A really enjoyable upgrade to my 303RLS. New Steps!

[jkwilson]

Morning All, I agree, the steps are a improvement over the slide out. One thing to consider or remember when traveling. If you stop at a truck stop to spend the night. The "swing distance" of the steps (ie if you stow them in the RV for the night, How much room it takes to bring them back out). I stayed the night at a truck stop, not wanting to bring out the slides and not wanting to risk the steps being crashed into. I raised them back into the coach. Next morning I had a semi trailer parked within maybe 3' of me. Steps weren't able to swing out and I couldn't get out (without climbing out a window). Had to wait until the driver woke up and moved his truck.
Just something to be aware of ;o)

That’s another advantage of the Glowstep Revolution. It telescopes out and can be used almost like a ladder with very little extension from the side of the trailer.

[Hoopy Frood]

Morning All, I agree, the steps are a improvement over the slide out. One thing to consider or remember when traveling. If you stop at a truck stop to spend the night. The "swing distance" of the steps (ie if you stow them in the RV for the night, How much room it takes to bring them back out). I stayed the night at a truck stop, not wanting to bring out the slides and not wanting to risk the steps being crashed into. I raised them back into the coach. Next morning I had a semi trailer parked within maybe 3' of me. Steps weren't able to swing out and I couldn't get out (without climbing out a window). Had to wait until the driver woke up and moved his truck.
Just something to be aware of ;o)

Another reason to despise the ridiculous things. The solid steps are the devil's handiwork.

[huntindog]

Another reason to despise the ridiculous things. The solid steps are the devil's handiwork.

DW and I love ours. I don't think we would ever buy a coach without them

[Hoopy Frood]

DW and I love ours. I don't think we would ever buy a coach without them

Some people liked the Edsel, Yugo, and Vega too. Dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.

[FT4NOW]

We had them on our 399, loved them. I'll prob get some on the 398, I dont think I'm going to love the flip out of the door stairs they use now.

For the RVs with diving board stairs, a tip for removal and installation. Use the box the new steps came in, and place the box under the old stairs and new stairs, it will hold them in place while you remove and replace the hardware. Did it myself with the box method, fairly easy.

[RustyOTool]

Earlier this year I installed a set of Torklift Glowstep Revolution steps in place of the three step factory steps. These are my thoughts about the installation and how big of an upgrade they really were after 5 trips using them.

First, why? The factory steps were free hanging, and had the diving board bounce when going up and down. My knees would hurt after maintenance, winterization, packing, unpacking or cleaning when I had to go in and out of the rig a lot. My wife has depth perception problems, and she had to go down the old steps very gingerly because she couldn't tell where the next step was.

I'm happy to say the Glowsteps took care of both problems for us. With legs on the ground, there is no diving board spring going on, and the steps are much more visible when descending, especially in the dark when they glow. They actually fixed another problem I hadn't even thought about. Going up or down the factory steps tends to shake the trailer pretty good. Since the Glowsteps are supported by the ground on the end, there is much less trailer shaking.

Here they are in use at the KOA in Oscoda, MI

Attachment 43373

Level and easy site and they were smooth as silk.

Here's a little rougher setting. I had just pulled the trailer out of the barn. It was on a side hill in the drive, and the grass slopes off even more.

Attachment 43374

Still handles it easily.

What's good about them? They handle a wide range of site conditions. They are stable. They install easily in the factory step well. They don't fold inside the door dragging dirt in, they fold into the factory step well. They can be deployed or stored with something close to the camper.

What might you not like about them? Deploying them takes just a bit more thought than folding down the simple factory steps. You have three upper adjustment positions and the two legs to get things just right, but it doesn't have to be perfect for a quick stop for lunch or a bathroom break.

Torklift has a great diagram on their site describing how the adjustment works:

Attachment 43375

The three upper positions set the overall height of the steps, and then the legs adjust to handle the ground. Its very fast once you've done it a couple of times.


My trailer floor level is right at the threshold for 3 steps or 4 steps. I initially got the 3 step model, but after installation I could see that I needed another step. No problem to add a step to an existing set.

Speaking of installation. Its pretty easy. With two people it could probably done in 15 minutes. I did it by myself and it took just a little longer. Two carriage bolts in each end of the step well need to be removed to get the old steps out, and replaced to anchor the new ones. The only real challenge doing it solo was lifting the new steps into position while putting the bolts in. Being a part-time farmer, I'm used to dealing with stuff like that so I simply stacked wooden blocks and pieces of 2x10 until it was just below the correct height and used a pry bar for fine adjustment.

Here's the side of the step well with the old steps in place showing how easy it is to access the nuts to remove the bolts:

Attachment 43377

And finally here are the steps raised into the step well with my cribbing. Note that it's the original three step configuration. Also note the hardware strewn around the floor after I kicked it (and cussed) and the antifreeze bottle I missed during my 10:30pm winterization last fall upon arrival home from our last trip with an overnight low forecast of 24F.

Attachment 43378

In short, these steps are a much appreciated upgrade and installation is well within the capabilities of most anyone.

I know I have a picture of the 4 step version folded, but I'm not finding it right now. I'll add it when I come across it or take another picture tomorrow. If anyone wants specific pictures or has any questions, I'll be glad to help if I can.

Appreciate the info. our new GD 23LDE has a different concern - or maybe we do and not the camper - but my driveway has a relatively sharp incline i back the TT into, which will cause the stock steps to drag (they hang quite low and quite far back behind the rear wheels). So, beyond stability, we need something that tucks in nicely to the step cavity without too much hanging down. Would you say the 4-stepper model of Glo steps fits in their pretty compactly? Or, can you share a pic of the four step installed (if you have one)? Thanks very much. As you probably know they're not giving them away so want to be informed before a drop another chunk on something.

[trailrydr]

Some people liked the Edsel, Yugo, and Vega too. Dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.

Yeah.... but I really like the cost of those cars over a new Cadillac.... for instance....these:



A little :glow in the dark" paint...and voi-la! No bounce, keep original steps, no extra distance to extend, similar sturdiness, and about $700 cheaper than the big V8!

[jkwilson]

Appreciate the info. our new GD 23LDE has a different concern - or maybe we do and not the camper - but my driveway has a relatively sharp incline i back the TT into, which will cause the stock steps to drag (they hang quite low and quite far back behind the rear wheels). So, beyond stability, we need something that tucks in nicely to the step cavity without too much hanging down. Would you say the 4-stepper model of Glo steps fits in their pretty compactly? Or, can you share a pic of the four step installed (if you have one)? Thanks very much. As you probably know they're not giving them away so want to be informed before a drop another chunk on something.

They aren’t going to tuck in any tighter than the factory steps when stowed, and I’d guess they are a little lower. I didn’t really pay any attention to how low they are compared to the factory steps since it didn’t matter to me on the front of the 5th wheel.

[jkwilson]

Yeah.... but I really like the cost of those cars over a new Cadillac.... for instance....these:



A little :glow in the dark" paint...and voi-la! No bounce, keep original steps, no extra distance to extend, similar sturdiness, and about $700 cheaper than the big V8!

Not going to use those with something close. The Glow Steps can almost deploy like a ladder in a tight space.

[Hoopy Frood]

Not going to use those with something close. The Glow Steps can almost deploy like a ladder in a tight space.

We have parked/stored in some pretty tight spaces and never had an issue getting the steps deployed enough to get inside. The nice thing about the fold out steps is you don't have to use them all.