Drilling into frame,

[Aceallenk]

What are your thoughts about drilling into the frame? Here is the scenario. My steps were spongy since purchase last year, then the other day carrying a 5 gal jug of water up the stairs they pulled out from under trailer while on holidays. Now since home it's easy to understand why, but previous owner obviously also encountered issues and that repair added to the damage. So what I want to do is build two support T-shaped brackets using only the frame, one bracket on each side of the steps. What I have is a 1/4 inch thick flat-iron x 6 inch wide x 14 inch long flat iron support bracket welded to a 1/4 inch thick x 5 1/2 inch wide x 6 inch long flat iron (T-shaped) that will be bolted to the frame with the same 5 1/2 inch wide flat iron and bolt and hole pattern on the backside of the frame. This will be my basic support for the top side of the steps and twisting motion and for extra support and torque from twisting when a person is standing on them I will run 1 1/2 inch x 3/16 thick angle iron over to the other I-beam on the other side of trailer. This should eliminate that twisting motion when standing on the steps. I Think, lol... The reason for bolting all the support brackets is it might be equally challenging to get anyone to weld the (t-shaped) support brackets directly to the frame. My further reason is 6 of one, half dozen of other, bolts might weaken a tad, but welding makes it brittle. Which is worse, I don't know... plus I don't have to drag the trailer to the city half ripped apart to see if the welding shop would tackle welding my T-brackets directly to the frame... I should mention my brackets will be bolted on with 5/16 bolts with 5 bolts on each side of the T-Bracket

[Lloyd]

I don't see a thing wrong with bolting to the frame. If that's what it takes to fix it, do it.
Something that will help support your steps. is to support the bottom of them. Either with the legs you can bolt on, or, like I do. I place boards under the bottom step after we get setup. Makes it rock solid, and it's a cheap fix.

[sjk1998]

What about installing a set of the Mor ryde steps? They appear to be very solid and an easy install.

[gudde1251]

Originally Posted by sjk1998

What about installing a set of the Mor ryde steps? They appear to be very solid and an easy install.

I would recommend doing away with OEM steps and adding the Mor Ryde steps and won't have to worry about steps again.

[harley]

My 2013 has the same problem on the left side of the steps. The bolt is loose ish and when you step on the steps the whole side moves down and the floor flexes. The bolts are a bumper bolt that goes thru the floorand the bracket for steps . Could be water got in at one point . I use a small jack under the actual step frame directly below the bolt.