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Topic: Rotten door step (Read 630 times) previous topic - next topic

Rotten door step

Well it's our time to fix the rotten door step, except that we are on the road for the next 6 mts.
Went to a local steel shop and had them cut me a 3/16 x 8 1/4 x 28 diamond pattern aluminium plate for $17.20 otd.
Hopefully it will hold up till we get home in the spring. It looks so nice that we may make it part of the finish step.

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #1 –
Dick, was the step usually wet after a rainstorm?
I had that problem in our '89 and it turned out the "rain gutter" above our door had lost its caulking where it was held against the coach siding. And the door hinges had worked their way out enough to let water by the door seal. The water then puddled on the carpet on the bottom step, and soaked everything under it.
I added a V-seal around the door and a soft foam rubber seal. I also moved the hinges back in a bit and adjusted the latch pin in also, along with caulking the rain gutter. NO MORE LEAKS!!!
Someone else here on the Forum had posted how they stopped the leak and what seal types to use. I can't help with brand names as the coach is in storage. I will look out in my garage for the foam seal package.

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #2 –
Just found BOTH seal packages!!
See attached if you are interested.

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #3 –
Dick,
It looks like an excellent interim "step" to the final solution... ^.^d The biggest concern is to keep water from damaging the sides of the step well. If that plywood step well sides stay wet where they meet the bottom step, it makes the repair much more difficult.
Don
Quote from: Dick & Sue –
Well it's our time to fix the rotten door step, except that we are on the road for the next 6 mts.
Went to a local steel shop and had them cut me a 3/16 x 8 1/4 x 28 diamond pattern aluminium plate for $17.20 otd.
Hopefully it will hold up till we get home in the spring. It looks so nice that we may make it part of the finish step.

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #4 –
On our 01, water can get in from underneath too.  There is on ours a metal plate below the plywood that us to keep water out from road spray but over time those usually fail

MOT made new plywood but also cut out the metal pan, welded in a cross member for added support and put in a new metal plate with better seal than the original and different caulking

I can also see stain where some water came in via the door, perhaps as Don noted.  I wish we had an awning over the door on rainy days

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #5 –
Thanks nighthawk, will add that to our shopping list next trip to HD.

Don, until I pull the carpet away, I don't know what damage has already been done. I know that the carpet is discolored along the bottom edge. That'l be my next assignment this week.

Just another side note, our cruise control worked fine the next 2 days on the road. I did find the 2 pin multiplex connector and exercised it a few times. I will try to find where the VIP control module is hidden.
Did download the troubleshooting guides for both VIP multiplexed steering wheel and the 2500 Cruise King.

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #6 –
Dick and Sue, the control module is in the lift up centre console (with tray) on a board that lifts out right behind the upholstered front face.
On the step problem it is called a wet step by FT and most problems have been mentioned already (trim over door and seals. I also put a "wiper strip" on the inside of door to stop any water getting in. I also spray rubber coating every 6 months on the underframe wall in front of the tire to left of steps. That has also kept road water from being "thrown" at the left outside  by tire. I have had no rotting or otherwise since doing some simple fixes like these. All you have to do is stand back and imagine what happens when driving down the road and how water can get in.
JohnH
 

Re: Rotten door step

Reply #7 –
Thanks John, just found it. Everything looked good at this point.