Manual Kwikee Step Glide September 21, 2022, 11:02:42 pm I’ve been lubricating our manual step regularly and the step opens and closes smoothly. However, the Black plastic glides (for lack of a better word), are nearly worn out. Not knowing the correct term for these parts I’ve not been able to find replacements. Does anyone know the true name and a source for these parts? I’ve not been able to find the part at e-trailer, RVupgradestore, Amazon or even Lippert (who I believe bought Kwikee). ThanksWarren
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #1 – September 21, 2022, 11:38:12 pm "However, the Black plastic glides (for lack of a better word), are nearly worn out."WhiteElkYou say your step is a "manual" Kwikee step? Hmmm, I wasn't aware they had manual steps.Mine is an electrical Kwikee and all of the 'glide' hardware is metal, not plastic. Perhaps the metal ones would substitute for your plastic (providing you can find such).
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #2 – September 22, 2022, 08:58:29 am Yes, they make manual steps. [Why people think they need electric is beyond me]Never noticed any guides. I do spray the moving parts with silicon every year or two.Maybe a picture of what you see?
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #3 – September 22, 2022, 12:43:27 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - September 22, 2022, 08:58:29 amYes, they make manual steps. [Why people think they need electric is beyond me]My 4-10" wife says we do need an electric step...you really don't want to argue with her on this topic.Our electric step has had almost every possible issue and needed a new motor and gearbox a few years ago.The only good news is that later model Kwikee electric steps are built better than the older models, with superior sealing from the elements.Etrailer seems to be the best source of parts for Kwikee steps and they have decent on-the-phone customer service.https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=kwikee+step+parts&paging=5Larry
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #4 – September 22, 2022, 07:47:31 pm Based on Steve’s advice (he was covering for Todd the day we visited the factory), we selected the manual step. Thankfully, my DW did not insist on the electric step option 😏. And, while I’m not certain the step is in fact a Kwikee (Lippert Industries), product, it is certainly the factory installed step. Here are a couple of photos of what I’m calling the glide. Thanks all, Warren 1 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #5 – September 22, 2022, 08:15:06 pm Hi Warren, I was pretty sure that that was the item you were referring to. My step is made by Kwikee, back when they were in business, and they made both the manual and electric steps that LD used. One advantage with the manual step, is once or twice after 'high centering' on the 'TK mid ship step, it can be beaten back into shape with a small 3# sledge hammer, a little bit of black paint and it's almost as good as new. I have replaced the part you show in your picture with; a few wraps with black vinyl electrical tape, covered with heavy duty black shrink tubing to keep the tape from unraveling. So far works well and is unnoticed. RonB 4 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #6 – September 22, 2022, 08:22:14 pm Quote from: WhiteElk - September 22, 2022, 07:47:31 pmHere are a couple of photos of what I’m calling the glide. That is the same split plastic tubing as suggested in the CRV towing thread. Its primary purpose is to reduce the noise when pushing the step in and banging while driving. It is available in most hardware stores in various diameters, measure the diameter of the pins first.Ron's solution is easy to do and might last longer than split tubing.Larry 4 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #7 – September 23, 2022, 02:47:02 pm Quote from: Larry W - September 22, 2022, 12:43:27 pmMy 4-10" wife says we do need an electric step...you really don't want to argue with her on this topic.LarryI just don't get why. We always initially exit from the cab doors. One of us puts the stop down and there it stays until we move.
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #8 – September 23, 2022, 03:42:44 pm Mr. Malpas, let me share with you why we want and appreciate the electric step.1. We don't always exit through the truck cab door. Say you pull into a campsite and it is raining outside. A great benefit of a motohome compared to a truck camper or towable trailer is we can exit our truck seats and go back to the house part without getting soaked.. Then with the electric step, you don't need to make the big step down to the ground when you finally do exit the RV. Or get injured exiting because you forgot the step was not deployed.2. If we stop to grocery shop, when we leave the RV to go into the store, the step retracts eliminating the possibility of someone tripping on the step or worse, wrecking into it. Then we we return with groceries, there is no need to stand on one leg with two arms full to extend a manual step. Also, we can unpack the groceries without then having to exit the RV to raise the step. It is also unlikely that we will drive off with the step extended since it automatically retracts. 3. As a person with a spouse that has surgically repaired legs, there is no point taking a risk trying to climb in or out of an RV without a step being used. As a long time member of the Lazy Daze tribe, I am very familiar with Ed Newton's opinion that you don't need an electric step and it was just something else that can break. But that doesn't explain to my satisfaction why they made the electric step standard on the 31 footers if it was so problematic. So I need keep it clean and lube it occasionally...not a big deal to me.I hope you can see a different point of view...Steve K. 2 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #9 – September 23, 2022, 04:35:28 pm Being 6’1” and relatively young, I’m firmly in camp manual step, based upon experiencing two power steps fail, just don’t need one more thing to go wrong, KISS.I’m 50/50 on where I exit from upon stopping, but again, tall means the step down ain’t bad. I have already driven off once with the step extended, but hopefully I’ve established a good check list habit now to prevent a repeat. Yes, electric steps automatically retract unless they fail.Power vs manual steps is a divisive topic, with neither side being right or wrong, just a preference.
