Thule Electric Step Frame Cracking

[Dorset Diver]

The single drop down electric step on our MH is sagging (dropping) on one side. I spoke to Reliance about this and they suggested that the problem may be the frame splitting, and sent me pictures of split frames they have seen before. I have just had a look and sure enough there is a sizable split in ours. Obviously Reliance are aware of the problem and mine is definitely faulty so I wonder just how common is this problem?


You can just see the split above the hinge pin and below the nut. You can also see the frame has moved away from the van floor.

If you have had this problem what have you done to rectify it?

 

[pappajohn]

My remedy would be remove the step and have it welded with a strengthener plate added.
It isn't going to stop creeping if it isn't welded.

 

[bigtwin]

Yep, mine went too.

Took it off and had it welded up.

Ian

 

[Minxy]

Are you lot fatties? Or do you have baby elephants in your MHs ...










only kidding! ?

What type of step are we looking at?

 

[Solwaybuggier]

Interesting - ours did the same last week. We’ll look to get it sorted when we get home from Spain but we’ve bought a double caravan step, which is far less of a stretch. I think the problem is coming out of the van, quite a step down, not climbing in. We plan to keep the caravan step for when we’re set up on site, and just use the (repaired) step for Aires etc.

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[Caggsie1]

I know not much help but we've used a double step for years now, a millenco, the first one collapsed. I find and the dogs, that the step isn't vertically challenged friendly so a necessity.

 

[bigtwin]

Are you lot fatties? Or do you have baby elephants in your MHs ...


only kidding! ?

What type of step are we looking at?

A work colleague once suggested that, due to the size of our van, it had its own gravitational field! So, perhaps it’s not that we’re fatties but rather that we are experiencing additional gravitational forces as we use the step. ?

Ian

PS It’s a Thule single step step!

 

[Minxy]

It’s a Thule single step step!

Is it like this? If so I'll stop worrying!

 

[pappajohn]

Looking at Ians second pic it looks extremely thin metal and maybe started as a crack but turned into a tear. It certainly could benifit from a strengthening piece adding.

 

[bigtwin]

Is it like this? If so I'll stop worrying!

View attachment 337434

That‘s the one!

Ian

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[Dorset Diver]

That's the one but our is electric. It is also okay on one side as Carthago have added a dirt deflector plate which just happens to support the frame. I shall get the other side welded and add a plate to strengthen and support the weld / frame in a similar manner.

 

[knokinonabit]

We are on our second step, first one collapsed completely and I had to remove it at the roadside.
We also have a double caravan step which we use 90% of the time. The retractable step is only for occasional use now.

 

[Scotch mist]

My motor is starting to get really slow , think it’s on its way out ( only 6 weeks old )
anybody else had this problem ?

 

[knokinonabit]

They suffer badly from road grime thrown into the works. It's a fairly common thing.

 

[Minxy]

Bummer, ours is the same as the OP's, I thought it was a different but nope, its one of these ... I shall have to have a check to make sure it's not gonna cause of problem, however I did buy a pair of folding steps at Lincoln show for when we stop for a few days as it's a bit of a stretch with just the one step.

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[Steve and Denise]

Ours has gave a couple of problems first it started juddering a bit f lube sorted that,
Secondly I caught a tree root with it extended ?
After a repair it was not he same, when I got back home I had a good look and found the shaft was seizing.
Dismantled a bit of Vaseline on the shaft been good since.?

 

[HandyAndy]

Take it off, grind all the underseal off and weld it up.
then add a little extra thick strap to the stress area and when you bolt it back on, add a few more bolts to spread the load better....

Oh and cut down on the pies

 

[Dorset Diver]

Bummer, ours is the same as the OP's, I thought it was a different but nope, its one of these ... I shall have to have a check to make sure it's not gonna cause of problem, however I did buy a pair of folding steps at Lincoln show for when we stop for a few days as it's a bit of a stretch with just the one step.

Minxy Girl If it is okay when you check it just get a couple of plates made up to clamp (sandwich) the frame to the van floor. That will prevent creep and add support.

 

[Diabalo]

I had exactly the same. After removing and disassembling I welded it back together. I had to drill out one of the pivot rivets as the heat destroyed the nylon bush, I replaced the bush and used a stainless steel bolt instead of using a rivet replacement kit.

 

[Cal54]

Mine took a ‘hit’ from a pothole whilst in France and is at a very odd angle now?. Thankfully it is still working (electrics wise) but I don’t want to do any further damage so I’m using a plastic step until I get home and get it repaired by my friendly garage!

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