FC 27 Entry Stairs

[Monty99]

Our 2018 FC has lost 2 bolts from the entry stairs on separate occasions, which completely disables the stairs for the remainder of the trip. The first time the bolt was accessible and was replaced by the dealer. The latest (today) appears to require removal of the entire stairs assembly to replace the hinge bolt from the inside.

Is this a common problem for Airstream stairs?

[SteveSueMac]

I don’t know if this has changed a lot since 2012 but I just replaced my 2012 stairs and the bolts all come up from the underside of the trailer, not inside. If you open the stairs a bit, do you see from the top of the stairs where they connect to the trailer the 4 bolts? They go in from the underside of the top of the stairs and connect to a stationary nut over the top of the lip - at least that’s how it works on my 2013. Good luck!

[Monty99]

SteveSueMac - thanks for this. I'm not sure if mine is the same arrangement as your 2012, but it's easier to describe with photos.

First one is the left side of the stairs (complete) and the second shows the right side with missing bolt. The bolt apparently vibrated loose and fell out while we drove.

The last two are shots of underside with the stairs retracted. It's not that clear how to pull the unit out but I will try tomorrow.

[SteveSueMac]

Got it. Yours are a different type than mine - not sure how those work. Sorry about that!

Hopefully someone with a set like yours can help or you could always check your dealer, someone in your local WBCCI unit, the AS factory or probably even YouTube....good luck!

[JMynes]

When you put it back together blue Loctite is your best friend.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I drilled out the rivets on the banana wrap to gain access to the back side of the 'slide' bolt. (POI...at the time the shoulder bolt was not available, I had to MacGyver my own, hence the hex head)🤓
While your at it check for ware on the channel lock ridge, I used a round file to clean up the radius.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Monty99]

Many thanks for the great comments. The prospect of drilling out rivets for access to the bolts makes me hesitate a little bit. I'm in LasVegas right now as luck would have it, so I will give the dealer a call in the morning. It doesn't seem like this should have happened twice already on a 2018 trailer - maybe they forgot the Loctite!