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CAN I UPGRADE THE STEP ON MY DETHLEFFS MOTORHOME?
Q I have a 2017 Dethleffs Magic Edition, with a single electric step. I plan to change this for a double step. I know you have repaired one in the past and I would appreciate any suggestions as to how this can be done. The only replacement I can find is 500mm wide and I need the wider, 600mm one. Dave Monks
A Gentleman Jack replies… I’ve assumed the manufacturer of the step currently fitted is Thule. I don’t think they make a 600mm tread one.
There are other manufacturers selling electric double steps. I’ve excluded those wider than 620mm because they might not fit when retracted.
An internet search revealed one option – a 12V dropdown electric double step by Seaflo, with a 575mm tread width. It is available on eBay, and it retails at £239.99 including delivery.
I’ve no experience of the step itself, but I have made several good purchases from the retailer, Seaflo UK (seaflo-uk. com), Waterfall Lane Trading Estate, Cradley Heath B64 6PU. They might be able to source one for you with treads exactly 600mm wide.
Other alternatives include fitting a manually operated (spring-assisted) double step, or having an electrically operated one custom-made. Several firms advertise this service, but they are likely to be expensive.
After we fitted a replacement electric double step to our old Autocruise, my partner lost a huge amount of mobility and couldn’t use it because the step-up heights – from the ground and then between treads – were too much for her. My solution was to get a local fabricator (UK Towbars Ltd, uk-towbars.net) to make a freestanding three-tread step from aluminium, to our measurements.
It had non-slip treads and a wide base for stability. It wasn’t expensive, or a faff to get out and to store, but it did require being placed on flat, level ground.
Milenco and Maypole (among many) make affordable freestanding double and single steps. Just type ‘Wide tread double/single caravan steps’ into your internet search engine and all will be revealed. A lightweight freestanding caravan single step, combined with your existing electrically operated single step, might achieve something close to your requirements.
CAN I REMOVE UNSIGHTLY MARK FROM THE SIDE OF
