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Okie1 · 02-07-2009, 06:50 PM

The steps are so hard to pull out and will not go all the way in the last 3 or 4 inches when I push them in. Help!!

Goin camping · 02-07-2009, 07:21 PM

Sounds like mine when I bent them backing up.

Take a look at the mechanism to see if yours are bent. If so a little urging with a tow chain and a truck should get you back in order.

Rebee · 02-07-2009, 07:27 PM

Steps are twisted.

I got mine twisted when I accidently lowered the trailer on them while extended.

Get some spray greese. Lubricate any and all arms and connecting parts. May need a pry bar to get the stepa out. Do not pry on soft parts of trailer. Inspect after extended and look for a twist or bent parts. Aluminum is forgiving to a point try to straighten small twist.

Good luck

ScrapIrony-2 · 02-07-2009, 07:31 PM

I agree with Goin', but be light in your use...I loosened a tree stump with mine, and tried the 'hit it from the other direction' approach...at least I managed to remove the tree stump, but I had to grind out the swivel rivets, play blacksmith with the brackets, and replace the rivets with lots of washers and plastic-lock nuts and bolts...
The second time I re-aligned the steps, I knew what to do, and didn't have to use the grinder...just a couple of wrenches...hope I don't have another chapter to report...

53flyingcloud · 02-07-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okie1

The steps are so hard to pull out and will not go all the way in the last 3 or 4 inches when I push them in. Help!!

Check to see that nothing is binding or needs straighten out and, then try putting some HD grease on each side of the slider's opening. Good luck..

Airslide · 02-07-2009, 09:52 PM

I sprayed penetrating oil on mine. I didnt think it could possibly help because they were so tight in place and now i can lower them and slide them back into place with one hand. A little oil goes along way..

Vin

ScrapIrony-2 · 02-07-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlamica

I sprayed penetrating oil on mine. I didnt think it could possibly help because they were so tight in place and now i can lower them and slide them back into place with one hand. A little oil goes along way..

Vin

Vin,
Have you considered a political future?

Yep, try the least invasive(smallest hammer) and work up...good advice.

Airslide · 02-07-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScrapIrony-2

Vin,
Have you considered a political future?

Yep, try the least invasive(smallest hammer) and work up...good advice.

Ok.. so the real me wears old jeans and putz's around in the backyard with the airstream.

The weekday Vin wears a tie and works as a Service Manager at a Mercedes Benz dealership. So yes.. I'm a cheerleader for 27 line technicians (mostly just adult daycare) and i have to be very careful with our cliental and what i say.. and how i say it.. even when i just want to boot them out the door!

and.. a little lube can go along way...

Vin

LLB21 · 02-07-2009, 10:26 PM

Lubricate the steps. It may be all they need. Door locks, hinges and other moving parts need lubrication periodically too.

ScrapIrony-2 · 02-07-2009, 10:28 PM

SO!!!you ARE a politician...GOOD FOR YOU!!!...I'm a retired ER nurse with a box of latex gloves, and a tube of lubrication that does NOT generally win many friends...uhm...that I would particularly want around the house...oh, lordy, I feel like I'm drawin' the noose tight and standin' on the centered square in the floor...

Airslide · 02-07-2009, 10:36 PM

and.. a little lube can go along way...

Vin

I guess i should clarify that.. a little lube on the steps can go along way.. Im very nervous about latex gloves and that tube of lubrication.

Vin

ScrapIrony-2 · 02-07-2009, 10:45 PM

Not to worry...the key word is "retired"...the key worry is...why do I still have such stuff...?

ROBERT CROSS · 02-08-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlamica

... even when i just want to boot them out the door!

Vin

WOW..it's the same at a high end MB Dealership as it is at a lowly Chevy Store, now thats good to know!!

Wingeezer · 02-08-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okie1

The steps are so hard to pull out and will not go all the way in the last 3 or 4 inches when I push them in. Help!!

Due to my carelessness, I had the misfortune of pulling our "new to us" AS just a week or so after we got it with the steps down.

It was parked near the curb outside our house and the steps did a great job of ripping up a few feet of turf!

I was pretty sick about it when I found the steps were then jammed and would no longer go up.

Looking closely I could see slight bending of some of the struts. i probably should have taken it apart to do a proper repair, but knowing aluminium is pretty malleable, decided to give the linkages a few gentle whacks with a small sledge hammer - of course using protective wooden blocks.

That, and a spray of silicon to all pivots seemed to rectify teh problem in short order - thankfully!

Hopefully I have learned from the experience as no doubt others have!

Brian

ROBERT CROSS · 02-08-2009, 09:14 AM

I think a lot have done it. After I did it the first time, (no damage, thankfully.) I got in the habit of setting one of these next to the steps, kinda hard to overlook.
This past season the co-pilot has taken over the job.

Sometimes nag'n's good!!