What is the one thing that hasn’t changed in the last 100 years of travel trailer existence?  The steps! Get ready for the GlowStep Revolution!

The Glow Step Revolution – an enginering marvel!

Every travel trailer seems to come with the same inadequate steps that have been around forever.  They are the typical steel free standing steps.  Not only do they flex and move when you step on them, they also rock the entire trailer.  Eventually the stock steel steps rust and become an eye sore.

Stock Travel Trailer steps typically have a rise in excess of 8 inches which makes them harder to climb.  I measured the rise on our factory steps and it was a whopping 9.25 inches.  A large rise makes it difficult for dogs, small children, and adults with mobility issues to climb into or out of the trailer.  Add to the large rise, the rocking of the trailer while using the steps, and you have a real opportunity for a fall from your “Fun House” steps.

The other draw back to the factory steps is that at some campgrounds you may need an additional platform to use as your first step; the factory steps can’t account for the wide variety in terrain.  We have found the higher we raise the front of the trailer (to achieve level) the higher our lowest factory step raises off the ground.  Then we need an additional platform to reach the lowest step.

Note the Platform being used as an additional fourth step.

This additional platform makes everything harder as it can get bumped out of position; and it doesn’t instill a great deal of confidence in either of us or our two big shepherds.

While replacing these steps isn’t required you might find it to be one of the best modifications you can make from a safety standpoint.

Enter the GlowStep Revolution, a new solid way of entering and exiting your travel trailer.  While there are some other manufacturers in the aftermarket step business, there are some definite benefits to the GlowSteps over the other models that are currently being sold:

  1. They fold up and store away under the trailer vs. storing inside the doorway which brings in dirt and debris, and in tight spots will block your ability to enter the travel trailer.
  2. They are adjustable, from almost being a vertical ladder to being fully extended.  Other models are rigid and unable to be adjusted, leaving you in a real bind if you are in a spot with no room to put them out.
  3. The upper step has three levels of adjustment and the lower landing gear legs have five levels of adjustment.  This provides a great deal of flexibility for different terrain.
  4. The steps are designed with a 7.5” riser height, which is the industry standard in the home construction business, and this is a first in the RV industry.
  5. They have small illuminated squares on the outside of each step that light up for ten hours with only ten minutes of daylight or artificial light.
  6. There are a number of accessories available that you can add to your steps, such as a handrail, a shoe brush, and some back covers so your pets’ feet don’t slip off the steps.
  7. You can add a step or remove a step if you change the height of your trailer, or if you transfer the steps to a new trailer with different height requirements.
  8. These are manufactured and assembled here in the USA, and are manufactured with US materials.
  9. These steps come with a lifetime warranty.  That should tell you something about how well they are manufactured.

The amount of upward adjustment is really impressive as is the ability of the landing feet to be adjusted to account for uneven terrain.

Space is no issue as you can almost make a ladder out of the Torklift Steps.

There are many different sizes available, so you will need to take a few measurements to make sure you order the correct model.

You can install them with a friend or by yourself using a few simple tools. There are two methoods specified in the owners manual. One method, if you are installing them alone, is to remove the stairs from the base. Next the base is installed, and then the step assembly is reattached. The other option is to expand the stairs and have a friend hold them while you raise the base into position and put the nuts and bolts though the assembly.

However, despite the above instructions, I came up with my own plan which involved using my motorcycle lift. I simply raised the lift in order to hold the old steps in place. Then I removed the existing four bolts, and lowered the old steps to the ground. Then it was just a matter of reversing the process with the new steps. All of this I did by myself without expanding the steps or removing them. It took a couple of wrenches and in fifty minutes I was done with the installation.

What an amazing difference these steps make.

Fully expanded and solid like a rock!

These steps are not inexpensive, but remember, you really do get what you pay for.  As with everything else, do your research and I think you’ll find this may be a great if not necessary option for your travel trailer.

Steps Stowed for Travel

On a side note, the folks at TorkLift International are amazing. You won’t find a nicer group of people on the planet. They will be there for you if you need them, which is really rare these days. To read more about the TorkLift Glowsteps click here.