Step stabilizer

Do any of you use step stabilizers like the Lippert one shown below in the 2nd pic and if so do you love it?  I bought the cheaper ones shown in the 1st pic and they do work but i dont love having to screw them in and out everytime especially in the heat and they take up valuable storage room when moving to and from the destination. The lippert mount to the bottom step and seem to tuck up nicely when retracted. Any opinions are welcomed good or bad. IM a bigger guy and like something to support my weight when going in and out of the RV plus i think it will reduce the fatigue on the steps.

Here is also a youtube vid of the lippert in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFjXoCJ7YBA

Hi Wideglide,


I don't use them.   Like the supports they sell to go under slides, they impose forces again the step (or slide) at the points where it is connected to the PC, not just when you enter/exit the coach... but impressed twist forces when you walk around the coach, or when wind blows the PC. This causes more damage and wear than just using the step.  I think the slide supports get more chatter because people have more problems with slides, but same principle,


Even if you have the HWH levelers there is still a little bit of motion between the coach and the ground... This step stabilizer it going to hold the step rigid and fight the coach motion.



The better approach is to be kind to your steps and not stomp on them,,, just walk in and out. I weigh more than 200lbs and my PC is 16 years old. The steps are still firmly welded to the frame. No wiggle.


Larry

Thank you for the input Larry. Im a #300 guy myself and have fallen on steps before so it makes me leery on that step the way it wiggles even when im gentle with it. The small screw ones ive been using i just run them up till they barely touch and then back off slightly to mainly catch my weight as the RV rolls into my load. When it comes down to it in the end id rather pay to fix the step if it breaks instead of me breaking an ankle or something. As far as i can tell they are all load rated at #300 and if i eventually have to replace the entire step unit they run $600 - $800 from eTrailer.com.  As far as the slide goes i wouldnt dare try to support that. Ive seen the horror stories about that during my research.

Makes sense. As you mentioned,,, I would then make sure that the support is barely touching/lifting when empty. There's a bit of play in the slots that the step slides in and out on... Lifting to the point that it is touching the tops of the slots would eliminate that wobble or "play". I just wouldn't want the step to be supporting the coach. The geometry of the step wasn't likely to be designed for that.


It would be worth chatting with the factory and discussing the way they weld the step to the frame and get their thoughts.  I've looked at it several times from the perspective of where does it hang (from the floor cross bars that float above the Ford chassis frame, and attached to the door frame), and how could I add a step light. I gave up on installing a light IN the step box as it is really heavy steel and I didn't feel up to the challenge of drilling thru it. (I ended up putting the light in the end wall of the cabinet.)


Please post your findings... This is an interesting topic!


Larry