Folding plastic step

I don't need a step to enter through our hab door but the better looking one of us does.

The Clubman doesn't have a built in retractable step.

We have the standard tubular steel portable step which is strong and stable and is fine when outside but is a flippin nuisance when inside and taking up precious floor space.

I was looking for a smaller version when I came across this:

Folding Step


It certainly looks more suitable providing it's strong and stable.

Does anyone have one? Any good?

Hi Tonyt,

I wouldn't bother mate, we have had 2 like the pic. You can't step down on them, my better looking half and myself are not heavyweights but we managed to break them in both cases.

I realise the metal ones are a pain, but that is what we are going to invest in next time.

Mike D

Hi there,

Had one and it lasted less than a week of my 117kgs using it!

Now have a galvanised steel one that folds down and could probably support an elephant!

A lot like this one: http://www.campandfish.co.uk/royal-folding-caravan-step-metal

Best regards,

We had a similar one from Maplins and it broke after only stood on once. Amazingly it was part of a recall AND I had the receipt (truly amazing) so I got a credit note.

Perhaps these might be better:

Better?

........ and when folded, they would fit into the step well.

Tonyt wrote:Perhaps these might be better:

Better?

........ and when folded, they would fit into the step well.

Thanks for that - been looking for just that sort of thing myself, so have ordered. I bought a similar plastic one to that linked above, but it was £2 off a market stall! It cracked, but is still serviceable (just). Shame it wasn't a bit stronger as it was ideal size-wise. The one that came with the van is identical to the one Dutto linked to. Very strong, but heavy and dangerous! Well, admittedly it was probably my fault, but it was very easy to trap a finger and get a blood blister!

Steve

I have got one of those fold up ones, it works fine , I weigh 14st. Cost a lot less that £11, anything with the word motorhome, is normally double the cost. Gary

Aldi are selling them for £4 each - still had some in when I looked last week.

However, I reckon theirs are a tad too small at 250x210mm. Rated at 150kg, so should be strong enough on even ground. I suspect the problems arise where one corner is on softer ground and the whole thing gets twisted in directions it's not supposed to be...

For what it's worth. Mrs eggnog missed her footing leaving a hired 'van in Queensland in '10 and broke her arm. (That was on the very first evening of a two month tour!). Stap me, last year she did more or less the same thing in France and broke her (adjective deleted) leg! And it ain't as if she's doddery, she's just completed her Arrest Training refresher and is ticketed to beat the living out of anyone thinking of making a smart comment. That includes me

Now me, I've never had a problem, but her indoors hated the pull-out step from the word go even after I'd re-engineered it a bit and stopped the springiness. (There's a thread and piccies on that somewhere on the forum). I've also added one of those wrap-round covers in a fetching shade of grass-green. All of which has helped a bit but the only step she is confident with now is a Milenco double job which fits through the Talisman door upside down, sits on the (normally outside) mat and has the merit of holding in place a dripping wet reel of mains cable.

Actually, a Milenco single step did the job perfectly well but that was last seen in a supermarket car park by Lake Annecy...... I did, like everyone else, try one of those sad little plastic folding jobs. It lasted a couple of days.

So what lessons can be drawn from these tales of mental and physical incapacity? Firstly, it's a long way down if you miss your footing. Secondly, you can be long way from home at the time. Thirdly it's a great way to stuff your holiday. Therefore, the step might be a bit of an inconvenience indoors but hey, it's in the back and you're in the front when you're travelling.

(And before anyone else gets in there - I did suggest that a stair-lift might be the way to go. The bruising faded. Eventually. )

So! A step in the right direction.

Sorry Eggnog I couldn't resist it.

Mike D

The one TonyT posted is on offer at Maplins

http://www.maplin.co.uk/folding-aluminium-step-stool-617710

Gary

We have one of these fold up steps in the Symbol. really useful, had it 2 years never had a problem. I stuck some stick on velcro on the back and we hang it on the bottom of the bathroom outer wall by the back door, so always handy and out of the way.

Hi there,

I agree with Eggnog!!

My Aunty May (who died five years ago aged 101 years and 10 months) had to give up caravan holidays after she slipped on an inadequate step and broke her thigh when she was 85 years old!!

Forget "lightness", forget "convenience" in fact forget everything but "strong, large, stable and non-slip"!

Whatever you save in weight, price or convenience becomes totally irrelevant when you (or even worse, your better half ) are laid in hospital with a broken leg, arm or ribs!!

Best regards,

Ian

gj1023 wrote:The one TonyT posted is on offer at Maplins

http://www.maplin.co.uk/folding-aluminium-step-stool-617710

Gary

I bought one of the Maplin ally steps yesterday £7.99, much better than the plastic jobbies.

What I will do is put on some of the non-slip tape (the rough black stuff) like what is on the rear step of the MH.

Mike D