Pod Entry Step Help
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2607
Printed Date: 02 May 2024 at 10:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Pod Entry Step Help
Posted By: Kickstart
Subject: Pod Entry Step Help
Date Posted: 28 May 2012 at 1:30pm
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Has anyone installed a set of double steps on their pod? After 40 some years of RVing (5 trailers, 3 truck campers, and 2 camper vans), we're having a little trouble. My wife has a spinal fusion with a titanium cage, and it's difficult for her to enter and exit our RP175 w/risers. We now carry some portable steps, but they're not the best solution; even with me spotting for her I worry about stability. We live a goodly distance from any RV vendors. Looking at Camping World, PPl, Amazon, etc. doesn't give me the right specific info, and the price range goes from cheap to about the same price as our Pod. So, anyone? Recommendations and especially height measurements for each step up would be really appreciated. Also, the original Mr. Ten Thumbs  will be doing the install. If none of you have any experience with this problem, I'll just have to get out my dart board and make my choice.P/S 8"-16"-24" to threshold works out well for her with the portable step. ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Replies:
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 10:35am
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Kickstart, there has been some that have added two steps to the entrance of the Rpods. I have trouble with my left knee due to a injury, old age and arthritus. Instead of adding two steps I added two grab handles to the left and right side just inside the entrance of the rpod. They help a lot in taking the weight off my knee entering and exiting the Rpod. David ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 4:13pm
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Yes, we installed the double step. I am very pleased with the final product and it has made a big difference. BUT it had to be modified to fit correctly. I will gather the information for you and tell you what we did. ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 29 May 2012 at 8:39pm
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The steps we bought are made by Stromberg Carlson.
I got ours from etrailer.com. They were the lowest price, plus I got free shipping as I also ordered some other stuff. http://www.etrailer.com/Enclosed-Trailer-Parts/Stromberg-Carlson/SM-24-20.html - http://www.strombergcarlson.com/store/products.php?categoryParentName=RV+Steps+%26+Step+Accessories&categoryName=Manual+RV+Steps - Now the bad news. The
steps won’t go back far enough as they are blocked by the support beam. Using
a hacksaw, Brian, my husband, cut a 4 x 4 inch square (approximately) out of the
back top on each side. He
said it is relatively soft and on a scale of 1 to 10 is about a 6 in difficulty. After
he got a good fit he had to drill new holes for the bolts in both step and
support brackets. He also added extra washers for a tight fit.
I
think it was worth it because all I had to do was order the step and provide “Atta’
Boy” support! ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 5:16pm
Nice work.  Goose------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 30 May 2012 at 9:03pm
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Leaflin, thanks a ton. I'm gonna chase down some Stromberg steps and work on my hacksaw skill. Kickstart (What my wife usually has to do to me!) ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2012 at 10:13am
Thank you  ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2012 at 10:14am
You are most welcome. Please let us know how it goes. ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2012 at 8:01pm
================================== Just finished installing the Stromberg 2-Steps. That's some HARD steel - - but thank goodness I had a metal blade for my recip saw. Got lucky with the first cuts ...but the tolerances on those Stromberg steps is tight. I had to do some mild bending to get the stairs to work smoothly. Really like the extra step though. The effort was well worth it in the end. MJ ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 7:52am
I'm glad you are pleased! That extra step is worth the effort. ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 11:38pm
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Footslogger and Leaflin, Yup, me too. Installed the double steps for my wife yesterday. Notched mine with my now overworked dremel. I didn't burn it up, but I did warm it up big time! The 3 steps up (1st, second and into Pod) were not even in height when installed. That is important, as my wife really has trouble stepping up. I solved that problem by limiting distance in the slide track with a couple bolts. I'll probably have a block welded into each side of the slide as a more permanent solution. Thanks, Leaflin, for the suggestion and install pictures. ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2012 at 7:51pm
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Glad it worked out Kickstart. ------------- Leaf-Pod 173 97 Ford Explorer http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net |
Posted By: 21grandma
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 10:36pm
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What did you use for the grab handles and how did you install them. I have told my husband that is what I need. Did you screw them in or use the suction cups ones-don't know if I woud trust those.
------------- 21grandma |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 11:42pm
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The stock grab handle that is installed by the door handle worked well for my wife with the double steps. ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: Mike B
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2014 at 10:21am
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I also installed the Stromberg Carlson 2 step.
Thanks so much for the information on how to do this install. Took a 4X4 peace out of the back sides and a 1" off the left side to clear the black water tank. We have the Hood river Tab and it was wearing on me to just get in and out of our Tab. I'm in Love all over. I'm still new to this forum and don't know how to post pictures as of yet. I'll work on it and show my Mods.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2014 at 10:21pm
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Press the Post Reply button, to the lower-left below the last post. That puts you in "full edit" mode, then look for the little button with the picture of a tree. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Mike B
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2014 at 10:53am
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Ok, that works, but being old and blind how do you make the pictures smaller so they can be down loaded to the site. Really having fun with windows 8.
Love to be able to share my mods with everyone. Back to school if they will let me back in. :) Thanks techntrek |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2014 at 9:01pm
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Here are instructions for Windows 7, but I believe Windows 8 has the Paint application too. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/resize-a-picture-using-paint - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/resize-a-picture-using-paint ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Mike B
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2014 at 11:21am
These are the lines I had to cut off ont the left side and only the 4X4 cut on the right side. 
Picture of step installed. I had to drill a hole with a safety pin to hold steps up when folded up for travel, as they do not fold all the way up do to the mods. Love getting in the Pod now. so easy. Thanks for all your help Techntrek. ------------- San Diego R177 Toyota TRD 32 Ford Roadster |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2014 at 12:53pm
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You are welcome, glad it worked (the steps and the picture resizing). ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: mtd66
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2016 at 7:43pm
| Does anyone have a picture of the Stromberg Carlson 2 steps installed in the up, or travel mode position? We recently purchased a 2016 RP178, and after two trips, I want to replace the one step with a two step. My only concern is ground clearance in the 'up' position, although I doubt if that will be a problem. So far, our experience with our Rpod has been fantastic! Thanks for all the helpful advice on this forum. |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2016 at 10:07am
| I just put them on our 179. Does reduce ground clearance behind the wheel by about 2". Not throwing the old steps away just yet, but I don't think it will be a problem. The rear jacks are more of a worry. |
Posted By: jimandclare
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2016 at 10:22am
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Purchased a 2016 RP178 also. I can't speak specifically about the Stromberg Carlson steps but we did replace the original single step with the Flexco double step from etrailer.com. http://www.etrailer.com/RV-Stairs-and-Steps/Stromberg-Carlson/SMFP-2100.html - https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Stairs-and-Steps/Stromberg-Carlson/SMFP-2100.html The Flexco steps, after installation, extend 11 inches from the r-pod with 8 inches of clearance to the road. One of our favorite mods we made. Just a note: The bolt holes don't line up exactly so I had to modify it to fit properly.   ------------- Jim & Clare 2016 R-pod 178 2014 Ford Edge |