stairs

Tracking in dirt from shoes is normal and cannot be 100 % avoided.
Bringing in dirt that accumulates on the stairs themselves is not typical can be 100% avoided with a different set of steps.

Well, no matter what, we seem to track in a lot of dirt and gravel. We have the GlowSteps, as I mentioned above. And they stay outside -- they are mounted below the door.

But we boondock in messy places -- ice, snow, mud, you name it. So we keep a boot cleaner near the front door, and a stiff whisk broom, and an astro-turf welcome mat.

None of that stuff works perfectly, but we can fool ourselves into thinking that we are doing our best to hold back the mess.

When it gets really bad, we have to take our boots off before coming thru the door. Like the time we somehow ended up in a cow pasture . . . .

Cptnvideo wrote:
Bravo, Grit Dog. My favorite is the dumping of dirt into the RV. Apparently they either don't have a broom or the few seconds it takes to use one.

It's not about sweeping up the mess. It's about avoiding the mess in the first place.
Let's see, should I get the steps that brings dirt inside the RV or should I get the set that remains entirely outside?
That is not a hard decision.
Should I get the fridge that leaks a little bit, its not hard to wipe up. Or should I get one that does not leak at all.
Now to some degree the fridge example seems absurd. Of course you don't want a fridge that leaks.
That's how many feel about stairs that store inside and bring dirt, water and debris inside.

Cptnvideo wrote:
Bravo, Grit Dog. My favorite is the dumping of dirt into the RV. Apparently they either don't have a broom or the few seconds it takes to use one.

Yeah, that mud just brushes right off. :)

Face it, some of us hate them with a passion, because they're a PIA. You like them. Shoot, you could have mine if I could replace them easily.

But really, the worst thing about them is if you can't put the steps down, you can't get into your trailer. Smart engineering.

Bravo, Grit Dog. My favorite is the dumping of dirt into the RV. Apparently they either don't have a broom or the few seconds it takes to use one.

When they first came out a lot of folks were happy because of the added stability they gave them. I know my wifes first thought after seeing them was - So isn't all the dirt/rain etc going to go inside the camper?

My first thought was that I would never be able to use them at the storage yard being in close proximity to the trailer next to me. I just figured if I ever bought a new trailer like that I would need to have them swapped out.

We purchased a 19 Flagstaff 29RKWS in 2020, but before we finalized the sale, we had to buy additional steps with one handrail and purchased a second to allow my wife to be able to get in and out. We bought a 5 step add-on which works well. Currently trying to come up with a way to mount them permanently so I don't have to go through unloading/loading them from the cargo compartment...not getting any younger. While made of aluminum, they are still somewhat heavy. The fold in the door steps are nice, but no easy or solid way to attach handrails. We have a three step, but if 5 could be placed in the same space, that may work well for us but unable to locate a 5 step. Don't know how to add a pic, below is where we purchased them.



http://rv-co.com

Durb, that is a clever solution -- I did not know that the GlowSteps could be used as a ladder.

profdant139 wrote:
John, that was a great write-up on the GlowSteps -- well done!

For whatever it is worth, I am also a happy GlowSteps camper -- we do a lot of boondocking in rough country, and the GlowSteps can cope with difficult situations.

But if I understand the OP's situation correctly, I'm not sure that GlowSteps would solve the problem of a very narrow site, with the bottom of the step an inch from a block wall. I don't know of any steps that would handle that issue.

With the Glowsteps, you can push them close to the trailer in an emergency and use them almost like a ladder. Use the upper 3 notch adjustment to make sure the rungs are level. They will protrude a lot less than fold down steps. Emergency use only as I wouldn't considering the limited rung surface as being desirable, but you can get into the trailer virtually anywhere.

John, that was a great write-up on the GlowSteps -- well done!

For whatever it is worth, I am also a happy GlowSteps camper -- we do a lot of boondocking in rough country, and the GlowSteps can cope with difficult situations.

But if I understand the OP's situation correctly, I'm not sure that GlowSteps would solve the problem of a very narrow site, with the bottom of the step an inch from a block wall. I don't know of any steps that would handle that issue.