(See update at end of this post. Bottom line -- don't loosen the scissor step bolts. See below for details.)
As you probably already know, Torklift contacted several folks and offered to send each of us a Glow Step Revolution (“GSR” – much shorter). They asked us to post our impressions of the product on rv.net, but (of course) they did not tell us what to say. Bottom line: this is a fairly “glowing” review (pun intended), but this product is not for everyone, as I will explain below. You can see more about the product here – I won’t repeat the stuff on the manufacturer’s website:
Glow Step siteThe purpose of this posting is to help folks who are already interested in the GSR and who are trying to decide whether to order one. I posted a separate entry regarding installation on the Do It Yourself forum, assuming that you want to try to install it yourself (which I did). (I am going to try to cross-link the two discussions, but I am not sure that is possible.) Here is the link:
Installation tips and issuesSo, here are the Pros: First, I think that the GSR is much safer than our original equipment steps were. There is no big gap to watch out for when going up or down. The stairs go all the way to the ground. We won’t need to tote along a step-stool, which is so often wobbly (especially when boondocking in rough terrain). The GSR steps are much steadier, since the legs rest right on the ground. (And the legs adjust to different heights, since the campsite always slopes up or down a little, and sometimes a lot.) Since the GSR provides you with three or four steps instead of two, each step is smaller, requiring less effort to balance safely (especially when carrying heavy loads in or out of the trailer).
Second, I think the GSR is a lot easier on the knees, ankles, and hips, which is a big deal for older campers (like me) – three smaller steps instead of two big ones. It would be easier for small children and small pets, too, but I do not have first-hand experience with that. I can also add that because my wife is vertically challenged (about 5 feet tall), she finds the GSR makes it easier to get in and out. That is especially true because our trailer is raised (due to an axle-flip) for boondocking and off-road travel, so there is a long way to climb.
Third, the GSR greatly reduces shaking inside the trailer when in use. There are two major benefits to this feature – it is less annoying to the folks inside the trailer. But more importantly, it cuts down on the progressive loosening of the stabilizers over time. Have you ever noticed that even if your trailer is pretty stable when you first set up, it gets less stable over a period of a couple of days? I think that’s because the stabilizers settle a little every time you go in and out of the trailer. The GSR really cuts down on that problem, in my opinion.
Fourth, the company did a great job with “fitment” -- they told me exactly what measurements to take, and the new steps slipped into place perfectly (with one exception – see the “cons,” below).
Fifth, the GSR is easier to deploy and retract than our original steps were. Those heavy steel steps were very balky and awkward. The GSR glides in and out – very slick. This is not a huge plus, but it is not trivial, either.
So now, the Cons: First, this unit costs a lot of money, even without paying for installation (discussed below). Is it worth it? The answer is “it depends.” If you have great knees and hips, and if your trailer is not raised, and if you don’t mind the shakes, and if you are on a budget, this product may not be worth it. But as you check off the various factors (aging legs, decent finances, a shaky trailer, a desire for greater safety, small pets), then the GSR becomes more of a necessity and less of a luxury item.
Second, the engineering of the steps is beautiful – a clever and intricate folding mechanism. Why is that a “con?” Because I am a little concerned that the sand and grit of boondocking will abrade the moving parts. Obviously, I will open up the steps and rinse them off after every trip, but still, it is a concern. It is too soon to tell if this will be an issue. Frankly, I have looked on the Internet for complaints about this, and I have found nothing, so this may be a non-issue. (I plan to add a mud flap behind my right tire, which is right in front of the door and the steps, to cut down on the mud and grit.)
Third, the installation was a lot of fun (I love working on my trailer!), but it was not effortless. I did it by myself – no helper – and I had to develop some work-arounds to lift it into place. (If you are interested in the details, see the Do It Yourself forum.) I had to drill through the metal step brackets on my trailer – that is a necessary part of the job. There was a lot of bending and kneeling and squatting, on less-than-wonderful legs (see above). I would say that unless you are both moderately fit and moderately handy, this is not a job that you want to do yourself. So that adds some cost, if you have it done at a dealership or by a mechanic.
Fourth, the design of the GSR makes the installation a little tougher than it should be. Without getting into too much detail, the heads of the rear pivot bolts protrude slightly from the sides of the step frame housing, so you have to make room for them by cutting into the metal brackets on your trailer. The instructions that come with the GSR say: “Side brackets vary by manufacturer, and may need to be trimmed to clear the hardware protruding through the sides of the GSR frame.” Measuring for that cut-out and drilling the hole in the bracket to accommodate the bolt heads was pretty tricky. (I searched for other people’s installation stories, and many of them mentioned this exact issue.)
The unit would be much easier to mount if the rear pivot pin were brazed, welded, or cast as part of the frame, rather than being secured by a bolt. Alternatively, the bolt head could be countersunk into the side of the frame, to avoid interfering with the brackets.
Until this minor issue is fixed, the installer has to be a moderately competent do-it-yourselfer or a professional. But if that obstacle were to be removed, almost anyone could install the GSR, thus expanding the market for the product. I say “almost anyone” because there are people who are not comfortable drilling through metal with a hand held drill motor, and holes must be drilled. Of course, the mounting holes on the GSR are not matched up with the existing holes on the mounting brackets on the trailer – there is no way that they can be matched up, since there are so many different bracket configurations. And the drilling has to be done with the brackets on the trailer – most brackets are welded on.
Given all the pros and cons, and knowing what I know now, would I have paid my own money to buy this unit? Yes, certainly. I might have had to persuade my wife that this was a good investment (she is very thrifty – thank goodness), but I think I could have done so. After all, if you take the cost of the GSR and amortize it over however many days of camping you expect to get out of your trailer, it comes out to pennies per day.
Anyway, that’s my review -- I hope you found it helpful, and I would be happy to answer any and all questions.
(Update -- during the course of the discussion below, someone suggested loosening the scissor bolts slightly, so that the whole assembly would deploy faster and easier. I thought that sounded like a good idea. There are 36 bolts secured by nylon-core locknuts. Almost all of the bolts and nuts are seven-sixteenths, with the exception of a couple of allen-wrench bolts. I carefully backed each one off by an eighth of a turn -- a tedious job, but not technically demanding. I then put the steps into the stored position and then tried to deploy them.
Well, they deployed real fast, but not easy -- the whole step assembly shot out of the frame, and the "landing gear" slammed onto the ground. No damage to the steps, my fingers, or my feet, but this is not good. I retightened the bolts, and the whole thing now glides sedately out of the frame into position, no drama, no damage.
Your mileage may vary -- maybe loosen them by a sixteenth of a turn? But I am going to leave well enough alone!)
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and textAbout our trailer"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."
