Hmmm.....Interesting thread....
I have wondered about those "2nd step" foldable jobbies myself... I have seen only two or three on ebay in the last five years.....
I have always wondered why that first step seems a little high, necessitating a second step assembly.... I think Airstream designed a folding scissor type extension of aluminum after 72 or 73 or so, didn't they?? This superceded the detachable insert second step assembly of previous years.
I consider myself to be a fair fabricator, and I think i could design something that would work just fine.... I was thinking of duplicating an original Airstream assembly out of hardened aluminum diamond plate, and add the correct gussets and corner brackets for strength.... But it would hafta fold up, like the original, and be able to stow somewhere, like one of the side compartments too....
I notice that one side of my primary step on my 69 23' Safari is a little worn out and loose....guess I will take it apart in the spring, and see what is worn out.... I'm kinda worried, some day, someone (least of all me) will step up one day, and the step will collapse on that side, and I'll have a lawsuit on my hands!!!
I remember Gramps did not have that optional folding second step assembly with his 69 23'.... He cleverly took an old wooden Coke case (remember those??) and painted it up a nice nautical blue, and put a nice piece of matching blue carpeting on it, and even trimmed it with nice aluminum corner mouldings.....it worked great, and even had the requisite cutout handles to stow it inside the trailer when we broke camp.... I suppose this would be a "Plan B".... but the originality freak that I am, I would surely like to find an original Airstream assy, or duplicate one myself, with a couple design improvements!!
If anyone has a few close up high quality shots of this, it would be greatly appreciated!!! Then it will be "to the drawing board with me"...haha!!
Can anyone post a few fairly good and clear pictures of this doo-hickey???
Goll-ee, I LOVE this forum......Given time, we get ALL our questions and queries answered!!!
Scott Anderson
Grosse Ile, Mich
WBCCI # 22426
(formerly #22425 1968-76)