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gdaveg
491 posts
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21 followers
in over 2 years
in over 2 years
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Step Modification to our Camper
My wife has long complained how difficult it is to climb into bed in our truck camper. Said I could figure out how to modify our steps. I started the design back mid October 2024.
Had to clear both the existing refrigerator and pantry doors and the switch pad. I drew the profile through the existing step and drew the top of the mattress elevation. Drew an elevation (side) view of doors and Vent and switch pad.
Put my idea over the existing stuff and finally had a layout that would work.
I built a mock up of one set of the future steps out of 1x3 wood boards. Test fit them and knew it would work. End of October we returned to AZ for the winter. I brought my sketches with us.
Returned to WA May 8. Bought 3 1x6 x 8 foot pieces of knotty pine. I selected the clearest boards and ripped 2.5" strips cut to length with a small sled. Assembled two runs of the stair runs. Cut a piece of 3/4" ply to make the steps, had this laying around the garage for 4 or so years.
Covered the ply with In/out "carpeting" bought at HD, really cheap stuff. piece 18" x 12 feet cost less
than $12.
The finished project seems to work as intended and DW is happy.
Had to clear both the existing refrigerator and pantry doors and the switch pad. I drew the profile through the existing step and drew the top of the mattress elevation. Drew an elevation (side) view of doors and Vent and switch pad.
Put my idea over the existing stuff and finally had a layout that would work.
I built a mock up of one set of the future steps out of 1x3 wood boards. Test fit them and knew it would work. End of October we returned to AZ for the winter. I brought my sketches with us.
Returned to WA May 8. Bought 3 1x6 x 8 foot pieces of knotty pine. I selected the clearest boards and ripped 2.5" strips cut to length with a small sled. Assembled two runs of the stair runs. Cut a piece of 3/4" ply to make the steps, had this laying around the garage for 4 or so years.
Covered the ply with In/out "carpeting" bought at HD, really cheap stuff. piece 18" x 12 feet cost less
than $12.
The finished project seems to work as intended and DW is happy.
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
10 Comments
here is a pic and mockup
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
Nice job Dave! That should make it a lot easier.
Hopefully this solves the problem. Well done.
Nice work! No simple project considering the obstacles to work around.
Good design, Dave! Woodworking solved the problem for sure!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day
Steve, Dutchy, Splint & Jim,
Wifey loves the new steps. She loves camping. Woodworking did solve the problem in the easiest way.
I was fortunate the doors & switch panel could be worked around. In my career as a structural engineer geometry was half the problem/solution.
Wifey loves the new steps. She loves camping. Woodworking did solve the problem in the easiest way.
I was fortunate the doors & switch panel could be worked around. In my career as a structural engineer geometry was half the problem/solution.
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
Brilliant. Looks like it achieves all goals, and allows use of everything nearby
GW,
I am happy with the solution.
I am happy with the solution.
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
Glad you could work this out to make camping more enjoyable. Limited space creates real challenges!
Great idea and work.
I did a similar thing by making a box that sits on the floor in front of the fridge, my wife also had trouble seeing in the freezer section of the fridge. The box also serves as storage for shoes, can drinks or what ever. That formed the first step, then the next step was already built over the water tank like yours. From there it was easier to climb up and we use the corner of the sink for another step if necessary. Now to get down....when your over 80......
I did a similar thing by making a box that sits on the floor in front of the fridge, my wife also had trouble seeing in the freezer section of the fridge. The box also serves as storage for shoes, can drinks or what ever. That formed the first step, then the next step was already built over the water tank like yours. From there it was easier to climb up and we use the corner of the sink for another step if necessary. Now to get down....when your over 80......
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