non electric step problem

I stepped on the habitation step the other day and one side gave way. (NO I AM NOT OVERWEIGHT thank you ). A pin/bolt dropped out and hopefully my husband can sort it.
But I've always thought the step didn't fell safe. Does anyone else feel this way. And does anyone use a portable step instead.

Must admit I've never felt confident on our non-electric step - and I am overweight - but don't carry a portable step although there is one in the garage.

Always use one. Once you get to a site the electric step stays tucked away.  It saves the constant use and doesnt rock the van everytime you enter.

I have complete faith in my non-electric step as I fitted it myself after the previous owner had damaged the original one by moving the van while it was extended.
Like everything that moves, it does need maintaining, a bit of lubrication and checking of fastenings now and again will ensure years of trouble free use.
Space is tight enough in our van, I wouldn't entertain carrying a portable step.
Al.

I cleaned and oiled mine the other week. Perhaps that's what did mine in. Never noticed a loose pin/bolt.

All sorted now but still have to decided whether to use the portable or van step.
Oh!! Decisions!!!

Put your faith in the van step now you know it's sorted. When I fixed mine I asked my extremely overweight neighbour if he'd like a look round the inside of my van.. I watched the step very carefully as he climbed up.. Not a sign of strain.
Al.

Think I might. I still have plenty of room under the seats to put the portable ones in case.

Hi .I have just got a autosleeper executive with a pull out single step .and the step has the same if not bigger issues. Being that were the screws in each side actually screw into has cracked and gone nothing there now to screw into. So an idea for you or someone able is to do what I will be doing when the weather improves is to remove the aluminium plate only and drill some holes through above were the original thread bar was and using little nuts and bolts. Bolt on a little  gate or small cupboard locking catch to the step and instead of putting screws back in to support it and me.put some heavier bolt and nuts ..job done to take any weight. ..and alls well again. John and steph.

I've always thought that the way these steps are designed must put huge loads on the pins and arms of the mechanism, even my 69kg makes ours visibly move.
A crack in the scissor arm mechanism where the main load is applied could be a catastrophe for someone infirm or lacking in skeletal calcium IMHO.

I am personally happy to enter and exit without the step, but SWMBO isn't even though she's slim and much lighter than me.

Something else to keep a careful eye on.

Our last van had a portable step. We decided to have one fixed on the next van this time as portable ones can be unsafe on uneven ground and on two occasions we just drove off with out it and a third occasion it got trapped under the van.

bikeralw wrote:Put your faith in the van step now you know it's sorted. When I fixed mine I asked my extremely overweight neighbour if he'd like a look round the inside of my van.. I watched the step very carefully as he climbed up.. Not a sign of strain.
Al.

 I like your ulterior motive there.