Class 5 Truck - Entry Step Solution
Here is something that may help other Eagle Cap owners (and possibly you great Host owners), whose TC's have the HSM Hickory step system that won't reach the ground...eliminates step-stools, etc.
After mounting our EC1165 on the F550 with Douglass body, the bottom step ended up being at 28" off the ground in our driveway with the entry-side rear wheels raised 3" for leveling. Since we boondock on unimproved, uneven ground mountain sites, this was realistic for design purposes - bottom step height adjustability (ie. Landing Gear) was also required.
Used the 3-step Little Giant for the temporary extra steps while measuring and looking at the myriad of options for more steps that would attach to the TC. Really wanted the TorkLift Revolution for all of the adjustability, but needed 7-step custom (which TL said they wouldn't make), and it was too thick anyway to tuck into the 17" available step storage space. The EC TC's have a support bar across the bottom of the space (photos of Host's that I have seen don't show that limitation). In spite off others saying they would be willing to cut out the bar...I decided I was not (possible structure support for the corner jack, would look cobbled up, wouldn't match driver's side rear wing, etc).
So what I ended up with is drilling out the rivets holding the bottom Hickory step and having a very stout bracket with inside dimension of 23-3/8" vs. the TL Stow-N-Glow bracket at 22-5/8". Friend with a lathe machined a couple of 3/8" aluminum spacers. Drilled a new 5/16" hole in the uppermost scissor-link of the 4-step Storage-N-Glow to match the 5/16" (rivet) hole in the Hickory step bracket and bolted it up. Decided to use bolts vs clevis pins to tighten it up and eliminate any wobble.
Very stable and it is easy to mount and unmount the steps. Am still searching for the slick way to eliminate the bolts, replacing with a lock for security without compromising the tight lockup...so far the closest possibility is the ABUS 82/70 Monobloc...
In the pics below, the bottom step is at 8" rise, and the remaining steps range 7.5-8.0". The transition spacing between the uppermost TL step to the 1st Hickory step is 3.5" vs. 1" on the rest of the TL steps, but it is not noticeable to me as I go up and down them. We'll see if my wife notices when she returns next week. There is room to reduce the space another 1-1.5" if desired.
I've got a design for an easily deployable lower hand rail for the TL step section if my wife wants - we'll see if it's necessary and I'll post if built...
Hickory 4-step retracted.
Hickory deployed - bottom step 28" off ground.
Bottom step folded up showing stout bracket metal below 3rd step.
The rivet to drill out - retains ability to restore it to OEM configuration in the future.
Stow-N-Glow upper link bolted up.
After mounting our EC1165 on the F550 with Douglass body, the bottom step ended up being at 28" off the ground in our driveway with the entry-side rear wheels raised 3" for leveling. Since we boondock on unimproved, uneven ground mountain sites, this was realistic for design purposes - bottom step height adjustability (ie. Landing Gear) was also required.
Used the 3-step Little Giant for the temporary extra steps while measuring and looking at the myriad of options for more steps that would attach to the TC. Really wanted the TorkLift Revolution for all of the adjustability, but needed 7-step custom (which TL said they wouldn't make), and it was too thick anyway to tuck into the 17" available step storage space. The EC TC's have a support bar across the bottom of the space (photos of Host's that I have seen don't show that limitation). In spite off others saying they would be willing to cut out the bar...I decided I was not (possible structure support for the corner jack, would look cobbled up, wouldn't match driver's side rear wing, etc).
So what I ended up with is drilling out the rivets holding the bottom Hickory step and having a very stout bracket with inside dimension of 23-3/8" vs. the TL Stow-N-Glow bracket at 22-5/8". Friend with a lathe machined a couple of 3/8" aluminum spacers. Drilled a new 5/16" hole in the uppermost scissor-link of the 4-step Storage-N-Glow to match the 5/16" (rivet) hole in the Hickory step bracket and bolted it up. Decided to use bolts vs clevis pins to tighten it up and eliminate any wobble.
Very stable and it is easy to mount and unmount the steps. Am still searching for the slick way to eliminate the bolts, replacing with a lock for security without compromising the tight lockup...so far the closest possibility is the ABUS 82/70 Monobloc...
In the pics below, the bottom step is at 8" rise, and the remaining steps range 7.5-8.0". The transition spacing between the uppermost TL step to the 1st Hickory step is 3.5" vs. 1" on the rest of the TL steps, but it is not noticeable to me as I go up and down them. We'll see if my wife notices when she returns next week. There is room to reduce the space another 1-1.5" if desired.
I've got a design for an easily deployable lower hand rail for the TL step section if my wife wants - we'll see if it's necessary and I'll post if built...
Hickory 4-step retracted.
Hickory deployed - bottom step 28" off ground.
Bottom step folded up showing stout bracket metal below 3rd step.
The rivet to drill out - retains ability to restore it to OEM configuration in the future.
Stow-N-Glow upper link bolted up.
