Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

"Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

June 06, 2021, 12:28:38 am

Hey folks, I am one of the people that the good Lord built my hind end a little too close to terra firma. I have seen pics of coaches like ours with a wet step below the side entrance door. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #1 – June 06, 2021, 08:19:44 am

My DW is a bit more vertically challenged than me, and we both have knee and hip issues so some kind of transition device was necessary for us to get in and out of our coach.
A problem I foresaw was that the distance from the ground to the door sill  varied, depending on leveling need, such as which side or end of the coach had to be raised.
Also, most of the "fold-out" steps hang down so much, and near the midpoint between the wheels, as to be a hazard that could be wiped off the chassis. We have experienced sites where the patio pad of concrete would make a fixed height fold-out almost useless.
SO-O-O, We have a purchased platform that came with the coach and I built two three or four tiered spacers out of wood and deck screws in such a way that I can adjust the platform from sitting on the ground up by 1-1/2" increments.
Has worked for us for the last eight years.

Pictures later. Right now my priorities are getting Rocket off my wrist so typing is easier, and going an having a new nose pad put in my glasses. I lost one somewhere yesterday.

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #2 – June 06, 2021, 08:33:56 am

We use a folding leg step that was purchased right after we got our coach.  Ours looks like the photo below.  I don't see the exact same design for sale any more, but Home Depot has a very similar looking product.  Main difference is the locking mechanism for the leg length.  Many different variations on this basic concept are available from online vendors.

If you do buy one of these folding leg platform steps, be sure the legs are adjustable in length.  Helps to keep the platform level on uneven ground.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-Step-Stool-Aluminum-Platform-Step-Adjustable-Height-43676/206813635

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #3 – June 06, 2021, 08:59:16 am

Without going out and measuring, I seem to remember that the step platform we have is as long as the width of the door opening, and that is important for stability.

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #4 – June 06, 2021, 10:29:41 am

First, thank you both for your input. Right now we are using a battered Pepsi case until I get a permanent fix. I had thought about building a step that would attach to the step well on the inside that I could just flip out when we opened the coach door, but that would require folding the step inside every time we wanted to close the door as well as having to put it out every time we wanted out. Kind of cumbersome, and there would always be the chance it would be forgotten and the door damaged from trying to shut it with the step still out. Nitehawk, I would certainly like to see pics of yours if ou can. In the mean time, thanks again!!!!!

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #5 – June 06, 2021, 12:13:13 pm

Here are some pictures. I must apologize for the poor condition. I had and do have plans to make new this year but med issues keep popping up.
Anyway, the locator points are nothing but 3/16" steel pop rivets held in place by round head cabinet screws.
The step risers are made in such a way that I can position them inside or outside the platform. That is why I have holes for solar lights.

As one can see, these step height adapters are old now. And I forgot to put two slider pads on the inside edge of the 2x8 bottom boards, so the assembly went "out of whack" a bit.

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Re: "Wet Step" for 1989 and earlier Grand Villa

Reply #6 – June 06, 2021, 07:39:31 pm

Thanks you so much. Gives me a lot of "food for thought"

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