I figured out a way to install Torklift's GlowStep scissor steps on my Lance camper that does not involve any drilling on the camper or additional hardware. I am posting this as I did a fairly exhaustive search on how others have installed their steps and didn't see anyone come up with this simple idea.
Here are two pictures of the steps mounted to the camper using the existing mounting brackets that the stock, single step mounts to.
To achieve this, I had to move the top-most struts of the GlowSteps, the part that attaches to the camper, to the outside of the step assembly. I simply reversed the long and short struts shown in the next picture. Without this, the steps will not fit within the existing brackets on the camper. As you can see in the first picture, they just barely fit after the modification. If necessary, you could further widen them by adding additional washers where the struts bolt together on the step assembly. Also, the holes in the long struts had to be enlarged to 3/8" to fit the clevis pins.
Here is my first attempt at how they will be secured while traveling. Not the most elegant solution but quick and simple.
Here is Smitty checking things out. Every cat we have ever had likes to climb stairs and Smitty is no different. He is ready for some truck camper camping!
Here are two pictures of the steps mounted to the camper using the existing mounting brackets that the stock, single step mounts to.
To achieve this, I had to move the top-most struts of the GlowSteps, the part that attaches to the camper, to the outside of the step assembly. I simply reversed the long and short struts shown in the next picture. Without this, the steps will not fit within the existing brackets on the camper. As you can see in the first picture, they just barely fit after the modification. If necessary, you could further widen them by adding additional washers where the struts bolt together on the step assembly. Also, the holes in the long struts had to be enlarged to 3/8" to fit the clevis pins.
Here is my first attempt at how they will be secured while traveling. Not the most elegant solution but quick and simple.
Here is Smitty checking things out. Every cat we have ever had likes to climb stairs and Smitty is no different. He is ready for some truck camper camping!
kerry4951 wrote:
Same system works well on Arctic Fox. Ive been using this method for the past 2 years. Works well when towing.
And here I was thinking I had figured something out that no one else had. I swear, I spent the better part of three days searching all the forum archives looking at how other people had mounted their steps. Did you post a picture of your setup before? If so, I sure was not able to find it.
I see that the GlowSteps are mounted on the outside of the OEM step brackets such that the just the ends of the clevis pins are bearing the weight. If you switch the long and short sides of the struts like I did, it will likely fit inside the brackets and be that much stronger; however, the OEM step would not fit. I decided I was never going to use the OEM step so that was not a concern for me.
Same system works well on Arctic Fox. Ive been using this method for the past 2 years. Works well when towing.
skipro3 wrote:
Looks good Mike. How high is the top of your step bumper on the camper to the ground with your set-up?
It looks like this would prevent towing with that hanging there. How hard is it to remove/install?
The height from the top of the step bumper to the ground is about 30 inches when the camper is on my truck. The three-step GlowStep is spec'ed to be at 27 inches which is almost exactly the distance from the bottom of the bumper to the ground. In other words, darn near a perfect fit.
Yes, it will have to be removed or moved to the side position for towing - same as the OEM step. It is held on with the OEM clevis pins so it is quick to remove. Also, there are additional OEM brackets on the right side of the bumper where the steps can be hung that are out of the way of the tow hitch. This picture shows the steps mounted in the right-side position.
