5.0 TA Steps Rebuild, Red Oak Stair Treads

[KLBM in SD]

Hi everyone. We wanted to share our steps project for the 5.0 TA. We have seen some great posts and inspiration on the forum and Youtube on this topic, and we wanted to share our build for those interested in the modification. We asked for no carpet knowing we wanted to do a stair tread project in our 2022 5.0. My friend is a talented carpenter and had the idea as shown, removing the piano hinges and also accessing the little nook on the top left step. Our assistance with the woodwork would be similar to licking the spoon and then saying we helped bake the cookies. We did however do the staining and final install ourselves. A bit tricky in a few areas with the cuts and getting pieces in, but a doable project. Came out beautiful and very stable.

Materials:
3/4 inch Red Oak Stair Treads
Hinges: Blum Blumotion soft-close hinges, 110 degree, self closing, face frame.
Finish: Rubio Monocoat, Charcoal color. First time using this for finishing wood, and so much easier than traditional process of staining and polyurethane, especially for full timers like us. Finished it in 1 day and came out great.

[sofmerc]

Beautiful!

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by KLBM in SD

Our assistance with the woodwork would be similar to licking the spoon and then saying we helped bake the cookies.

Well I thought in addition to giving that help I was acting as a taste tester also.

Very nice result and use of available space.

Ron

[escape artist]

Hi: All... In the old world of Escape, Reace built his trailers to be light weight. Adding oak treads is nice but extra weight on the pin seems to me counter intuitive. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Mike G]

Looking very good, with added functionality to boot!

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: All... In the old world of Escape, Reace built his trailers to be light weight. Adding oak treads is nice but extra weight on the pin seems to me counter intuitive. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

I think that a little bit of perspective is required. Take away what would have been there and the net increase in weight is too negligible to worry about, especially since it has both a functional and visual aspect.

Ron

[Rossue]

Hey Alf! Don't be this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x7S2H-g60c

Dem Reace days at Escape Trailer Ltd. are done- sad but true.

Btw- great steps!

[sofmerc]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I think that a little bit of perspective is required. Take away what would have been there and the net increase in weight is too negligible to worry about, especially since it has both a functional and visual aspect.

Ron

Yup, I agree..

[WanderBred]

Yea me too.

[sofmerc]

Originally Posted by WanderBred

Yea me too.

Love yours too!

[Frisco Kid]

nice job!

[KLBM in SD]

Nice steps, WanderBred!

[Mike G]

I think you'd be better off with carpeted steps. That way, the 'significant other' already in bed can't hear you coming up the steps and pretend to be asleep.

Of course, the person might still claim to have a headache....

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Mike G

I think you'd be better off with carpeted steps. That way, the 'significant other' already in bed can't hear you coming up the steps and pretend to be asleep.

Of course, the person might still claim to have a headache....

Hi: Mike G... At least I don't creak... YET, but I did add a hand hold to the corner of the closet at the foot of the bed!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[splitting_lanes]

Wow, you really hit it out of the park! We have the same interior on our trailer and have red oak floors in our home. If we decide to hinge the top step, we’ll be following your lead.

Check this out @disneyfan

[bass3180]

Can you ad a view from the top to see what the top step compartment looks like?

[KLBM in SD]

Originally Posted by bass3180

Can you ad a view from the top to see what the top step compartment looks like?

Hi Bass3180. I hope these pics show what you are looking for, hopefully they loaded correctly. Also, forgot to mention in the original post the other benefit of these hinges (as shown in the pics). Easy to take the step off to either fit larger items or do repairs/refurbish when the time comes. They clip off and clip back on in about 10 seconds.

Thank you everyone for the kind replies.

[GregWCIL]

Those look great. We had Escape leave the carpet off for the same reason.
Couple of questions: Did you put in a divider between the top tall compartment and the middle one?
And do you feel the steps are slippery when climbing out of bed in the middle of the night? As we grow older we are looking for the safest, most sure footed option.
Thanks again for sharing your pics.

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by GregWCIL

Those look great. We had Escape leave the carpet off for the same reason.
Couple of questions: Did you put in a divider between the top tall compartment and the middle one?
And do you feel the steps are slippery when climbing out of bed in the middle of the night? As we grow older we are looking for the safest, most sure footed option.
Thanks again for sharing your pics.

I have the white interior with a black countertop and gray fabric, so the brown Escape uses didn’t go well. I will tell you they didn’t skimp on staples, took awhile to pull them up.
I just did a quick carpet job in something closer to my fabric. I screwed it down so it’ll be easy to replace in the future.

I used the same material as I have my cats claw post covered with, hoping they will get a clue.

I did put in a divider, under the middle step and a bottom for the top step.

[KLBM in SD]

Originally Posted by GregWCIL

Those look great. We had Escape leave the carpet off for the same reason.
Couple of questions: Did you put in a divider between the top tall compartment and the middle one?
And do you feel the steps are slippery when climbing out of bed in the middle of the night? As we grow older we are looking for the safest, most sure footed option.
Thanks again for sharing your pics.

Thanks. No divider so that we can angle things in and out of top and middle step. Just some braces for support that show in the pics.
The steps are not slippery due to using Rubio Monocoat vice a traditional stain and then protective top coat like a polyurethane. Smooth, but not slippery. If I went the traditional route, may have put something in center of them like small patch of non-skid or carpet.