Entry Step

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

The distance from the bottom step to the ground depends on the lay of the land. I had to use two lego blocks under the passenger side wheel to level the trailer, which raised the step a couple inches. That and the slope of the land took me by surprise the first time I exited.

You are right about that Glenn . Doesn’t happen to us very often but we did have a occasion we didn’t need the portable because of the ground . PT

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Artlady

I’m extremely weak with muscular dystrophy.

Keeping this in mind, what do you think could help someone like me regarding The 21‘ trailer? Are there any changes they could make at the factory while building it? How about aftermarket options? Custom options?

Yes, I belong to a group, Tetra Society of North America. www.tetrasociety.org It was founded when Vancouver's first disabled mayor asked a couple of retired engineers for some help with mobility issues. It has grown a lot over the years. I don't know if there's a chapter anywhere near you.

I deal with a variety of people with various disabilities related to MD, ALS, ADCY5, Parkinsons etc. All projects begin with a client meeting in which their specific abilities and needs are determined. If there's one thing that I've learned it's that very rarely is there a one size fits all solution.

So, do I think that there's an ETI solution. No. I think that you have to consider the brackets that the step assembly bolts to to be a "hard point". Any solution could use that point but I would consider it improbable that ETI could accommodate what would amount to a variety of requests.

There are multi step units available. Whether they could be adapted or not would take some research. The most likely alternative would be custom steps, but again, each situation is different and it's difficult to come to a firm evaluation with observing the client and their abilities.

Dealing with some of the situations can be pretty grim. Here's a couple of photos that warm my heart and make it all worthwhile.

Good luck and feel free to PM me with questions.

Ron

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

I hear you on this . When we went to the factory before pickup I did notice the lack of some substantial hand holder . There wasn’t at the time a pole , which I added later . But the pole is not what should be to hang on to coming and going . When we got home we went back and forth with Escape on adding a better handle . They consented on one which I brought up . They said they forgot to add and it was too late . I did get them to install another , the outside handle in our doorway . We use all the time coming and going .
It was a while later I noticed the step . Another forum member gave me the idea to change to correct height especially for us with knee problems . But it needed another step because the distance from that step to ground was worst . So that is where the portable comes in . Gives you a correct height , I cut ours , and a nice platform coming and going . A lot of forum members have made their own also.
I agree the spacing is not correct but it is what it is and many of us have solved it ourselves . Pat

You shouldn’t have to correct the steps. The trailer maker should be responsible for having proper, safe, non-hazardous, and non-precarious steps.

If your contractor puts hazardous steps, anywhere on your property, they’d be in trouble and held liable if someone fell and injured their self.

Are there no building or manufacturing codes for trailer manufacturers?

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Rrgramps

You shouldn’t have to correct the steps. The trailer maker should be responsible for having proper, safe, non-hazardous, and non-precarious steps.

Do you also think the trailer manufacturer is responsible to ensure the steps are safe when the trailer is parked on the edge of a cliff?
There are standards and those standards are met.

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Do you also think the trailer manufacturer is responsible to ensure the steps are safe when the trailer is parked on the edge of a cliff?
There are standards and those standards are met.

What are the standards for rv trailer stair rise?

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by Rrgramps

What are the standards for rv trailer stair rise?

I doubt there would be any. How could you define a distance from the ground to the first step unless you always parked on a level pad/surface?


Not like a building code for homes that applies to non-moving structures.

[Donna D.]

Hummm, it's not the stock step, it's the individual who's using the step. How can a manufacturer pre-determine a future owners mobility issues?

[cpaharley2008]

I think you are lucky to have any kind of steps. If need be, take off the factory step and make your own disabled ramp, just like you see done in homes for wheel chair access. They make pet ramps for trucks, maybe something like that with a rope guideline.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by tractors1

Not like a building code for homes that applies to non-moving structures.

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Hummm, it's not the stock step, it's the individual who's using the step. How can a manufacturer pre-determine a future owners mobility issues?

