Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Truck Campers: Opinions on folding entrance steps

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Topic: Opinions on folding entrance steps

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/17/17 05:52pm

My TC don't have a rear step bumper, it's a pop up and I've been contemplating a set of fold up steps because it's a PITA to get into and out of with my always present step stool.

Anyone have any recommendations on what is best?

I see there are a number of brands available but I have no clue as to what is best, easiest to install, easiest to store and how sturdy they are.

Guess I need some first hand advice before making the purchase in as much as none are inexpensive.

2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

Posted By: pastorbillv on 04/17/17 06:03pm

My RV has the electric retractable steps. My TC has the hinged-in-the-middle steps where the bottom half flips back on top of the top half. They work great and don't require the battery to work like the RV. You just have to remember to flip them up!

Bill

2004 Bigfoot 29G (Love the garage!)
2017 Northern-Lite 10'2" SE on F-350 (CC, Dually, 4WD, Boss)

Posted By: towpro on 04/17/17 07:00pm

for our wolf Creek we had a little giant step ladder. now our Arctic fox has a fox landing.

The fox landing is nice, but it and its bumper also eats up a good amount of space behind the RV when you measuring for a Hitch extension.

my 990 is 10" longer than my Wolf creek was. in wolf creak I could tow without an extension. but in the 990 with fox landing I can't tow with extension at 24", I need to run my extension at 34".
(this year I am switching to weight equalizer hitch which is a couple inches longer than my standard receiver. maybe I can move this extension back to 24"?)

2022 Ford F150
Sold: 2016 Arctic Fox 990, 2018 Ram 3500, 2011 Open Range
Sold Forest River Forester 2401R Mercedes Benz. when campsites went from $90 to $190 per night.

Posted By: Kayteg1 on 04/17/17 07:39pm

You will find several topics with working search, including my topic how I attached glow steps to my bumper step to make it universal for each situation.
Didn't I know at the time, glow steps come in 2 depths and I got the narrower one, who gives some insecure feeling.
Go for the widest one you can get.

Posted By: sharkman on 04/17/17 07:59pm

We had the 3 step little giant on our popup and i really like them, just fold them up and put "em" on the rug insde the back door, we have the 4 scissor step now on our lance and i don't really care for them, DW really likes them though.

Camper: 2005 Lance Lite 815
Truck: 2003 Dodge Ram Loramie 3500HD, CTD, DRW, Q/C, L/B, Draw-Tite Front Hitch
Boat: 1985 Alumacraft Trophy 175 - Evinrude 90 HP

Posted By: hedge on 04/17/17 08:13pm

I also had a little giant ladder (it's more like a portable staircase) and it was miles better than the scissor steps I had before (not glow steps).

I now have the Adventurer specific large bumper with built in steps and it's great but does hang a long way off the back so I needed a longer supertruss extension.

2017 F350 Platinum DRW
2013 Adventurer 89RB

Posted By: HMS Beagle on 04/17/17 08:24pm

If you go with the scissors steps I encourage you to find a way to firmly attach them to the camper. If they are just resting on a hook, both the top and bottom are floppy and now the middle is too. It makes a very big difference in how they feel if one end is secured properly (no matter what the brand).

The easier it is to deploy the steps, the more you will use your camper.

Bigfoot 10.4E, 2015 F350 6.7L DRW 2WD, Autoflex Ultra Air Ride rear suspension, Hellwig Bigwig sway bars front and rear

Posted By: lakeside013104 on 04/18/17 04:08am

Mr Sidecar,

Check this out

A set of these came with my Palomino when I purchased it. Easy to install and sturdy. Adjustable to many different height configurations.

Hope this helps.

Lakeside

Posted By: Jack Hart on 04/18/17 05:27am

Another vote for Little Giant. It's also useful for more than just getting into and out of the camper.
[image]

Posted By: towpro on 04/18/17 05:28am

PS: I used to hang my 4 step little giant step ladder on the ladder with one of those chairs hangers, held on with velcro straps

Posted By: whizbang on 04/23/17 07:47pm

Timely question. I now have 3 different steps for my pop-up.

One , is a single step made from a 5 inch piece pressure treated 4x4 bolted to a hitch extension. This is the step I most often use.

I have a 3 step Brophy scissor step. I like it. My wife hates it.

I just purchased a Brophy 2 step hitch step. Heck, I don't even know if it fits my truck/camper. Ask me on Saturday...

