How about those after market steps for TT?

[elsique]

Wanted to get some feedback from the forum on the choices of after market steps for our TT.
We have trouble with our steps falling short at some sites (bought leg extensions). One time, we had almost a 12 inch gap between bottom step and ground. We used a 4x4 to bridge gap. My older dog has problems getting up the steps and I actually took a tumble off the steps, broke a toe and am still working out multiple back problems a year later, as a result of that fall. I have to do something before spring and I want steps that are very sturdy, regardless of the terrain.

There are a few different models to choose from and I wanted some feedback from those who already upgraded. Any brands or styles to avoid or recommendations on best to buy would be much appreciated.

[edatlanta]

I worked for a large US corporation for many years and every year they would commission a study to see if our products were right for the market we were serving. Every single year the top three things these surveys showed in the order of priority by the buyer were: Quality, Service, Price. Price was always in 3rd place. Quality obviously has to do with the product, but also it's "fit" for the purpose it is designed to perform. Service and Price are obvious. We all talk about price, but if the product isn't right for the task and not serviced by the manufacturer then price doesn't matter.

There are always alternatives to any product, but do they perform the designed task? I am a bit biased as I have the Torklift Glow Step Revolution and recommend it highly. One big feature of this step is it can be operated in many different angles, etc. I was in a campground in north Florida back in the spring off of I75 that caters to travelers going to and from central Florida. They have a unique pull through system that works great, but some of the lanes have an incline to the next lane that is pretty close and steep to the lane you are parked on and the lanes are too narrow to move over as you park. If one of the alternative products to the Glow Step was used in this situation I have no clue how it could be deployed and used due to the angle. My Glow Step worked great.

Click For Full-Size Image.">Picture Here is a camper that was right behind me and please note he had to dig a little bit of dirt to even deploy his OEM 3 step. I can't image a 1 piece 4-5 step in this situation.

[CFerguson]

Lantly, once again you missed (or intentionally dodged) the point. Of course there are rare occasions where you need a clerk to scan an item that has a missing tag. sigh. I guess I will have to explain it to you further.... I asked if you go shopping and expect to take all your items to the front where you then find out how much they cost. afaik, only people named Bloomberg/Soros/Buffet/Gates/etc or people inhabiting the low end of the Bell Curve do that. (and the first group almost certainly has someone else shop for them of course).
Ha! You talk about making product judgment yet defend the hiding of price by a manufacturer. Missed that one a bit eh.

RCMAN46, unlike many others in this thread, that was a very informative post. Thank You. etrailer is the kind of site I would do business with- all prices and specs right up front where everyone can see them and make informed judgments. And those steps look nice too. I cant imagine we’d ever load them up to the full spec 375#!

[RCMAN46]

I do not believe you can purchase the TorkLift GlowStep Revolution directly from the website that was given at the beginning of this posting.

It is not uncommon for a manufacturing site to only give specifications and features of a product.

I have a TorkLift GlowStep Revolution and it has been worth every dollar I paid for it.

I purchased mine from Etrailer.

GlowStep Revolution

[Lantley]

CFerguson wrote:
Companies that hide their prices do so because they KNOW its too high and a competitor has a Value advantage. Do you ever shop at a store where you take your items to the front cash register to see what the price is? I didn't think so

(or if you answer 'why yes, I do that all the time', then you just earned your Keyboard Kommando Kard.)

I agree to a point. Yes the guy with the more expensive product will not mention the price first because you are correct price is not to their advantage. They will first promote the quality and features of their product in an attempt to inform the consumer why they have a better more expensive product.
In the case of aftermarket steps Lippert will quickly put the price on there $300.00 steps, that are aluminum looking and on the surface and at first glance appear to be just like Torxlift Glow Steps.
However if you read the features of both products you will find the GSR's are adjustable in many ways, are supported by the ground and are quite different from the basic Lippert steps. The Glow Steps are in the $600.00 range. (My pricing is not accurate just trying to make a point) . jumping to any conclusion based solely on price in generally a mistake. Getting all the facts before making a decision is the wiser way to shop.
AS far as taking items to the register it happens all the time, especially at the big Box stores. Items are no longer priced individually , in most cases the price is conveyed via a sign.
Occasionally the sign is missing or illegible. You may pick up a stray item in the wrong area with no pricing available.
When this happens you can think no price- I don't want it, if they can't price it first! Or you can take it to the register and ask for the price? If you think its fair you buy it. You you don't like the price you leave it! Nothing novel. A wise consumer takes the time and makes the effort to be informed vs. just wanting to know the price.
At the end of the day price alone does not convey all the info one needs to make an informed decision.

A comparable gasoline powered truck is always cheaper than a diesel but we all know trying to find agreement on which is the better buy is certainly not as cut and dry as check the price tag.!

[CFerguson]

Companies that hide their prices do so because they KNOW its too high and a competitor has a Value advantage. Do you ever shop at a store where you take your items to the front cash register to see what the price is? I didn't think so

(or if you answer 'why yes, I do that all the time', then you just earned your Keyboard Kommando Kard.)

[elsique]

Thank you for all the feedback! At first, I was considering just purchasing the platform Step but I like the 4 step Torklift Glow steps that you have recommended. These look like they will be much more stable going in and out of the RV.

[Huntindog]

CFerguson wrote:

Lantley wrote:

CFerguson wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

elsique wrote:
There are a few different models to choose from and I wanted some feedback from those who already upgraded. Any brands or styles to avoid or recommendations on best to buy would be much appreciated.

