Step recommendation

[Robtel]

I'm looking for recommendations for a double step for our caravan. We previously has a double step but felt that it seemed a little bit unstable partcicularly on uneven ground and if you placed your foot towards either end rather than dead centre. Felt as though it was liable to tip.
I've had a look at some models that are on the market just now. Some seem to have a frame right around the base in contact with ground rather than legs. Sometimes this frame is larger than the actual step width and depth which suggests it might give better stability but might also give storage problems when in transit.
I would like opinions and recommendations (bad & good) from real caravanners who have actually used them rather than the manufacturers "blurb".
Thanks in advance.
Robert

 

[emmerson]

As Herself is disabled, step stability is very important. We've tried them all over the years, but for the last five years have used Dukdalf. Not only is the step very safe, but it also has a hand rail. Not cheap, but, for us it's the Carlsberg of steps!
Google Dukdalf for more info.

 

[emmerson]

Rob, I've just had look and it's called the "Mambo"

 

[Robtel]

Thanks emmerson, I've had a look on the internet at that make and model of step. It costs around the £65 mark without the handrail and £91 with the rail. We are fortunate enough not to need the handrail (yet). Can I ask you if you think the step itself, minus handrail, is worth the money, and if so why?
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Anyone else who has comments re double caravan step, I would be please to hear them.
Robert

 

[emmerson]

Hello Rob. Difficult question, but I'll try.
It is a very well-made product, and feels good and solid. It rests on its four corners, but these are plastic coated, so it doesen't slip even on concrete. On grass, these shallow corners dig in just enough to keep it in place. It'sfoot area is bigger than most, and is ribbed so your foot doesn't slip when wet.
Now, the question is, would I have paid that price if Herself had not needed it, and the absolutely honest answer is no, probably not. After all, you can get good steps for half that price, but in our case, needs must.
I don't know who sells them now, as the company we bought ours from has gone now, but if you can, have a look at one before deciding.As I've said, it is a top quallity step.

 

[John_miller]

We have the aluminium Milenco double step which I really like, but my wife fell off it a couple of years ago and broke her arm and I've wondered about getting a different one. The step is actually very stable, but on uneven ground it can wobble a bit and she simply lost her balance. I like the look of the Dukdalf step and handrail, but apart from the price, I'm not sure how it can be stored in transit without having to take it apart every time. Is that what has to happen?

John M

 

[ValA.]

We have a folding aluminium step, from Towsure - like this one. It's seemed perfectly stable in the eleven years we've used it, and we've had no problems with it at all, apart from one bolt becoming loose. We just fold it and leave it in the middle of the caravan, but it doesn't take up much room.

 

[Steve L]

High John M.

I had a milenco double step for our van. I bought it for it's light weight and the grippy chequer plate tread plates. But our step failed badly. The tubular frame fractured at the top step treadplate rivet hole causing the step to collapse and send me flying into the awning. Being a process technician, I took some very clear pictures of the step from all angles and a close up shot of the fracture point. That used to be acceptable practice in the motor industry for highlighting a design floor. But not good enough for Milenco. They would not do anything about their step manufacturing fault unless I paid to have the step returned to them. At the time I couldn't be bothered to fork out £10 to send a £38 step back, and bought a Towsure steel one instead.

Considering the somewhat snotty reply I had from the aluminium step manufacturer, you can guess who's not on my shopping list now.

In hind sight I should of gone to A&E for a check up and reported the incident to HSE under their RIDOR regs. That way the manufacturer would of been forced to take the matter seriously instead of flippantly brushing it off and making it cost prohibative to complain.

The steel step has lasted very well and is on it's second season with us. Considering we caravan 365 days a year it should last the average tourer 10 years plus and at half the price of a shiny aluminium one.

 

[emmerson]

John, yes , I do have to remove the handrail to get the step into the van, but it is held on by only three thumb screws which take only a couple of seconds to undo.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Steve,

Sorry to hear of the step incident.

Legally of course your contract was withe the supplier who I guess was not the manufacturer in this instance. Consequently the manufacture had no obligation directly to you. However I do agree with you that they should have been taking a bigger intrest in a major failure of one of their products, and certainly if a similar thing had happened to one of our customersnot withstanding any injury, we would have been looking to find out why it had failed, and how it might be prevented from happening again.

 

[John_miller]

Hi Steve
Sorry to hear about your accident. Our experience of the Milenco step is vastly different to yours since we've had the step for over 10 years and it is still wearing well. But for my wife's fall, I wouldn't even be considering changing it. As disconnecting the handrail on the Dukdalf sounds like an easy job, I might bite the bullet and get one.

John M

 

[Hoits]

We also use the Towsure Folding step, apart from being a bit slippy in the wet, no problem if you are using an awning, we are very pleased with it.
Dave C

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Rob, I've just had look and it's called the "Mambo"

hi Rob not heard from you for a while hope everyones ok and you are keeping well.
Emmerson is spot on we have the very same step for her indoors very good product IMO the "bees knees" and well worth the money the hand rail is a doddle to remove and refit.
as her illness progressed a hand rail became a must it was either change the step or fit one of those external hand rails the step was acctually a cheaper alternative although you can't put a price on safety.

 

[Robtel]

[/quote]
hi Rob not heard from you for a while hope everyones ok and you are keeping well.
[/quote]

Yes Colin, thank you, all fine. I do log on here most days but haven't been posting much, not seen a lot that I felt I could make a worthwhile contribution to. I do still like to read what everyone else is saying and I enjoy the friendly banter that goes on between folk (well, most of it is friendly)
Re the steps I think we might be going a tour of the local accessory shops this weekend to have a look at whats on offer. I do like the sound of the Dukdalf or however its spelt. It is expensive but better than a visit to an A&E Dept because a cheap step has collapsed or tipped over. Mind you at that price I might be reluctant to leave it outside the door when I'm away for the day in case some low life nicks it.
My thanks again to all who have responded.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

I do like the sound of the Dukdalf or however its spelt. It is expensive but better than a visit to an A&E Dept because a cheap step has collapsed or tipped over. Mind you at that price I might be reluctant to leave it outside the door when I'm away for the day in case some low life nicks it.
My thanks again to all who have responded.

HI Rob, good point mate and the reason mine is chained to the chasis with a high tensile boron chain and lock (security 9) from B&Q
think it cost about £25 for the lock and 1mtr of chain,
colin.

 

[RayS]

We have a folding step like Val's (see her posting above) but not from Towsure. The rubber feet have holes and steel pegs are supplied to keep it in place. Over the years, I've found the bolts tend to work loose and I've replaced the original nuts with nylon locking nuts we used to call Nyloc but that's probably showing my age. Also the bolts are a little long so I've slid some short sections of rigid plastic tube onto them to act as spacers and keep the lower step central to the upper.
If the step is used without an awning it can hold water, so I've also drilled holles at the end of each groove on each tread so this drains away and does not form ice overnight.
If you push hard enough the bottom step will fold right up inside the top step, so only takes the same storage space as a single step. We keep ours just inside th van door for lunch stops etc. while in transit.
We had another 'popular' step before but this had a steel frame, was heavy and the treads were narrow front to back, very easy to step across when leaving the van particularly if wearing bi or vari focal glasses.