Whizbang
2002 Winnebago Minnie
http://www.raincityhome.com/RAWH/index.htm

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/23/17 09:12pm

whizbang wrote:

You are lucky. Your outfit is about 14" lower than mine. My pop up sits in the bed of a lifted (6 over stock) F 350 4x4. Between the lift and the 33 x 12.5 tires, it way up there...

Mine is a real pizzer getting into and out of. Looked at the TorkLift glo steps but I don't have enough room below the door to mount the attachment plate.

I don't want to buy steps and then not be able to mount them. The other issue is my Palomino overhangs the back of the bed a foot (because my wife insisted on a crapper and shower) so a hitch step isn't in the cards. Been using a step ladder to get in and out but stowing the ladder is a pita too. I have to find a solution. I'm sure there is one out there...

Posted By: AnEv942 on 04/23/17 10:41pm

When setting up our 20" GloSteps I split the mount bracket. Ours is tread mounted flush to bumper, used extra mount arms to capture both sides of mount ears reducing side leverage on mount pins. (top tread shown rotated 180°)
Depending on how wide space you have, might be an option.

[image]

20 1/2" between inside of mount 'ears'
24 3/8" cl/cl inside bolts

* This post was last edited 07/08/17 10:45pm by AnEv942 *

01 Ford F250 4x4 DRW Diesel, 01 Elkhorn 9U
Our camper projects page

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/23/17 11:21pm

All well and good. Problem is, I have no bumper / step. I'm like Whizbang but my TC overhangs the rear a bit. I have about 2" below the door sill and thats it. and it's camper body (Filon), not steel. I think my answer will be a Little Giant folding ladder but I have no idea where to get one...

Posted By: wnjj on 04/24/17 12:03am

SidecarFlip wrote:

Amazon. Search for other sizes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005V5MF/ref........locphy=9032895&hvtargid=pla-274049404248

We love ours. Sturdiest ladder I've ever used. Maybe you can rig a way to store it up under the rear overhang you have. Maybe a hitch rack?

The handle folds down, or you can drill the rivets and remove it for good.

Posted By: whizbang on 04/24/17 02:46am

This is the step I just bought... [image]

Maybe you could put it in a 12 or 18 inch hitch extension, and, use it in tandem with a small folding step stool.
[image]

You can also get "slack" tighteners or adjusters that eliminate the looseness or wiggle in the hitch.

Saturday, after I get loaded up, I will photograph both the one step and two step hitch steps.

Last year, a fishing buddy and I where going to have a beer in my camper to get out of the eastern WA wind. With his bad knees, he could make it up with just the one step.

These little pop-ups with no rear bumpers are a PITA as far as steps go.

* This post was edited 04/24/17 02:57am by whizbang *

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/24/17 06:51am

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

My question is, what do you do with the top bar. It's in the way. Do you cut it off or is it removable?

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/24/17 06:52am

Wizbang... I pull a trailer with mu quads on it. I would need that plus a ball hitch on the end. The PUP TC's are a pita for entry and egress for sure.

Posted By: wnjj on 04/24/17 10:06am

SidecarFlip wrote:

wnjj wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

My question is, what do you do with the top bar. It's in the way. Do you cut it off or is it removable?

That's what I called the handle. It folds down against the front arms, or you can remove it permanently if you drill the rivets.

Posted By: Tizi on 04/24/17 04:12pm

I had scissor steps on my last NL, I hated those things. Nearly busted my neck by falling off once.

2008 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 4x4 - HEMI
2007 Northern Lite 10.2 RR
Tizi's Transformer by Whazoo

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/24/17 06:23pm

Tizi wrote:

I had scissor steps on my last NL, I hated those things. Nearly busted my neck by falling off once.

I'm looking at all the alternatives at this point. I know my leaning ladder method is dangerous. Last year the ladder slipped and I almost busted my melon getting in the camper...woke me right up.

* This post was edited 04/24/17 09:50pm by SidecarFlip *

Posted By: AnEv942 on 04/24/17 09:51pm

SidecarFlip wrote:

I thought you were looking at stairs. There are less expensive scissor steps than Torklift but mounting is similar. But if a step ladder works, certainly less expensive.
Intent of first response was mounting option - to your wall. Many campers do not have rear bumper and steps are mounted directly to wall. Assuming there was some kind of structure under door, splitting bracket gets you out from under door if you don't have height, bracket's 1 1/4" wide.

