Detailed Picture of 1976 Sovereign Steps

[Gael79]

Hello All,

I have a 1970 Sovereign, and want to modify the trailer to accept a set of the newer style steps from a 1976 Sovereign. Could someone who has an Airstream around this year and model (1976ish) please post a few detailed pictures of how the stairs lock in the upright position. I believe that there is a handle on the right hand side, but I don't have the replacement steps in hand yet, so I cannot quite understand how this works.

One of the many winter projects I want to tackle this year...

Thanks in advance for the help!!!

Best regards,

[Alumin8]

I have a 1973 Excella but don't have pictures. I can get them by the weekend and post. I may also be able to post the repair manual diagram which usually helps. Just remember, it is ingenuity that usually gets things like this done.

[Gael79]

Hello Joe,

Thank you, that would be great! Forgive me, I don't know what year the steps changed over. I know my 1970 has the original steel steps, the donor (1976) has aluminum steps. I have seen a 1974 with aluminum steps, which I assume were originals, but at the time, I was too busy admiring the rest of the trailer to focus on the step "up lock". If yours are aluminum, I guess it was 1971 or 1972 when the change over occured???

Thanks again in advance,

[GoMopar440]

I think I have the step you are talking about on my '73 Soveriegn 31'. Is this what you're talking about?


I assume it's NOT supposed to be tilted like that though. I just gotta figure out how the dern thing works so I can open it to see why it's like that.

[DEITZ645]

Originally Posted by GoMopar440

I think I have the step you are talking about on my '73 Soveriegn 31'. Is this what you're talking about?


I assume it's NOT supposed to be tilted like that though. I just gotta figure out how the dern thing works so I can open it to see why it's like that.

GoMopar440,
I think the little knob / lever to the right of your steps is the latch that secures your steps in the upright position or releases them so they be unfolded.

[GoMopar440]

Originally Posted by DEITZ645

GoMopar440,
I think the little knob / lever to the right of your steps is the latch that secures your steps in the upright position or releases them so they be unfolded.

But do I turn it, push it, pull it or bend it? It seems stuck now and not knowing what direction it's supposed to move has kept me from trying to force it.

[vhord]

Originally Posted by Gael79

Hello All,

I have a 1970 Sovereign, and want to modify the trailer to accept a set of the newer style steps from a 1976 Sovereign. Could someone who has an Airstream around this year and model (1976ish) please post a few detailed pictures of how the stairs lock in the upright position. I believe that there is a handle on the right hand side, but I don't have the replacement steps in hand yet, so I cannot quite understand how this works.

One of the many winter projects I want to tackle this year...

Thanks in advance for the help!!!

Best regards,

I replaced the steel steps on my 1970 Overlander with the newer aluminum ones. Here is a link to the posting which shows most of what I did although there is additional information further down the thread. Some outrigger modification was required because the newer steps were not the same width as the old style.

[dogpound]

On my 1971 International Land yacht the step would lift up and pull out and drop down. On my father in laws 1975 31' Excella that knob on the right just lifted up to release the steps and you pull them down. Might check to see if the release knob is hung up on some thing or is just rusted (assuming it is not Aluminum).

Good Luck.

Bob
Member Four Corners Unit/CAC
WBCCI # 10105
AIR # 28748

[GoMopar440]

The knob itself looks to be aluminum, but the rod it's on is steel as evidenced by the rust present there.

I'll try lifting the knob and pulling on the steps at the same time to see if I can get it to move. Thanks for the tip.