Anyone use ' "Solid Step" stairs? for Truck Camper

[nord_nord]

Looking for a better solution for stairs, hate the scissors. Has anyone tried Lippert Components "Solid Step" stairs? They have one that's 20" which might fit, but it only has 4 steps and I probably need 5 or 4 with a block step under the bottom. All the applications I've seen were in trailers which are not tall. My door is at least 40 inches off the ground and put to 50 depending on the ground

[SidecarFlip]

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
Much better than a Little Giant ladder or any other steps in my opinion.

For your purposes, it probably is and it's great that they work for you.

Since I usually tow a trailer, the Little Giant works where attached steps wouldn't. I also have a nice ladder to use around home or camp. It too deploys in about 5 seconds.

The ladder also works sideways when the truck/camper is in my shop parked within a couple feet of the back wall.

I also tow a trailer about 90% of the time and I use a short drop ball hitch. Clears the steps in the stored position, close but clears. I jack knife the trailer to the drivers side when parked at the campsite and that way I can deploy the steps without removing the trailer at all.

I have one of those retractable ladders that goes along sometimes as well but my bunk ladder is usually the one that gets used the most. It's an aluminum one with rubber feet. Stromberg-Carlson I think.

[HMS_Beagle]

The hanger bracket that comes with any of the scissors stairs makes a pretty flimsy connection to the camper. You want the pivot of the stair connected rigidly to the camper or truck. I've done it both ways and either works. On the last truck, I attached them to a hitch extension. On this camper and truck, I attached them to the camper bumper, since it had one. However you do it, this will make these steps (or any steps) much more stable feeling.

I personally find that if the steps are difficult to use (such as needing to drag them from the camper and set them up) you will dread using the camper. Too much work to get into it. With mine it is 2 seconds.

I wrote this up awhile ago but photobucket destroyed the effort. Here is part of it again. Here are all the pictures.

[TxGearhead]

So apparently no one has used the Lippert Solid Step?

[JumboJet]

I like the Torklift GlowSteps with the GlowGuide Handrail system. Lightweight. Attached. Glows in the dark for safe access.

[wnjj]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Much better than a Little Giant ladder or any other steps in my opinion.

For your purposes, it probably is and it's great that they work for you.

Since I usually tow a trailer, the Little Giant works where attached steps wouldn't. I also have a nice ladder to use around home or camp. It too deploys in about 5 seconds.

The ladder also works sideways when the truck/camper is in my shop parked within a couple feet of the back wall.

[SidecarFlip]

When I installed them on my TC I had to fabricate a mounting bracket which I welded to the roll formed channel that runs across the back of the camper underneath because my unit has no rear bumper and the steps require at least a 3" clear mount space below the door and I have less than 2". They came out better than I expected, well, not really in as much as I do metal fabrication I was confident it would come out ok and it did. They are very strong. I had an overweight (as in fat) friend test them for me. He weighs well over 280 and they never even flexed a bit with him not so nicely climbing up and down. I wanted to make sure they would bear the weight... They do.

I don't expect everyone to be able to weld and fabricate a custom mount (like I did) but they are a very well made and stable step.

Worth every penny TL wants for them.

[stevenal]

The Torklift Landing Gear as I received them were all black. I found some aluminum square tubing with the right corner curvature to cut into longer extensions.Un-modified Landing Gear

[SidecarFlip]

The black part comes with them called 'landing gear' and they have a spring loaded detent clip that secures them plus the pads (feet) are removable. I got one the first sets made and I think they are the cat's meow.

Very stable, tuck up out of the way and deploy in about 5 seconds. Much better than a Little Giant ladder or any other steps in my opinion.

Just voted for them for 'accessory of the year' in Truck Camper Magazine Online.

[nord_nord]

Your post says modified landing gear, so I guess you added the part with the black that has the aluminum feet coming down? and they adjust independently (can't see a pin).

[stevenal]

Glow Step with modified Landing Gear:

[nord_nord]

Thanks for the responses all. I'm still working on this idea. I now have a truck tool box on a custom receiver hitch carrier with a pair of steps up to this "porch". May weld another step to the Brophy hitch steps (https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Step/Brophy/RHS2.html) and add a step to the top of the box to split the difference. Its all quite stable, but the steps are too far between at this point.

[TxGearhead]

I guess it was the solid step I saw on a 5th wheel a couple weeks ago. It is mounted vertically inside the door to the threshold. Open the door, unlatch it, and pull it down. I'm not sure if you could reach the latch on a TC with basement.
My scissors steps at OK. I assume the previous owner drilled and tapped the "hooks" on the camper part and the top bar on the step. Seems secure enough with a bolt in them. I wrap a cable around them with a carabiner when travelling.
I still think if you aren't happy with scissor steps, make your own steps out of plywood, cover with astroturf and store inside the camper while travelling.

[yblaw]

I should have mentioned that the TL Glow Step Revolution system has an adjustable top step so it can be closer or further away from the entrance step; that, in addition to the independently adjustable height landing legs designed to compensate for unlevel ground, makes this the best step system I've used in more than 40 years of motorhome, 5th wheel, travel trailer and TC ownership.......

[HMS_Beagle]

With any scissors steps, a rigid connection to the camper is essential. If you just have them mounted on the typical hanger, they will feel quite flimsy. A good set, rigidly mounted, is as good as any RV steps. The problem with most RV steps intended for trailers and motorhomes is they do not have enough steps, making the first or last step very high.