Chinook RV

There is a small round notch on the slider brackets that let them rest on the plastic washer without damaging it. Other than that, I think a metal fab can make an exact mechanism for the step.

chin_k wrote: August 3rd, 2019, 10:29 am There is a small round notch on the slider brackets that let them rest on the plastic washer without damaging it. Other than that, I think a metal fab can make an exact mechanism for the step.

I didn't notice it... but is this the detail you're referring too? Clay's close-up revealed it.

HoosierB wrote: August 7th, 2019, 3:17 pm

chin_k wrote: August 3rd, 2019, 10:29 am There is a small round notch on the slider brackets that let them rest on the plastic washer without damaging it. Other than that, I think a metal fab can make an exact mechanism for the step.

I didn't notice it... but is this the detail you're referring too? Clay's close-up revealed it.
strut-detail.jpg

Yes, that is the notch. I updated the drawings and added it to the previous post, along with some additional dimensions.

Hoosier, did you try to see if the OEM can sell you the parts? It can save you some headache if you can get them directly from them, instead of having to recreate them.

chin_k wrote: August 7th, 2019, 6:32 pm Hoosier, did you try to see if the OEM can sell you the parts? It can save you some headache if you can get them directly from them, instead of having to recreate them.

Yes. I emailed Joe Delorme, at ASAP Metal Fab (original fabricators of the rear step assembly) and asked about parts, blueprints and the like. He was very responsive and asked that I should call him, which I did. We had a great conversation... most of it being that while ASAP did have spare parts some years ago, that is no longer the case. He also mentioned that ASAP could possibly recreate a OEM step assembly for $500-750. He was heading out for a weeks vacation at the end of our talk and said he would search for old schematics or blueprints for the step assembly upon his return.

I remember you mentioned that, and I assume it means the entire step assembly. If it is just for the a few movable parts that you needed, then it is worthwhile to look for DIY I guess.

Clay... need a measurement for the side holes from your "step detail". Thanks!

HoosierB wrote: August 13th, 2019, 2:56 pm Clay... need a measurement for the side holes from your "step detail". Thanks!

Step-Side-detail.jpg

I didn't pay a lot of attention to the step at first, since I assumed you are re-using your step, which may have different dimensions. As it turns out the step is actually 2 inches tall, and the holes are 1/4"from the top, or more importantly 1 3/4" from the bottom, in case your step may be a different thickness. The holes also should be 6" center to center apart, as this forms the 6" leg of the triangle. If you lay your step on top of the bottom step, the holes should be the same height as the bolts holding the struts to the step frame, so that the solid strut lays flat against the lower step. If you zoom in on the picture of the folded step, you can see how the struts lay flat when folded.

If the dimensions are exact replica of the original, then it should works. But if you reuse the existing step and other parts, you may want to model the mechanism first with wood or other material. It will be a shame if you got everything ordered, fabricated, and put together, and found out that one of the measurements does not work, and it won't lay flat, etc. If you can get away with this with trigonometry without making a mock up, it will be something to brag about.

You're right about that, however the metal fab guy thinks he can build the whole assembly out of aluminum, which would be a great weight saver.
So I appreciate the extra details you provided. We'll see what his quote will come in at.