Wooden Step for Semi Off Road Van

JayDee · Guru

Wooden Step for Semi Off Road Van

wasn_me · Guru

Make sure you have an angle front & back. If you make it square, it can tip, if you step near the edge as you step down. Been there done that. Cheers Pete

wasn_me · Guru

Just read your post again. Mine was only one step about seven inches high. Stability is important. There's been many injured ankles from unstable steps.

villatranquilla · Guru

did the same - makes a great storage box for tent pegs, hammer, ropes for the awning etc - we went the maximum size with handles so that it would fit into the dropped down step recess - we cover the edge with a hand towel when travelling to protect the fly wire section on the door

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 31st of July 2015 06:09:36 AM

PeterD · Guru

JayDee wrote:
Has anyone done something similar and if so can you give me some clues like size and other measurements and other ideas.

Jay, have a look at some commercial ones for sizes. Try this page. These will give you the recommendations for tread size. This two step one will be a good basis for tread size and the angles recommended above for non tip.

I carry the double steel step on this page. Its treads are 380 x 260 mm. My van has a drop step and the site I am on now has a concrete slab, the door just clears the top by a few millimetres. It is quite comfortable to walk out onto the top step, I would not want it any lower as when you have a site that slopes to the rear and/or you have to block up the LH wheel/s you will have to drop too much to the top step. We also carry a plastic step like the top one in the previous page, it is needed when the site slopes upward to the back LH corner and also doubles up as a morning/afternoon tea table.

Use the dimensions of the treads that look good in the above info and make the heigh suitable to be 50 mm or so lower than your door on a dead level site. I suggest the two tread rises be equal.

JayDee · Guru

WE have looked at a lot of the 2 step, but most seem to be some 20cm in height from the ground to the first step and then another 20cm from the first step to the second(top) step.
Whilst 20 cm may not seem much, it is a little to high a step for us over 70 something grey nomads. May have to make a 2 step wooden unit to suit our own needs. But would prefer to buy rather than build.
Jay&Dee