Stopped at Xtreme for inspection and to have our soft entry step repaired. After tearing into it, Rance found the water damage extended from the step up the sides of the entry. Bad enough we had the whole area removed and rebuilt. Four nights in their apartment.
Rance fiberglassed the exterior of all the wood he installed, should help prevent a recurrence.
Also replaced all the weatherstripping on the door jamb and the screen door. One type on the jamb, two types on the screen door. Rance opined all of the other weatherstripping that folks add to prevent leaks actually cause more leaks by applying pressre unevenly. He thinks going back to OEM will solve it.
David Flanagan disagrees, says I just have to accept this is a wet entry. Time will tell.
I am not sure he will remember us, but tell him (if you haven't left Nac already...) that Don & Tys say hi. He might remember my extreme bulkhead repair...
Don
Rance has a lot of talent. I really like his work--we want him to sign our headlight conversion.
Any of you guys who like to make knives or run a forge, he's a real craft enthusiast. Ask to see a blade!
Don, it seems to me Rance remembers the memorable characters that pass his way. You are in that bunch I am sure.
The term "wet step" does not have to mean you can expect to have water and the problems that come with it causing rot of your steps inside. I added to the bottom of our screen door a "wiper" that has held rain etc out and as you open door and screen this actually does wipe it dry. I can categorically state that no water is on our bottom step once the door is opened. I also ran a fine bead of caulking down the door hinge side continuing around the right pillar. Did this about 4 yrs ago and our steps are as good as new.
Another entry point for water is from tyre spray off front right wheel passing thru the foam padding on the left side so I sprayed that the with the rubber under body spray and again no water there too. Constant battle that should have been engineered out during production in my view.
JohnH
After Rance finished posing did he give the metal framework a fresh coat of rust preventive paint?
I would like to see another picture showing the end framing under the steps and risers.
Are the original steps made from marine grade plywood?
I rebuilt this assembly also. When I purchased my coach it had front cap damage and the door was knocked several inches askew. The step assembly was broken as a result of impact during off road excursion in Mexico. (High speed blowout.) The original construction was very rigid, interference fit, and well built from what may have been marine grade ply (high ply count), glued and screwed, though of course this doesn't provide any additional rot resistance. The step assembly provides rigidity to the door opening so important that it be well fitted. Under the assembly was, iirc, a sheet of thick rubber. Without the step you could easily move the door frame subassembly by hand. Armed with this awareness I have chosen to not install a flip up step to access storage inside though many have done this.