Posted By: languiduck on 04/25/17 07:00am

I bought a set of the expensive torklift steps on my last TC. They were definitely good quality and well made. Having said that I didn't like them. They were heavy, they had to be strapped down or they'd swing going down the hwy, and they are still a narrow tread. Did I mention they are crazy expensive? So I removed them and got the Little Giant step ladder. Love it. And like said above it is useful to reach things on the outside of the camper, especially since I have a popup. My current TC came with a set of Brophy scissor steps and they are a death trap, worse than the torqlifts. Luckily I still have the Little Giant ladder so those scissor steps sit in the shed unused. Don't do it.

2006 F250
Palomino Bronco 800

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 04/25/17 07:13am

AnEv942 wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

The purpose of my OP was to garner information from actual users and then be able to make an informed decision as to which way to go. One great thing about forums like this is the knowledge base.

No point in my trying to re-invent the wheel, others already have the first hand experience.

Makes my search easier, less painful and less expensive to boot. I sure as heck don't want to have a failed attempt at mounting an entry system and then have holes in my camper skin. That certainly isn't a good thing.

If I was young and spry, the wooden stepladder I was using would be fine (other than carrying it) but I'm not and neither is my wife so we need something stable and safe.

Posted By: s1214 on 04/25/17 10:16am

I have the hitch step that Whizbang showed paired with a 12 inch hitch extension. I also carry a two step Rubbermaid stepladder if the ground drops off even further.

Posted By: tuna fisher on 04/25/17 12:02pm

I jus received my Little Giant step ladder, very sturdy, way better than my accordion steps.

2001 GMC DM, 1995 Lance Lite, @005 Eclipse Toyhauler, Toy's!">

Posted By: TxGearhead on 04/26/17 04:36pm

I've got scissor steps and am not too fond of them. Mostly because they block access to my basement door when folded up. I'm thinking about using my cargo carrier and a 2 step Rubbermaid stool. Store it in the camper when going down the road. On my previous TC back in the 1980's, the previous owner built steps from plywood covered with AstroTurf and stored them inside the camper. It worked very good. Relatively light, cheap, and the AstroTurf didn't damage anything inside. Good for cleaning your boots off as well.
I might add that ice is almost invisible on scissor steps. Don't ask.

2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 05:56pm

We'll give this one more try, cut into tiny bites.
Now you've done it! You ask for opinions on steps solutions: here's a chapter in my research. Our Lance Lite 8.5 foot, 165-s extended cab (N-S-bed) came with some narrow and rather rickety, 4 tread aluminum steps that hung on hangers bolted through the wooden lower frame of the camper. They were manufactured by step-up products. They are now 20 years old and are showing their age. A short cut in the production process was the use of ferrous rivets instead of aluminum fasteners. I added the (4) aluminum strips to lengthen the overall drop. These were bolted to the rear bracket with no easy way to have them walk away in the night.

'01.5 Dodge 2500 4x4, CTD, Qcab, SB, NV5600, 241HD, 4.10's, Dana 70/TruTrac; Dana 80/ TruTrac, Spintec hub conversion, H.D. susp, 315/75R16's on 7.5" and 10" wide steel wheels, Vulcan big line, Warn M15K winch '98 Lance Lite 165s, 8' 6" X-cab, 200w Solar

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 05:59pm

part due:
They get rusty, especially after going on routes like the Mojave Road, full of Soda and Salts. Here the problem was a stiffening of the operation after getting silt, sand or dust in the workings. When you tried to open the steps, you had to use a lot of pull to make that happen. Luckily, they were pretty loose already so the net result was a slight tightening of the moving parts. Next came THE showcase hanging steps for truck campers: Glow Steps. I got the 4 step model which was a bit too short for my slightly lifted, bigger tired Dodge, whose bed sits the highest of the big 3 anyway. They are very well made with all aluminum hardware and are very 'tight'; a little too tight when you get that silt or sand in the workings. I added those same (4) aluminum straps to the top of the stairs making the first step out of the camper down about 8 inches, not like a landing, parallel to the threshold. We could live with that.

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 06:01pm

parte trois,
The unexpected result was the steps would fold down AND under the overhang of the camper and be corralled by a couple black rubber bungees.

