Steel step, missing bolt?

[LNBright]

2015 FC 20FB: has a steel folding two-step setup.

There's a rod that runs left to right behind/ underneath, is welded to the sides of the plates of the moving step. The right side, the rod extends through the plate, and is welded there, too. On the left side....

The left side has come loose. My first impression was that the welds had broke, that the rod had slid. However, upon examining closer, there are welds between the rod and the plate on that side, too: but unlike the right side, the left side, the rod doesn't extend through the plate. There is a hole in the plate: I cannot see well enough because the plate is in the way, but it appears that there is actually a spot so that a bolt would have passed through the plate and fed into the end of the moving plate opposite of where the rod is spot-welded to the moving plate.

Whenever I try to search for bolts for a step for an Airstream, everything that turns up is for the aluminum steps, not the steel steps. When I look at the replacement steel steps, most have a chevron-looking slot cut through the side plates, that my steps do not have, so they're not the same as the model that is being offered as a replacement.

I've looked for diagrams, but thus far everything I'm turning up is exploded diagrams of the aluminum steps.

Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction?

[dtutko1]

I have broken 2 of the bolts holding my aluminum stair to the frame. Here is a couple pics of the broken bolt. Can any direct me to where I can find a replacement . I guess I can't post the pics . The bolts have a flat head with a flat head screwdriver and the other end is a threaded bolt. Approximately 3/8"

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by dtutko1

I have broken 2 of the bolts holding my aluminum stair to the frame. Here is a couple pics of the broken bolt. Can any direct me to where I can find a replacement . I guess I can't post the pics . The bolts have a flat head with a flat head screwdriver and the other end is a threaded bolt. Approximately 3/8"

As you've brought this thread back up, here's a a quick follow up:

I had stopped by the dealership, they brought up a parts-list for my particular model, said that the bolt was NLA but it specified what it was, which I then obtained from a hardware store. However, that's what led to my discovery below:

Seeking out experienced help, I learned that my steps had been replaced by the original owner, and thus, didn't match what I'd find in Airstream's catalogs.

It seems as though the way these were manufactured, a separate piece, not a bolt, was inserted, and likely also had a spot-weld between a plate and a rod, that allowed it to pivot. It's likely that a weld failed, the piece fell off, and thus, is now allowing that side of my step to wobble. Evidently, the "done thing" is to not bother to repair, but to replace the whole assembly. (I've not yet given up on the idea of repairing instead of replacing, but unsure how to proceed w/ such.)

To answer your question regarding the bolt for your aluminum step, I would initially start by contacting Woodland Airstream (https://woodlandairstreamparts.com/ ), they should have the aluminum step parts (unlike my steel step).