Our "New to Us" Winnie

[T1 Terry]

We have one of those 4 leg steps, but they are unstable if the ground is wet. We use one of these https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/crane-ad ... 0684154001 we bought many moons ago, the height can be adjusted as needed and provides a wide stable platform as that first/last step to avoid twisting an ankle or knee.

Not every site is 100% level, sometimes the left hand side is very close to the ground, others, it near requires a ladder rather than stairs, so I'm trying to build something that will work in all situations.

On the level concrete slab at the workshop site, Winnie sitting on its tyres, the bottom step of the Winnie is 700mm off the ground, that's as low as it goes, I'd imagine the Bedford's bottom step is a lot closer to the ground than that .....

T1 Terry

[jon_d]

I just can't comprehend a 700mm step. I don't see how it could have been sold like that.

No one would have bought it like that. How did you step into it before they were bent on the first tree?

Yep, the bus is about 360 I think. Designed to be about 180 when pulled up at a gutter.

Why not ask Peter Wright or Julian how they did theirs.. They have working steps of that distance. Just explain yours are bent from hitting a tree and you're wondering how they designed a reliable set.

No point trying to reinvent the wheel.

[BernieQ2]

My daughter -inlaw does the books for a caravan motorhome repair business... she said that large winnys are always coming in looking for a different step set up.
I reckon something like the drop down thingys on the back of a lot of trucks would/could be a consideration.. maybe.
Bernie.

[Wimmera Jack]

Terry. Have a look at this video. About 4 minutes in. Brief but gives the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWFMBor9JGk&t=270s

Also, Julians last post on his blog. Check the concertina type steps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWFMBor9JGk&t=261s

May be of some assistance.

Hooroo

John

[Wimmera Jack]

I can't edit my last post, but the video starts in the wrong place. Just go back a bit.

John

[T1 Terry]

I just can't comprehend a 700mm step. I don't see how it could have been sold like that.

No one would have bought it like that. How did you step into it before they were bent on the first tree?

Yep, the bus is about 360 I think. Designed to be about 180 when pulled up at a gutter.

Why not ask Peter Wright or Julian how they did theirs.. They have working steps of that distance. Just explain yours are bent from hitting a tree and you're wondering how they designed a reliable set.

No point trying to reinvent the wheel.

The Kwikee 2 step is standard, deploys when the door opens, retracts when closed, and a switch to disable the operation in the fully open position if you have placed something under the bottom step to stop the bouncing and vehicle tilt when someone gets in or out .....
or fully closed if you are up against a raised bank or retaining wall that roughly lines up with the door height .... just a "mind the gap" thing required then.

5th wheelers, slide on campervans with the rear door, OKAs and the like, even the off road caravans, have pull out steps you deploy after climbing out one of the front doors ..... this is the only door on the Winnie, so that first 700mm step can be quite daunting .... to say the least ..... getting back in after putting the stairs away is even trickier ..... had to do both after hitting the tree with the steps ...... The knees certainly didn't appreciate the whole idea in the slightest.

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

My daughter -inlaw does the books for a caravan motorhome repair business... she said that large winnys are always coming in looking for a different step set up.
I reckon something like the drop down thingys on the back of a lot of trucks would/could be a consideration.. maybe.
Bernie.

The couple that built the mega big converted coach and added a mega big trailer on the back, had a hydraulic platform for the side entrance to the trailer. After getting about half the load into the trailer, he decided to leave the platform at about the half mark with a stepper from the ground up to the platform and a second one from the platform to the inside of the trailer. As these were lighter things and the hydraulic ramp was slow, he decided this was a good idea to speed things up .....

Worked well, until he forgot about the step or stepped backwards or what ever .... the details were a little blurred, he did a very poor double flip while bouncing off the ram and landing shoulder first on the ground. Broke his collarbone, smashed his shoulder and tore all the ligaments that make the whole arm/shoulder/elbow function as required .... took 6 mths I think to heal enough after surgeries till he could drive the big rig again .....

An escalator or one of those travel ramps that deployed from under the vehicle would be great, maybe I could adapt one of those treadmills that appear on the road side chuck out rough a mth after one of those weight loss series ends on the TV ..... just picturing those funny shorts You Tube videos were someone steps on the tread mill while it's going flat out

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

Last night, painted one side of the cover plate in etch primer. This is to go under the inside steps in an attempt to keep the water and dirt out.
This morning I painted it in Rust Guard epoxy-enamel, supposed to take 6 hrs to touch dry state, 24 hrs to recoat ....... It is baked enamel now after 6 hrs in the solar bake oven, so, painted the other side, only enough etch primer to do a 1" wide strip around the edges, then painted it in epoxy enamel and that is in the solar bake over now, might even get it fitted tonight when it cools enough to have the door open for more than 30 secs at a time

T1 Terry

[jon_d]

I know.... brilliant.

What about one of those aeroplane things..... you know... the door with the great big red handle. Terry can be the Captain. Margaret can be the hostie. Terry can say, "Arm doors and cross check".... Oh no that won't work. There is no need to cross check. Only one door..

But what about a big blow up slide. Even shaped with steps? They don't have steps on the plane ones, becaase who would want to enter a burning plane after it crashed?

[jon_d]

Terry, Terry, Terry...... This would be perfect.

https://www.temu.com/au/-large-inflatab ... 53163.html?

It's got the slide, a little set of steps. Even a place to cool down in the Mannum summer. Brilliant. So many other styles too.