Lots of positive reviews for the Torklift Glowstep. A friend of mine had one and was really happy with it ... here's his detailed report.

That looks like a good product (thanks for the link, SG!) but one of my pet peeves is having to hunt a product's price on its web page. I usually just assume they know that the price is so hi that it will scare off customers and so I just forget about the product. Totally kills any interest I have.


eta: hey mods, whats up? Even tho I am logged in, I had to do a proof test that I am not a robot before i could post.

In response to your pet peeve you are fighting basic marketing 101.
A wise promoter will promote an items strong point first and it weaker points last.
As it pertains to Torxlift their steps are a great product if they told you the price first the fear is the consumer would say for get it and move on without even finding out the features. The impatient consumer may bail on the product even if the features justify the higher price.
A Yugo may market themselves on price first. A Rolls Royce will bring up price last.

Sorry, but I am not fighting anything. If someone wants to sell me something, he has to tell me the price before I lose interest. Basic Sales 101. It may work on the unwashed masses, but I don't waste time playing games.
(I waste my time on the inturweb)

It is not a game.
An informed person can make a wise decision.

An uninformed cannot make a wise decision.

You want to make a decision before being informed about it..... IOW, before knowing all of the facts...

[Lantley]

If price is the biggest/best selling point it will appear first. If price is not the best selling point it will not appear first.
The idea is to always put your best foot forward first.
Yes they are marketing to the masses not individuals.

[CFerguson]

Lantley wrote:

CFerguson wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

elsique wrote:
There are a few different models to choose from and I wanted some feedback from those who already upgraded. Any brands or styles to avoid or recommendations on best to buy would be much appreciated.

Lots of positive reviews for the Torklift Glowstep. A friend of mine had one and was really happy with it ... here's his detailed report.

That looks like a good product (thanks for the link, SG!) but one of my pet peeves is having to hunt a product's price on its web page. I usually just assume they know that the price is so hi that it will scare off customers and so I just forget about the product. Totally kills any interest I have.


eta: hey mods, whats up? Even tho I am logged in, I had to do a proof test that I am not a robot before i could post.

In response to your pet peeve you are fighting basic marketing 101.
A wise promoter will promote an items strong point first and it weaker points last.
As it pertains to Torxlift their steps are a great product if they told you the price first the fear is the consumer would say for get it and move on without even finding out the features. The impatient consumer may bail on the product even if the features justify the higher price.
A Yugo may market themselves on price first. A Rolls Royce will bring up price last.

Sorry, but I am not fighting anything. If someone wants to sell me something, he has to tell me the price before I lose interest. Basic Sales 101. It may work on the unwashed masses, but I don't waste time playing games.
(I waste my time on the inturweb)

[Lantley]

CFerguson wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

elsique wrote:
There are a few different models to choose from and I wanted some feedback from those who already upgraded. Any brands or styles to avoid or recommendations on best to buy would be much appreciated.

Lots of positive reviews for the Torklift Glowstep. A friend of mine had one and was really happy with it ... here's his detailed report.

That looks like a good product (thanks for the link, SG!) but one of my pet peeves is having to hunt a product's price on its web page. I usually just assume they know that the price is so hi that it will scare off customers and so I just forget about the product. Totally kills any interest I have.


eta: hey mods, whats up? Even tho I am logged in, I had to do a proof test that I am not a robot before i could post.

In response to your pet peeve you are fighting basic marketing 101.
A wise promoter will promote an items strong point first and it weaker points last.
As it pertains to Torxlift their steps are a great product if they told you the price first the fear is the consumer would say for get it and move on without even finding out the features. The impatient consumer may bail on the product even if the features justify the higher price.
A Yugo may market themselves on price first. A Rolls Royce will bring up price last.

[edatlanta]

Lantley wrote:

CFerguson wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

elsique wrote:
There are a few different models to choose from and I wanted some feedback from those who already upgraded. Any brands or styles to avoid or recommendations on best to buy would be much appreciated.

Lots of positive reviews for the Torklift Glowstep. A friend of mine had one and was really happy with it ... here's his detailed report.

That looks like a good product (thanks for the link, SG!) but one of my pet peeves is having to hunt a product's price on its web page. I usually just assume they know that the price is so hi that it will scare off customers and so I just forget about the product. Totally kills any interest I have.


eta: hey mods, whats up? Even tho I am logged in, I had to do a proof test that I am not a robot before i could post.

I have Glow steps. They are great and work as advertised.
As to the price, you may find a cheaper set of aftermarket steps but you will not find a better set of Aftermarket steps.
As always you get what you pay for.

Glowstep here also and couldn't be happier. I have had mine for almost 3 years.

[OleManOleCan]

I made some steps from 2x4s and heavy plywood.
I made em as wide as the door. I made em wide. I have big feet.
I put rubber non skid strips on the steps.
2 sections of steps for ease of transport.

At my house I use 4x8 solids to make stack steps.

[profdant139]

And yes, that is a piece of Astroturf fastened to one of the steps -- it helps keep the trailer a little cleaner. At this particular site, the turf came in real handy -- the site had recently been visited by a small herd of cows, apparently suffering from various digestive issues. We tried to watch where we stepped, but it was not easy to navigate around the obstacles.

[profdant139]

I love my Glowsteps -- but they are not infinitely long. If the drop-off from the trailer to the ground is more than four feet, we have to improvise, as the photo below illustrates. We were boondocking in the Uintah Range of Utah -- the site was a rocky mess, extremely tilted. Note the flat rocks under the "landing gear" on the steps:


Click For Full-Size Image.