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #10 – September 23, 2022, 06:49:35 pm "Being 6’1” and relatively young, I’m firmly in camp manual step, based upon experiencing two power steps fail, just don’t need one more thing to go wrong, KISS."Dave , I respect your opinions. May you remain forever young and never sprain an ankle or develop arthritic knees🙂!Steve K 2 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #11 – September 23, 2022, 07:13:50 pm "I have already driven off once with the step extended..." If you have the electric step it automatically retracts when you turn the ignition key (if you're awake), but there are those who are members of that club also. 1 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #12 – September 24, 2022, 09:06:46 am Mr K. [Once knew your name] I see your POV. I guess an electric step is akin to levelers. We do quite well wo them and we seldom park on the pavement. 1 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #13 – September 24, 2022, 02:31:55 pm Hey Don,Thanks for understanding our need for the electric step. We don't have levelers either and rarely need to do any "engineering" at campsites to get level. But, IF I were to ever get a new or nearly new motohome, I think I would invest in levelers. Getting on in years tends to make me want to make things easier. I find it interesting that even those of us who have similar tastes in motorhomes, have such different needs and wants. For instance, we have used our awning ONE time in 19 years of ownership. And the generator, I can't recall the last time we actually used it while camping. But I think it would be problematic to not have an oven or a dry bath. Different strokes for different folks....Steve K 2 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #14 – September 25, 2022, 09:51:52 am Quote from: Steve K. - September 24, 2022, 02:31:55 pmI find it interesting that even those of us who have similar tastes in motorhomes, have such different needs and wants. For instance, we have used our awning ONE time in 19 years of ownership. And the generator, I can't recall the last time we actually used it while camping. But I think it would be problematic to not have an oven or a dry bath. Different strokes for different folks....There is quite a variation, isn't there? We use our electric awning daily, even running it out (partially) when we stop for lunch or a snack. A big reason is our summer trips are usually in hot areas without much shade, like NV, UT, AZ. The generator is used occasionally to run the A/C, and sometimes to charge the batteries on trips to cloudy or forested areas, where the solar panels can't keep the batteries charged. The oven is only a storage area for pans, but the microwave is used routinely. We've had electric steps on two motorhomes, with 25 years of flawless operation, though recently, the 17 year old Kwikee has failed to retract about 1 in 20 times (probably what I would achieve with manual steps).
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #15 – September 26, 2022, 04:38:19 pm Back to the original question and helpful answers, I tried Ron’s suggestion as I have electrical tape and shrink tube in hand but not split tube. Installation was easy, after scraping a copious amount of caulking used by the Factory to “glue on” the original split tubing. The step glides silently and I expect the tape+tube will last another few years. Thanks guysWarren 2 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #16 – November 20, 2023, 10:09:32 am Step Issue - 94TK - Manual StepMy step bangs, bangs, bangs-driving down the road. I had the front end checked and rechecked the banging comes from the step hitting the two metal dowels if you will (guides). The step was replaced and reinstalled differently because LD would not work on my rig, as it was too old. I think the step was bolted to the frame. Wondering what type of material is used to keep the step from banging-I am thinking a hard rubber sleeve type of application.
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #17 – November 20, 2023, 01:28:17 pm The steps are mounted to the wood surrounding the step area at the coach door. Hard rubber sleeve is good. I just wrapped a lot of black vinyl around the pin, and covered it with black heat shrink tubing. Easy on the heating or the tape turns to goo. RonB 2 Likes
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #18 – June 08, 2024, 11:52:53 am Hi,Hit manual steps ... guess over confidence ... cheap reminder to be careful.Steps is still functional, I am able to take it out and put in, that is good but after this trip I would like to disassemble step and 1) straighten out the side plates and while on to it 2) change the stepping screws Ron mentioned.And pictures or YouTube clips on how to disassemble the sliding part before I start banging the side plates. If it is easy to take out the entire steps assembly, straighten them out the side walls will be even more easy.Lazy Daze was a proof of concept and guess more we use it more difficult it would be to part. Now that EarthCruiser is bankrupt SLRV on ISUZU and Bliss Mobile on Ford F600 are front runner. Will see ... I really do not see any reason to let go of Lazy Daze but I know the limitations of Lazy Daze outside US/Canada.
Re: Manual Kwikee Step Glide Reply #19 – June 09, 2024, 12:25:20 am At grocery stores and such we use the manual steps while retracted. When exiting just back out, slide a toe in there and let yourself down with the hand rail. Works very well.
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