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KM_Rolling's avatar
KM_Rolling
Explorer
Dec 31, 2018

Need some help please

I've searched the forum, and google...can't find the answer.

We have our trailer set up for traveling and camping in below freezing temps.

All is good at keeping warm inside, and all the tanks & plumbing are heated/taken care of.

What is not taken care of is keeping the steps from icing up.

We have just two metal steps (they fold up outside when traveling), they have grating on them, so plenty of traction, except when there is ice on them.

Will those wrap around mats take care of that? It seems like they would ice up the same as the metal?

Any and all suggestions welcome.

TIA
  • Throw a welcome mat over the stairs at night then kick it off in the morning.
  • The stair mats ice up as well. Ask me how I know.

    I slipped in the top one and fell (inside the doorway). I really bent my other knee while it was crunched in the doorway. It was the farthest it bent in a loonng time, and hurt a lot. Didn't fall on my head though.
  • when it starts that nasty stuff that makes your steps slippery we throw a garbage sack over them.
  • Or if just a thin layer pour a little hot water on them before stepping out of the trailer. Then fold them in until you get ready to go back in.

    If entering the trailer and the steps are extended you can scrape them off. I keep a small broom next to the inside of the door to sweep out dirt and sweep snow off the steps. When the snow ices up or gets crusty I have a short flat point shovel I keep under the rear bunk which is also accessible through a baggage door. It is part of my outdoor gear. I use it to clean heavier snow off the steps before entering or exiting the trailer then pour a little hot water on them to finish off.

    If you have plenty of power available and want to get fancy, you could add some heat tape with a thermostat control like the type used on metal pipe subject to freezing, to the underside of each step and set the thermostat to just below freezing. just remember to unplug it before folding in the steps.
  • They do help, but can still get slick if things ice up. Consider a can of deicer.