New step in 320 MKS

[50ST8R]

We have a new 320 MKS and the wife is wanting me to change the steps from 3 to 4 going up to the bedroom and bathroom. Anyone else been able to do this? Can you share pictures?

sounds like I have my winter project.

[howson]

50ST8R ,
I found the chart below at https://www.torklift.com/rv/glowstep-revolution This should give you an idea if a four-step will work on your trailer.



If you'll search for "Torklift" on this forum you'll find many related posts about various step options. Here's my thread on the topic: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/exterio...n-a-19-315rlts

While I really like the steps, others do not. The best advice when it comes to steps is to try them yourself. How? By meandering around an RV park looking at what other people have installed on their units. When you spot something interesting, ask if you can try it. (Most people are very accommodating.) This is how Fran and I ended up with the Glowstep Revolution steps. We met a couple with a Solitude that had the steps. Fran tried them and immediately liked them.

We've had them for quite awhile now and would buy the Glowsteps again without hesitation (though there are some improvements I'd like to see, including making it easy to secure/pin in place).

Howard

[50ST8R]

50ST8R ,
I found the chart below at https://www.torklift.com/rv/glowstep-revolution This should give you an idea if a four-step will work on your trailer.

Howard, it appears I may need to go and edit my post. The additional stairs is for the inside to make a smaller rise on each step to the bedroom and bathroom. We got the glow steps and love them. Very stable and easy to use. The wife has a knee that doesn’t always cooperate and we have heard of people adding an extra step inside then using below the step as a shoe storage. Saw a picture of one on the a Reflection FB group but wanted some in process if possible.

[fmartinmn]

Hi 50st8r, welcome. I took a look at your floor plan on the GD website and it looks like you have very little room to increase the run before you reach the entry door. Whatever you do keep all the rises equal to avoid a potential tripping event. Climbing stairs is a muscle memory event. Any change in a riser height in a run could cause a fall. Best of luck with your project.

[50ST8R]

Hi 50st8r, welcome. I took a look at your floor plan on the GD website and it looks like you have very little room to increase the run before you reach the entry door. Whatever you do keep all the rises equal to avoid a potential tripping event. Climbing stairs is a muscle memory event. Any change in a riser height in a run could cause a fall. Best of luck with your project.

Thanks. In measuring the steps now they are 9, 8, and 8.5 so they didn’t do well in putting them in. I have a plan drawn out to change to 6 3/8 for each. There is effectively 23 inches to work with laterally so about 7 5/8 width at the sides. I intend to bow them as the original steps which then gives the center of the step just under 10 inches which is a standard step. I want to make the risers first then test the step dynamics before installing.

Looks good on paper😁

[Country Campers]

Thanks. In measuring the steps now they are 9, 8, and 8.5 so they didn’t do well in putting them in. I have a plan drawn out to change to 6 3/8 for each. There is effectively 23 inches to work with laterally so about 7 5/8 width at the sides. I intend to bow them as the original steps which then gives the center of the step just under 10 inches which is a standard step. I want to make the risers first then test the step dynamics before installing.

Looks good on paper😁

I am not sure that the steps in my unit are the same as what you have but I will let you know what I learned when doing a little step project.

The bottom step has 2 screws that go thru the front carpet at an angle down into the floor. If you feel around the carpet you should find the holes that they drove the screws thru. If you remove the part of wall in the pass thru you will see the back and structure of the steps , caution there may be a 120v plug on the wall piece. From the pass thru side you can see all of the screw that anchor the steps to the floor and side structures. I found some screws that I also had to remove the false wall section to get to as well. The bottom step and the top step sections are 2 separate pieces. I had to lift the top step section out to be able to rotate the bottom section the get it out. Not sure if this will help but once you get in there look around for screws and how it is assembled.

Brian

[50ST8R]

I am not sure that the steps in my unit are the same as what you have but I will let you know what I learned when doing a little step project.

The bottom step has 2 screws that go thru the front carpet at an angle down into the floor. If you feel around the carpet you should find the holes that they drove the screws thru. If you remove the part of wall in the pass thru you will see the back and structure of the steps , caution there may be a 120v plug on the wall piece. From the pass thru side you can see all of the screw that anchor the steps to the floor and side structures. I found some screws that I also had to remove the false wall section to get to as well. The bottom step and the top step sections are 2 separate pieces. I had to lift the top step section out to be able to rotate the bottom section the get it out. Not sure if this will help but once you get in there look around for screws and how it is assembled.

Brian

Thanks that should be quite helpful.. I have no carpet in this area at all so am thinking most of the connecting screws should all be in the basement. Yes I have a GFCI outlet that I will probably reroute the electrical for as it is just loose behind the receptacle. I found that when I was searching to disconnect the converter after my initial Victron Inverter project. Adding almost 2 inches at the bottom to come out to the door is not much of a problem, but going back another inch toward the bathroom door may be a bit more problematic. Looking to build a riser for both sides to specs then can fasten it together and see if steps are workable from my other half’s perspective. She is always the chief inspector.

Will keep progress posted once we start.

[50ST8R]

Update. I finished the stairs today. We changed the rise from 8.5 inches to 6.75. I contacted GD and got another step from them. The steps are about 9.5 inches wide which is just under what most residential steps are at 10 inches

We ordered a step from GD directly. When you remove all of the screws from the existing they come out fairly easily. I found a screw from the front into the outside wall on both that you have to work around the carrier on. I made the boxes for each step with 6 3/8 inch rise. The GD steps have a 2 inch vote in the front so I made the boxes 7 7/16 deep. I just screwed each box to the floor starting with the lowest then screwed each to the other as I built the three

[Jlawles2]

50ST8R Good looking project. Bet you learned a lot about framing in a camper.

I know when i pulled the basement wall to put the carpet in I was amazed at everything back there. I could take 2 weeks just to clean up the wiring and plumbing.

[howson]

Update

Nicely done! Adding to modification list.

[mpking]

So.... I'm about 6 months too late, but if you are trying to get more stairs in a shorter space, you could always do "witch's stairs". Essentially you get twice as many steps in the same space.

[Second Chance]

So.... I'm about 6 months too late, but if you are trying to get more stairs in a shorter space, you could always do "witch's stairs". Essentially you get twice as many steps in the same space.

I can't imagine negotiating those when not fully awake! They remind me of some of the obstacle courses in the Army...

Rob