Black Double Caravan Step If your van sits up high, that first step down to the ground can be a fair drop. It's hard on the knees, awkward with an armful of gear, and no fun for the kids or the dog. This black double step breaks that drop into two, so you've got a solid tread halfway down instead of one big step. It makes getting in and out of the van easier and steadier for everyone. Add a solid grab handle by the door and the whole entry feels a lot more secure. Why two steps beat one A single step is fine on a lower camper, but on plenty of caravans the gap between the doorway and the ground is just too big for one comfortable stride. Two steps halve that gap. You get a shorter step up, more room for your feet, and a steadier climb when it's dark or the ground has gone soft after rain. Older travellers and anyone with sore knees usually notice the difference straight away. If you only need something portable that packs away in the boot, our foldable caravan step is worth a look, but for a permanent setup on a taller van a fixed double is hard to beat. Aluminium steps on a steel frame The two treads are aluminium and the folding frame is steel, so it's light to handle but still solid underfoot. It's finished in powder-coated black, which suits the darker checker plate and blacked-out fittings a lot of newer vans are running. The whole thing weighs around 8 kg, so it's easy to hold up while you bolt it on and it barely adds to your rig weight. It carries a maximum static load rating of 200 kg, which leaves plenty in reserve for adults and gear. Fully manual, nothing to go wrong There's no motor and no wiring in this step. You pull it out by hand when you set up camp and fold it away before you head off. Plenty of caravanners prefer it that way. There's nothing to wire in, nothing drawing off your batteries, and nothing electrical to pack it in halfway around the country. A pair of springs takes most of the effort out of folding it up and pulling it back down, and keeps it sitting steady once it's out. Grip when it's wet Both treads have a non-slip rubber surface, so you keep good grip with wet feet, thongs or muddy boots. The steps are nice and wide too, which helps you feel planted rather than perched on the edge. Folds up for the road When it's time to move on, the two steps fold up flat under the doorway. Folded, it sits about 371 mm out from the mount and stands about 280 mm high, so it tucks in neatly for travel. Open, it reaches about 693 mm out with a total drop of roughly 324 mm across the two treads. Sizes and mounting Have a good look at the dimension drawings in the image gallery before you buy, because they're the best guide to whether it'll suit your van. The main numbers are: Overall width: about 540 mm Reach when open: about 693 mm Total drop when open: about 324 mm across the two steps Folded projection: about 371 mm Folded height: about 280 mm It's a bolt-on step and the mounting bolts are included. The mounting rail has a row of round and slotted holes to suit 12 mm bolts, and the slots give you a bit of room to line it up as you fit it. Before you drill anything, make sure the mount is strong enough to take the load, and check there's clearance underneath for the steps to fold up and drop down without fouling. If you're handy under a van you can fit it yourself, otherwise any caravan repairer will have it on quickly. Will it suit your van? It suits a lot of caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes, but it won't fit every van on the road, so please don't assume it will. Measure the spot where you want it to go and compare that against the open and folded sizes above. If you're not sure, send us a message before you order and we'll help you work it out. Looking after it There's not much to it. Give it a rinse after a dusty or salty trip and let it dry before you fold it away. Every now and then, check the mounting and pivot bolts are still tight and keep the moving joints clean. Do that and it'll keep folding smoothly for years. It comes with a 1-year warranty, so if something isn't right, get in touch and we'll sort it out.
