Double Entry Step - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Modifications and Alterations
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-07-2014, 02:00 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
Double Entry Step

We put a double step on our Casita and preferred it the single step, so I just did the same thing to our 19' Escape. (Credit to Larry at Little House Customs and tractors1 on our forum for passing on Larry's advise.)

I ordered the Elkhart Tool and Die (ETD) 920 - may not be the best deal but I ordered from Amazon: Amazon.com: Elkhart (920 BOXED) 20" Double Step: Automotive.

1) Remove the welded steel strap across the TOP of the step. (See post #42 by tractors1 in http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ps-3625-5.html.) I used a dremel to cut the end of the weld, and then a cold chisel to remove the strap.
2) Grind/sand it smooth and paint the bare metal.
3) Unbolt the old step - 4 bolts.
4) The old step mounts inside and under 2 pieces of angle iron with a reinforcing gusset on top. The new step mounts outside and on the same structure. The lip on the new step is narrow enough it fit perfectly along the gusset. (I thought I would have to remove part of the top lip on the step frame, but it fit without doing so.)
Slide the new step on the brackets and mark new holes on the top of the brackets using the 2 front holes on the step.
5) Remove the step and drill the 2 holes.
6) Put the step back on and bolt in the front 2 bolts with the nuts/washers on the outside/top of the bracket. (If you don't the bolt interferes with the step.)
7) Drill 2 holes through the bracket using the back SIDE (square) holes in the step frame.
8) Insert the remaining 2 bolts, nuts on the outside to make it easier to tighten them.
9) Lube the step pivot and slide bar.
10) Optional - I didn't do this yet. Angle cut the existing bracket to match the front of the step frame.

Pictures
1 - original single step retracted
2 - original single step extended
3 - both steps in front of the door
4 - double step retracted
5 - double step half extended
6 - double step extended
7 - double step from the back
8 - double step from the front
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_0252.jpg   IMG_0253.jpg   IMG_0254.jpg   IMG_0255.jpg   IMG_0257.jpg  

IMG_0256.jpg   IMG_0258.jpg   IMG_0259.jpg  
jamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 02:36 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Nice job Doug, definitely something to think about. Is the step the new low point of the trailer?
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 02:37 PM   #3
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Excellent! I did the same on my Casita and have the same set of steps waiting for my 21 to be hatched. I am having ETI install the outriggers but not their single step. Larry also sent me the same directions; glad to know they actually work!
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 03:37 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
Nice job Doug, definitely something to think about. Is the step the new low point of the trailer?
No - the tires are.

Seriously - probably, although I didn't really check. I thought about it being lower but the steps are directly in line with the tires so (to me) it doesn't matter very much.
jamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 03:38 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Excellent! I did the same on my Casita and have the same set of steps waiting for my 21 to be hatched. I am having ETI install the outriggers but not their single step. Larry also sent me the same directions; glad to know they actually work!
I didn't get them directly from Larry - just from your post on the other thread.

Why not let them install the step - that way you can reuse the 4 bolts they supply.
jamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 04:41 PM   #6
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman View Post
I didn't get them directly from Larry - just from your post on the other thread.

Why not let them install the step - that way you can reuse the 4 bolts they supply.
Reace declined to install the double step. Might not have wanted to mess with cutting off the top bar. Saves me a bunch of freight to install them myself anyway. Casita was a good practice round!
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 04:50 PM   #7
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
Nice job Doug, definitely something to think about. Is the step the new low point of the trailer?

No - the tires are.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Now that's funny.
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 05:08 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Reace declined to install the double step. ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
... I am having ETI install the outriggers but not their single step. ...
Sorry - I wasn't clear. Why not have them install the standard step? (Then you get the 4 bolts you need for the double step - and you can convert back if you ever want to.)
jamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 05:26 PM   #9
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
The needed bolts come with the new steps. I'd rather not warehouse an unused single step - enough junk in my shop already.
__________________
Charlie Y

Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2015, 10:12 AM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 59
Thanks, I changed my profile to the Escape 21 I will give it a try
bjp447 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2015, 03:04 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
To be fair I have gone back to the single step with a separate folding stool (as mentioned by others) for the bottom step. The bottom step was just too low sometimes.
jamman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2015, 05:00 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 59
that was my concern, I got a double step from Flexco and was going to modify it but when I put it in place to see how it would fit I realized that at times the bottom step would hit the ground before it was completely open. I also figured I would only gain an inch so my step from the top step to the floor of the Escape would be 10 inches instead of 11 inches. What I am going to try is to take a piece of 2X12, cut it the width of the step. Put some bolts thru it and thru the step to keep it aligned and use a wing nut on one of the bolts to hold it in. This way I can install it when I get where I am going and have a porch type step an 1.5 inch higher and 3 inches deeper.
bjp447 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2015, 08:05 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
azjack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ, Arizona
Trailer: gone, 19 and 21 & 17B with 5.0 now. gone
Posts: 790
double step

Thanks Doug, I'll stop thinking about that step, maybe plan B or C or D.
Jack
azjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2015, 03:46 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
Could also rip it up real good the first time you forget to fold it back up when pulling out.

Anyway, nice work, Doug. All you need now is CP's step-light and, maybe this glue-on no-slip, no snag-um step tread.
Attached Thumbnails
steptread.jpg  
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2015, 12:05 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
kstock11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
Another option that I just picked up is a set of spa steps. Each step is 7" leaving about 6" more to enter the trailer. I'm hoping that they will work out with no installation necessary. http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B...ilpage_o01_s00
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
kstock11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2015, 09:56 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
kstock11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
Here's how the "spa steps" look giving you a third step when entering or exiting the Escape. I am pleased with these as they will allow my wife easier entry to the trailer.
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_1310.jpg   IMG_1311.jpg  
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
kstock11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2015, 02:04 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
Ah, so the top step is high enough to fit over the trailer step? Nice.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2015, 02:44 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
azjack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ, Arizona
Trailer: gone, 19 and 21 & 17B with 5.0 now. gone
Posts: 790
entry step

I just ordered one!
Jack
azjack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2015, 02:44 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
kstock11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
It actually "butts up" to the top step when it is not extended. We tried it out today and worked very well.
__________________
Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
kstock11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2017, 04:52 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Double entry step

Quote:
Originally Posted by kstock11 View Post
Here's how the "spa steps" look giving you a third step when entering or exiting the Escape. I am pleased with these as they will allow my wife easier entry to the trailer.
Hi Kevin . Can you tell us where you purchased your spa steps and are they heavy ? Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.