Milenco double steps broken !!

[Steve L]

Yesterday our Milenco double caravan steps broke causing me to take a dive worthy of a goal keeper.

Fortunately I was using them outside to gain height while setting up our sky+ dish. I say fortunately because all I did was a pirouette across the snow and a 5 point landing. Had i of done the same while entering or exiting the van, I could well of ended up at A&E.

The steps have broken on the side tube adjacent to the rivet hole on the front right hand edge of the top step. It looks very much like a stress crack eminating from the hole that has tracked round both sides culminating in the colapse of the structure.

Bit technical I know, but I am a qualified prototype engineer and process technician by trade.

At a guess I would say the hole for the rivet was pressed instead of drilled which might start a stress crack due to the process force.

I wonder how many people have had this happen in say the last two years, which happens to be the time I've owned our steps?

Also, would Milenco be as brave as Swift and discuss manufacturing issuse openly on the forum? It is a very welcome thing for manufacturers to be that brave and support their clients so openly.

So, your thoughts and comments please.

Steve L.

 

[Dustydog]

Steve

I think you may find a quick letter to Milenco, with photo , may give the result you desire.

I find some manufacturers do not like hanging out their dirty washing for fear of opening the floodgates etc, etc. If they respond as you want then of course I am sure you will give them a pat on the back.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Mikey1]

You dont say how old your step was?

Mine broke where the bottom step plate was riveted,it cracked.

It was a few of years old and has had some use 4 people in and out of the van,i put mine down to fair wear and tear.

I always mark some of my items on the base to say when i bought it as sometimes you forget when you bought the item and are then surprised how long you have had them.

 

[Mikey1]

Sorry you did say how long you have had it.

 

[Steve L]

Your probably right there Dusty, a lot of manufacturers don't like having to admit to design faults or openly discussing resolution etc.

Our step was bought August 2008.

I am going to take pics and make contact but for now will obviously have to respect manufacturer confidentuallity for now anyway. But suffice to say that being a Toolmaker & experimental engineer, approved prototype tester and also a porcess technician, gives me the edge on how parts are made, and also just how the cogs of industry turn in the "get out of jail card " issues.

My tool box will have, CE approval, ISO 9000 process control, Press tool regs regarding planned preventative maintainence of the tooling and process of manufature, Quality control inspection systems etc all ready for me to open their can of worms.

My accident didn't cause injury, but just imagine going up the step into the van and the step failing. You could very easily "nut" the door frame and I'm sure the door frame would come off best. All I want out of this is to try to ensure that future step users don't have to endure such a failure.

Steve L.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Steve

De Havilland made the same mistakes when building the ill fated Comet.

Instead of drilling the rivet holes they punched them through. From then onwards the stress cracks started to grow.

Strange how people seem to learn nothing from history!

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[BrianStAlbans]

"a 5 point landing"

I daren't ask ;O)

 

[Steve L]

"a 5 point landing"

I daren't ask ;O)

trust you!!! It was hands feet & head in snow honest !!??