairs are securely fastened at the top end, which makes them seem much less wobbly. This is what I did for the current camper, I did something similar for the last one and in both cases it was one of the most successful modifications.