Other configs:

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 06:02pm

Pt. 4:
Over time, from this and that hard use the lower wood frame member going across the back of the camper began to weaken, both from the stiffness of the steps unfolding but also the weight on the weakened attachment bolts, now with 6 holes instead of 4 since the Step-ups and the Glowsteps had completely different spacings. What to do...what to do. I read on here, probably from someone previous to this post, that a sturdy step ladder could be the ticket. Hmm? I had an old 1950's aluminum, two-sided step ladder that was a bit short but would work on a hard surface as the bottoms had virtually no foot pad. Then I cruised the internet for other ladders that might work. It was difficult to get concrete info on almost all ladders of that ilk. So I bought another and cut off the top hoop thinking that might work. BZZZZT! Wrong, camper breath. It was very light but a bit tall. We took it on a trip and had to move it to close the door or screen.

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 06:04pm

Part V:
Undeterred, I finally took the advice of one savvy TC-er on here and got the specs for several sizes of the Little Giant. I settled on the 4 step and removed the hoop. With hoop:

Without hoop on uneven ground:

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/26/17 06:07pm

Pt. six:
Hanging on the hook in transit or overnight mode:

It is a bit heavy to hoist onto the rubber coated hook on my rear ladder but is, one, solid apparatus and is the best I've run into so far. the good news is it puts no stress on our rapidly descinigrating bottom frame member. To really get to the root of the problem, I should just go ahead and replace the bottom frame member and start over again with one of the hanging stairs.
This 6-part post was unacceptable as a single post yesterday.
I hope this all gets cleared up. Otherwise, I'm history.
jefe

Posted By: whizbang on 04/29/17 03:50pm

I finally got the new steps up. They were still too low. I had to chop off 6 inches and use a hitch riser. By far, the best solution yet. (For you documentation control buffs, this is Revision F). Yup, 6th time's the charm.
[image]

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 04/29/17 04:51pm

Whiz,
Looks good. I like it. I'll order one for my revision E. Your bed and hitch sit pretty low compared to mine, so maybe I won't need a riser. Plus, it will go on a hitch extension so length of the stub is not a woe. How does that work with your offset door? Another worry is the first step. Is is too big a step to not use the little white stool?
I wonder it they make a 3-step?
jefe

Posted By: whizbang on 04/29/17 07:15pm

jefe,

The offset door is no problem. I don't need the white stool but my wife does.

whiz

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 05/01/17 01:25pm

Whiz,
I just ordered a Brophy 2-step. My bed is about 8 inches higher off the ground than yours, so I may need the portable first step in any case. I'll use my 20 inch hitch extension to get the hitch out far enough to use the steps.
I just blew out my right shoulder, again, (rotator cuff) lifting big 'ol oak logs into my trailer, so I'm looking for ways not to move anything heavy like the Little Giant steps.
My question to those of you that use the Brophy's, do you leave it on the receiver? I suspect this will be a matter of trial and error.
jefe

Posted By: Carb Cleaner on 05/07/17 09:26pm

We use a Brophy 5-step. I don't keep it hooked while motoring. I strap it to our fold-up bathroom step, directly inside the camper's entrance door, with a welcome mat under it to protect the camper's floor (gotta have the door mat handy, anyway). Easy to store, remove and deploy. It works very well on uneven ground, occasionally using an appropriate size stick/rock, as a leveler, under one side of the base. Our camper entrance, sits high. The four-step version, wouldn't cut it. My 220 pounds, introduces very little flex in the 5-step.
I tried a Little Giant, and found it created more storage and set-up hassle, with a less-than-secure feeling when stepping from the Little Giant, into or out of the, camper.

'13 F250XL SC gas 4x4 8', Camper & Plow packages, StableLoads, LT285/65R-18 Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure, 18x9 Ultra Motorsports "Phantom" wheels
'12 Wolf Creek 850 TC Coleman Polar Cub 9.2k A/C, 90 watt solar, dual propane & batteries, Maggie Rack

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 05/08/17 06:36am

I'm leaning toward the 'Little Giant' 3 step that Jack Hart posted a picture of on 4-18 attached to the back door of his Hallmark Outfitter. The top step on the 3 step is at 34" and that puts me at the right height to step into my camper. 4 step is too high, 3 step is just right...

My big issue is, like Mr. Hart, I don't have much 'wiggle room' below the door to attach anything in the way of a bracket to carry say a Torklift folding step. I could however, attach an aluminum (or steel angle) to the channel that runs the entire length of the camper just inside of the lower edge on the back. I could use that to 'sit' the ladder in while transporting it with it attached to the camper (just like Mr. Hart does) with a tarp strap and a stainless eye bolt on each side of the door.

