dragonflyer Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Due to increasing age and stiffness, we would like to have electric steps installed to make it easier to get into the cab, especially important in supermarket car parks where somebody always parks alongside. Why? We are interested in the straight slide out type of step and would like to know who motorhomers recommend to install two steps. Are automatic steps reliable? Which make is recommended? Are there any snags we have not thought of? Looking forward to the response. Joyce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Joyce, Welcome, sorry I can not help you and this has slipped to the bottom . I,m sure someone on here has had that done in the past and will be along to help you. Good luck.. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Bry Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 dragonflyer - 2007-05-15 8:25 PM Due to increasing age and stiffness, we would like to have electric steps installed to make it easier to get into the cab, especially important in supermarket car parks where somebody always parks alongside. Why? We are interested in the straight slide out type of step and would like to know who motorhomers recommend to install two steps. Are automatic steps reliable? Which make is recommended? Are there any snags we have not thought of? Looking forward to the response. Joyce Hi joyce and welcome Omnistor do both an electric and manual model of the steps that you require. We have an electric 2 step version on our van. Although this was factory fitted at time of order. Most reasonable dealers should be able to install one for you, if you or your partner are not up to a DIY job yourself. The answer to your parking question is A] they are nosey and want to have a look in when you're not there. B] Makes it easy for them to find their vehicle. And believe it or not, - on good hearsay - when we were touring Germany, they park close to you on a hot day so that their cars can get some shade from the shadow of your M/H when the sun moves position Honest!!!! Thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Bry Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 dragonflyer - 2007-05-15 8:25 PM Due to increasing age and stiffness, we would like to have electric steps installed to make it easier to get into the cab, especially important in supermarket car parks where somebody always parks alongside. Why? We are interested in the straight slide out type of step and would like to know who motorhomers recommend to install two steps. Are automatic steps reliable? Which make is recommended? Are there any snags we have not thought of? Looking forward to the response. Joyce Hi joyce and welcome Omnistor do both an electric and manual model of the steps that you require. We have an electric 2 step version on our van. Although this was factory fitted at time of order. Most reasonable dealers should be able to install one for you, if you or your partner are not up to a DIY job yourself. The answer to your parking question is A] they are nosey and want to have a look in when you're not there. B] Makes it easy for them to find their vehicle. And believe it or not, - on good hearsay - when we were touring Germany, they park close to you on a hot day so that their cars can get some shade from the shadow of your M/H when the sun moves position Honest!!!! Thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Bry Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 dragonflyer - 2007-05-15 8:25 PM Due to increasing age and stiffness, we would like to have electric steps installed to make it easier to get into the cab, especially important in supermarket car parks where somebody always parks alongside. Why? We are interested in the straight slide out type of step and would like to know who motorhomers recommend to install two steps. Are automatic steps reliable? Which make is recommended? Are there any snags we have not thought of? Looking forward to the response. Joyce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Joyce: To maintain reasonable ground clearance I believe the only design of step suitable for fitting to your VW-T5's cab is the 'slide-out' type. These are available manually- or electrically-operated but, for ease of use, you should definitely opt for the latter. CAK Tanks Ltd (www.caktanks.co.uk) market the Techno-Step ETS 701102, but the most commonly fitted (and most compact) model is almost certainly Omnistor's Omni-Step "Slide-Out". This comes in 400mm or 700mm widths and, according to Omnistor's catalogue, there are options to provide automatic retraction via a door contact (presumably when a door is closed) and/or when the leisure-vehicle's motor is started. Automatic retraction adds cost and complexity, but, if the installation is carried out properly, shouldn't impact adversely on reliability. Auto-retraction is probably a good idea for cab-steps for the extra convenience it offers. Special Omni-Step Slide-Out mounting kits are available for certain vehicles (Ducato, Transit, etc.) but not, it seems for VWs. However, it might be possible to adapt one of these kits to your vehicle rather than have a completely new mounting-assembly fabricated. Whatever the case, the structure that attaches the step to the motorhome needs (for obvious reasons) to be VERY robust indeed. It would also be sensible to have large mud-flaps behind the front wheels to provide the steps with protection from road muck. For expert advice I suggest you begin by contacting PWS Engineering Ltd (Web: www.pwsacc.co.uk Tel: 01202 746851). This company is based near Poole, Dorset and has a well-established reputation for good workmanship. Their advert is on page 294 of May 2007's MMM magazine. It does need emphasising that adding a pair of electric steps to a vehicle's cab won't be cheap and that the task has plenty of scope for being done badly. If you do decide to proceed with this plan, make sure that the firm you pick to do the job is competent and experienced. Thai Bry: The French do the 'park in the motorhome's shade' thing too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonflyer Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 Derek Thank you for your advice. I have been looking for a few months at different steps. We have an electrically operated Omnistor drop down step fitted by the M/H manufacturer. So it would be a matching set to use Omnistore. I have looked underneath the cab and there appears to be a strong mounting underneath the passenger side of the cab, but nothing suitable at all on the other. As my husband has the habit of dropping onto the step (he has been reminded that this is not wise, as it stresses the mounting), and I want him to stay around for a few years longer, I am checking for recommended installers. I have noticed from previous magazines that KC Leisure also produce? slide out steps which are fitted to taxis and public services vehicles. There is the issue of Public Liability here, so they should be soundly installed. Do you know any more about this company? I realise that we are looking at more than £1000 if we have them installed, but after all the money we have already spent on our first new motorhome (a Wingamm) we think spending this amount to prevent a slip and a broken hip is a wise investment. My husband is a competent DIYer but in his mid 70s working underneath a vehicle has less appeal. It will also make getting into the cab less of struggle, and I will no longer have to use a fold up plastic stool. Joyce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 All I know about KC Leisure is that it was the only advertiser in MMM's October 2005 "Mobility" supplement that claimed to be a 'step-fitting' specialist (and that its website - www.kcleisure.co.uk - isn't currently taking on-line orders). It would definitely be worth contacting the company for advice. I don't see your requirement as being a DIY task, mainly because of the need to make up at least one attachment structure. I expect plenty of motorhome dealerships would take on the work, but, if you can find a firm that's already done it for a T5, that should be advantageous. One thing I did wonder about was whether VW offered any sort of cab 'running board' as a bolt-on option for the T5. Although this wouldn't offer the depth of a slide-out step, it might be sufficient to help you to get in and out of the vehicle and avoid the complexity (and high cost) of electric steps. A VW main dealer should be able to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Bry Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 Derek So the french do it as well then!! Must be a continental thing then Thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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