Do you have a screw loose?!

[keneramirez]

Photos of our step repair surgery:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQe-txD...d=fpewi96s0gfj

[Burnside Bob]

Originally Posted by Julie-Bob

The Ranger at Chaco Center stated that the road is never going to be improved, it keeps a lot of folks out. Do they yet have the telescopes [emoji437]? Love going there and looking at the night sky. Yes it’s a very long slow trip but worth it. Amazing area and history, viewing the building and the way of life that was there for a long time.

The telescopes are still there. There is also a ranger led moonlight walk on every full moon night.

For everyone, most of the roads inside Chaco itself are paved, it is the county maintained roads you travel to get to Chaco that are the problem. San Juan County gets a big raspberry for its road on the north side. We asked the ranger at the visitor center if the road on the south side was better. "No, its about the same, but it is longer" so we left the way we came, from Nageezi.

The visitor center is very nice and a surprise for a facility that doesn't get much visitation.

[ghaynes755]

Chaco, spanish for Shaken not Stirred.

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

This guy here. Holds the entire step level. It’s a long way down on your way out if the step gives way. Tightening is an Alan key and flat head screw driver.

[A W Warn]

Is this the correct replacement screw?
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=218


ps:
I just found this. Click on the step part and it takes you to the part page.
http://odmrv.net/AsDouble%20Step.php

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

That is the correct screw, I would imagine the other side of it that is held in place by the flat head is the more difficult piece to find.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by BigSxyWhtGuy

That is the correct screw, I would imagine the other side of it that is held in place by the flat head is the more difficult piece to find.

Great thread! Thanks for the "heads up"; and glad you didn't go down! Had a close call on lower step when upper step did not lock in properly...not sure I like the new design, but havn't hit anything with these hanging down below the AS, like on the pre-2016 models we owned!

[Life is a Highway]

Our new 2019 steps fell apart one day in the storage unit. Lucky it was there and I didn't break an ankle. ( Hold on to that grab handle on the way out! ) One screw on the ground and the rest ready to fall out. I re attached using some blue loctite.

Also was a victim of the Awning safety hooks all coming loose. A fellow forum saved us from loosing them screws and hooks.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

Our new 2019 steps fell apart one day in the storage unit. Lucky it was there and I didn't break an ankle. ( Hold on to that grab handle on the way out! ) One screw on the ground and the rest ready to fall out. I re attached using some blue loctite.

Also was a victim of the Awning safety hooks all coming loose. A fellow forum saved us from loosing them screws and hooks.

I did use threadlocker for the awning hooks but would have to do the same with steps...

[Taj MaHaul]

THANK YOU BgSxyWhtGuy. Your post was perfectly timed. Soon as I read it I checked. Sure enough that screw was a turn or less from falling out. God Bless You

[JCWDCW]

Agree with the thread lock idea
Ours fell appart north of Lake Superior
No AS dealers up there
I replaced with same size screw from a hardware store... just had Robertson square head not the hex
I find I regularly need to tighten the screws
JCW

[perri]

Speaking of steps: The Thule steps that come on the Tommy Bahamas (perhaps other late models, IDK) are The Bomb. I don't know about longevity, but they fold out and have no bounce and feel so superior to the steps that we are talking about in this thread, which I've never liked, they don't feel secure.

This link shows the step but not the second available step that folds out: https://cdn2.rvtrader.com/v1/media/5...768&quality=70

[thixoh]

We’ve lost a screw that holds the microwave in its space. We replaced all of them to a slightly larger version but still need to tighten regularly. I will check the steps as well. Thank you.

[perri]

I learned too late that it's recommended to release a lot of air pressure on the trailer tires to traverse these surfaces. And go slow, very slow. Obviously, restoring the air pressure on the other side is a consideration.

We dislodged a hose clamp. drip drip drip

[WapitiCathie]

Happened to us also. I had to jump off to prevent falling. My husband and I check the steps every time we arrive at our destination. Could have been a nasty fall.

[SailAS]

Wow! My 2007 Safari has steel steps. I've admired the all aluminum steps and thought that I would replace my steel ones with aluminum but after reading this thread, No Way. Thanks

[sctinman44]

Originally Posted by BigSxyWhtGuy

I was coming out of the airstream today and nearly fell over when one of the screws from the stairs fell out and support was non existent.

Was able to find the screw and reinstall. Also checked tightness on all others and lubed all moving parts. Figured I would throw the reminder out there in case anyone else missed this preventative maintenance.

Xoxo [emoji8]

I had one fall out last week when got home from rally. The screw was on step at house when I opened step. The shim washer and flat round nut with screwdriver slot was missing. I ordered a new kit of 4 parts from Out Of Doors Mart Colfax, NC. Spoke to Ben in parts, received in mail 2 days later. I took a picture with phone of other side and emailed to him. O.O.D.Mart been Airstream dealer since 1963. BTW Iput the Red Lock-Tite on threads when put it back together.

[gator.bigfoot]

I've had a whole lot of screws fall out this year, just not the steps. On one drive I had such a washboard road for 26 miles that I had screws come out of the screen door and the oven. The kitchen water faucet hose came loose as well as the soap bottle breaking off at the neck. Every drawer opened that wasted locked in place. The mattress came off the bed and not piece of clothing was left on the hanger. On the way out the kitchen faucet actually opened, but the screws stayed in place after the were tightened from the trip in. But every egg in the special container broke and the opened soy sauce bottle came open in the fridge making a huge mess. Even trying to drive slow 1.5 hours each way the road was so bad that I had a lot of problems. Hope I never have a road like that again. It was one rattling bone jarring drive.

[jbclak1]

When I come across a loose screw on my Airstream I always add blue loctite to the screw before I reinstall the screw. None of the loose screws have come loose again that I’ve added the blue loctite too so far. After awhile the loose screw problem slowly goes away.

[Landshark]

Reading this thread, I noticed that hardly any vintage units seem to be affected. Is that because if they haven't come out already in a vintage coach, the screws are tightly held in by accumulated dirt/grease/road ****? (heh heh)

Vivian