With folding steps, I still need a ladder of sorts to reach my roof latches to release and secure them. I cannot reach them from the ground when the unit is on the truck, I'm 6'1 but I must have short arms...lol

I did some inquiring with Little Giant and the sent me the step height dimensions (from the ground) so I know how high they are.

One thing I was unpleasantly surprised about is, the ladders are made in China, but I guess that is 'World Class' economy at work. They are 'guaranteed' for life. Not sure what 'Life' means.

My other issue (a small one) is the Torklift steps will block the view of my license plate on the truck going down the road. Might be a non issue but then again, might be an issue, depending on how LE views it.

Where I'm at. The Little Giant ladders direct from Little Giant are 125 bucks and free shipping and I'll have to add a storage ledge to the bottom plus 2 stainless eye bolts to the door frame and a tarp strap.

As an aside, Torklift contacted me about their steps and doing a 'user test' for them but I think I scared them away when I sent them pictures of how much room there was below the door to attach their bracket. They require 3" of clear space, I have 2 so I explained to them I would have to 'fabricate' a lower mount and I think they assumed that was beyond my capabilities.

It isn't. I co-own and operated a fabrication and short run machine shop. We do projects like that everyday for customers. A very minor job.

Posted By: gmc88 on 05/08/17 07:16am

I have a Lance Squire similar to Jefe and mounted my glow steps vertically instead of horizontally. I used 5/15 round head stainless steel bolts that have an inset in the head for an allen wrench. They have been installed for several years with no sign of distress.

Posted By: Downwindtracker2 on 05/08/17 08:38am

I have one of those accordion stairs on our camper. Because of the height of our camper, a basement model with an 1 1/2" lift to clear the clearance lights, I built a plywood step with dado routered across it to catch the bottom. This leveled the steps. I also added a granny bar. The plywood step when upside down holds the folded up steps and fits in the walkway. After painting the step porch grey, I had to add grit strip.

Adventure before dementia

Posted By: jefe 4x4 on 05/08/17 10:52pm

This is probably step F in my quest for steps. The Brophy, 2-step (is that a new dance?) arrived today and we installed it on the end of the 20 inch hitch extension.

The first step is a long 16 inches. The other two are as advertised. So, try the 10 inch folding aluminum foot stool:

I'll keep working on this till it's right. I thought about storing the steps upside down on my front receiver hitch when the undulating terrain gets to be too much to clear on the departure angle. They're not very heavy.
jefe

Posted By: Travels with Yoly on 05/09/17 05:16pm

Our camper came with a set of the Glo-Steps. I didn't like the way they hung below the camper blocking the license plate. I also didn't care for the very narrow width steps, nor the movement of all the pivot pins in the assembly. We bought a Little Giant 3 step ladder. The steps are 9 inches wide and provide very sure footing. The top brace folds down out of the way obviously. Another large benefit of the step ladder is that it can be moved around the camper easily and used to access the components mounted above reach (such as fridge access, etc).
Little Giant Step Ladder

Posted By: whizbang on 05/09/17 08:21pm

jefe,

Looks good. We have been driving around with ours all week now, just left in the hitch receiver.

When we park in a tight or otherwise busy parking lot, I have been sticking an orange cone on the lower step so nobody bangs their knee on the step.

Posted By: SidecarFlip on 05/09/17 08:37pm

Travels with Yoly wrote:

Where do your store the 'Little Giant while you are going down the road. Do you strap it over the back door or stow it in the camper itself?

Leaning hard toward one, a 3 step like you have. I like the idea of being able to use it for other tasks besides entering and exiting the camper.

Posted By: Travels with Yoly on 05/09/17 09:21pm

SidecarFlip wrote:

Travels with Yoly wrote:

Since it's just Yoly and I when we travel, we have no need for a back seat in the crew cab so I removed it and all the seat belt retractors so we have a large empty cavity for storage. We easily store our Honda EU2000, our 35 qt ARB freezer, our 10x10 pop up, reclining chairs and folding tables,dry goods, camera gear, tripods and a fairly large backpack for my Phantom 3. I lay the Little Giant on top of the pile so it can be accessed easily. I thought about making a fixture to secure it to the ladder but this way I can grab it instantly if we need it. I also drilled a hole in the Little Giant and installed a link that attaches a beefy bicycle cable lock attached to the receiver so no one can pick it up and walk off with it.

[image]

The cord you see on the floor is the 12vdc power for the ARB.

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