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Step Wall on our GV

June 18, 2022, 06:18:16 am

Awhile ago someone posted that they had a loose handrail and how was the stairwell wall constructed.
Well, here is what I found when I cut an opening so I could run wires.
The whole thing starts with a welded steel rectangular tubing framework. This framework goes from the floor up to under the top wood trim piece and from the inner coach wall to the vertical wall inside end piece.
Inside the box shape framework is also a piece of steel angled to match the handrail angle.
All around the inside of the weldment are pieces of wood the same width of the steel rectangular frame.
The pieces are screwed and adhesive fastened to the steel, along with the top wood sill and the vertical end cap.
The paneling and stair handrail are put/glued in place, with lag bolts holding the handrail from the other side and thru the angled steel frame piece.
After the semifinished wall is put and bolted in place (thru the back side away from the stairwell) the wiring to the switches is done and then the back paneling is glued in place. The pieces of wood I mentioned earlier are what the paneling is glued to.

So, either the back piece of paneling is removed or holes--done with a circular saw and drill--that match where the "feet" of the handrail are opened up.
One thing I caution you is be careful of sparks!! That wood is VERY dry!!

Hope this helps.

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Re: Step Wall on our GV

Reply #1 – June 18, 2022, 10:43:06 am

Nice post! Good point about the dry wood.

Pierce

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Re: Step Wall on our GV

Reply #2 – June 18, 2022, 12:50:55 pm

Thanks Hawk, 
that's exactly what I needed to know.  Ours is just a touch loose, not enough to worry about yet though.  We try not to use it cause the DW says. " use your legs , you don't need the hand rail".    I suppose she's right.

  I'm thinking what I'll do when the time comes is drill access holes to tighten the lags and then over lay the panel with some oak panel. Secure with screws for the next time I need in there. 
      Could that work ??

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Re: Step Wall on our GV

Reply #3 – June 18, 2022, 01:51:27 pm

Match the angle the handrail is at and then estimate where each bolt head would be relative to the "legs" of the handrail. In otherwards, measure from the inside wall of the coach and mark where that dimension intersects the angled line of the handrail that you drew on the opposite side. Can't get much closer than that!!
Definitely watch for sparks!! The wood is extremely dry. After the way the sparks made smoke on me I would use a wood chisel to open up access holes.
I used a piece of cherry plank that I have to make my cover for my wires. I used Minwax walnut stain and the color came out very close to a match with the walnut stain paneling.

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Re: Step Wall on our GV

Reply #4 – July 08, 2022, 05:50:34 pm

Here are two pics of my step wall and the solar charge/controller as you go up the stairs into our coach.
The first pic is showing the piece of cherry wood I stained with walnut stain to "kind of match" the old walnut paneling and hide all the wiring in the step wall. Also, the "telltale" gauges (top right) are uncovered so we can see the state of the batteries. The selector switch (left. red/white) is Bat #1, Bat #1 &#2, Bat #2, and OFF)
The second pic shows a small wood cover I made to fit over the "Telltales" when we don't want the light at night while trying to sleep.

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