Yes and yes. I'm perfectly OK with a negative view of something ETI has done that is below par but I think, in this case, that's it's unreasonable to say what ETI does is unsafe etc.

Many disabled people require something called a transfer board to transfer from their W/C to their vehicle. Is it the car manufactuers responsibility to build in a transfer board in each vehicle?

Ron

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I think you are lucky to have any kind of steps. If need be, take off the factory step and make your own disabled ramp, just like you see done in homes for wheel chair access. They make pet ramps for trucks, maybe something like that with a rope guideline.

I’ve many times stepped up into the trailer without pulling the steps out. Mostly step in between the gap, above where the rod goes across. It’s about a 10” drop from the floor. More equidistant than the actual step height is, when it’s pulled out.

Laying a 2x8 board on top of the step would bring the distance closer (10”, was 11-1/2”) to the floor. The step to the ground, then, would be about 9”, (was 7-1/2”) and would be little easier stepping down for almost all CG sites except sheer cliffs.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Rrgramps

You shouldn’t have to correct the steps. The trailer maker should be responsible for having proper, safe, non-hazardous, and non-precarious steps.

If your contractor puts hazardous steps, anywhere on your property, they’d be in trouble and held liable if someone fell and injured their self.

Are there no building or manufacturing codes for trailer manufacturers?

Trent what if you got those spa steps ?. It isn’t heavy to lug around . Oliver I know makes there own 2 step in house out of aluminum. I have tried them out a couple of times and they were great . But their trailers are up there in cost . Since Escape uses 18 in width for our steps , not much out there to buy . I believe Oliver trailer is up higher also . There are so many things to look at . That is why most of us if needing a change figure out what to do . Like I said before I do have the spa steps but only use at home . There is a forum member that got them for his wife and that was why I tried that out first but then saw another solution . Pat

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Since Escape uses 18 in width for our steps , not much out there to buy .

Seems like when Escape went with a standard door in 2017, they also changes to a standard width step. The step on my 2017 is 20" wide - commonly available.

This double step fits my trailer.
https://www.amazon.com/Motorhome-Cam...gateway&sr=8-1

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Trent what if you got those spa steps ?. It isn’t heavy to lug around ...
...That is why most of us if needing a change figure out what to do .
...Like I said before I do have the spa steps but only use at home . There is a forum member that got them for his wife and that was why I tried that out first but then saw another solution . Pat

These?
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post307083
They appear to be pretty comfortable. Not sure about sloping CG sites.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

This double step fits my trailer.
https://www.amazon.com/Motorhome-Cam...gateway&sr=8-1

What is the distance from the bottom step to the ground and is it equidistant to the rest of the steps?

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Seems like when Escape went with a standard door in 2017, they also changes to a standard width step. The step on my 2017 is 20" wide - commonly available.

This double step fits my trailer.
https://www.amazon.com/Motorhome-Cam...gateway&sr=8-1

That is nice.

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

What is the distance from the bottom step to the ground ?

It’s however deep the bottom of the cliff is, plus the height to the 1st step.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Seems like when Escape went with a standard door in 2017, they also changes to a standard width step. The step on my 2017 is 20" wide - commonly available.

This double step fits my trailer.
https://www.amazon.com/Motorhome-Cam...gateway&sr=8-1

Thankyou Tom that will help out a lot of customers . I know there are a lot of choices for the 20 in .Pat

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

What is the distance from the bottom step to the ground and is it equidistant to the rest of the steps?

Should be about 7" per step. To the ground would depend on where you're parked.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Should be about 7" per step. To the ground would depend on where you're parked.

That's right.

[Rrgramps]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Should be about 7" per step. To the ground would depend on where you're parked.

7” (down) to the first step from the floor is perfect. Even if only one-step is attached, the remaining 11-1/2” to the ground possibly could be provided with an adjustable step-stool. As was mentioned earlier.

All I need to do is find a 7” drop, single step, instead of the 11-1/2” drop from the floor that I now have.

But the attached 2-step, is more convenient. Except for extreme slopes.