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Part 8 — Folding steps, security and jack
How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - Folding Steps, Security, jack mod and more (Part 8)
Source: How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - Folding Steps, Security, jack mod and more (Part 8) · 2019-03-02 · 12:19
What Joe did
- Made underside brackets and installed a double folding RV step.
- Planned to support extended stays with existing A-frame stabilizer jacks.
- Changed a wheel-and-axle security chain and padlock.
- Planned a second, homemade coupler lock.
- Modified the trailer jack so a drill can run it, while retaining a socket option.
- Showed progress on the kitchenette cabinets.
Numbers
| What | Value | Where in the video |
|---|---|---|
| Step type | double | “pre manufactured double RV folding step” |
| Chain links | 3/8 inch | “has a 3/8 of an inch links” |
| Old chain length | about 12 feet | “probably about twelve feet long” |
| Joe’s test weight | about 215 pounds | “I’m about 215 pounds” |
Materials and parts
| Item | Detail as Joe says it |
|---|---|
| Steps | Elkhart Tool and Die pre-manufactured double RV folding steps. |
| Stabilizers | A-frame jacks he already had. |
| Security chain | Pewag hardened, square-link 3/8-inch chain from US Cargo Control. |
| Lock | War-Lok padlock from Amazon; boron shackle. |
Tools Joe used
- Drill and socket.
Tips and mistakes
- Joe says he should have added step mounts while the frame was bare.
- He describes the old hardware-store chain and lock as deterrence rather than strong security.
- The new chain was easier to route through the wheel than the long old chain.
For my build
- Nathan’s note: choose entry steps after door height and floor plan are fixed.
- Nathan’s note: include only the security hardware that fits the target budget after core build needs.