Fold down step sheared in half: VERY dangerous

The camper is 10 months old. Took delivery in May 2016.

I spoke with the service department at FWC and am actually going to be visiting the factory Monday. They're going to pull the rung and send the pieces off for analysis. As usual, top notch customer service. I'm guessing it's some sort of casting failure that left a hairline. That one side that had center rust was night and day different than the other-indicates a specific point of water intrusion.

I'll keep everyone updated!
 
Wallowa said:
Before we all need to junk our steps...perhaps by a show of hands...how many steps have broken?

This most likely has nothing to do with "rusting" but more with a casting failure....in any event the sky may not be falling.. ;)

Phil
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A raising of hands isn't accurate being that most don't use their steps often.

I'm not taking any chances. Just ordered 3 of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/232115139139?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Cant stand the cosmetics of the OEMs anyway.
 

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Bombsight said:
A raising of hands isn't accurate being that most don't use their steps often.

I'm not taking any chances. Just ordered 3 of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/232115139139?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Cant stand the cosmetics of the OEMs anyway.
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Hmmmm...well if we do not know if this is real problem or this was an anomaly why replace them? Cosmetic? Really?

If the steps are not often used then they should last a long, long time... :D

I do agree that the steps are at best problematic to use; even for a 14.5A climber [which I am not!]. But for me it beats carrying a ladder.

Phil
 
I use my steps on every trip to access the aluminum roof rack or to tilt my second solar panel. There have been no indication of problems. I have 40 lbs over kifo.

It seems like this is an anomaly as we would have had other posts about problems. As an example, look at how much interest his report has generated in a short time.

I'm glad the sudden failure ended well.

Paul
 
Wallowa said:
Hmmmm...well if we do not know if this is real problem or this was an anomaly why replace them? Cosmetic? Really?

If the steps are not often used then they should last a long, long time... :D

I do agree that the steps are at best problematic to use; even for a 14.5A climber [which I am not!]. But for me it beats carrying a ladder.

Phil
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Cosmetics? - Yea, really! Do a search of Maintenance, Care and Aluminum or Fiberglass Siding of FWC's on here (just to mention a few) and you'll see how much people care what their rig looks like. You're surprised response is condesending.

To answer your question, which I already alluded to ... I'm not taking any chances. The OEM steps are bush league and the pitted surface on every one I've seen doesn't sit well with me after seeing the potential dangers.

I see nothing wrong with making ones rig the best it can be, even if it is only cosmetic, which in this case, it may or may not be.
 
Whoa! That is clearly a previously cracked step that gave way. Super sketch!
I'll be getting a camper next month with those steps and unfortunately, I do not have the benefit of being only 165 lbs!
I'm going to have my dealer check them out thoroughly before taking delivery.
 
Vic Harder said:
not to hijack the thread, but... Paul - tilting panel?
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I went with AMSOLAR's tilt kit. Can tilt panel forward or to rear. Not always useful due to campsite's bearing but helps when our star lines up & I tilt it up prior to popping top.

Tilts 45 degrees.
Paul

image.jpeg
 
I also use the steps to tilt my solar panel all of the time as well as for my wood off of the roof occasionally. Hope this break is an exception as I have never had a problem with my steps. I put 195 lbs on them a lot without any problem. I know a lot of people on here do not use the steps a lot except to hang things on them, but I do and have been pleased with being able to do that although as someone who is almost 70 I am much more careful in using them than I would have been 30 years ago. I also use them to hang things from as well as hang from the jack brackets.
 
kifo4173 said:
The camper is 10 months old. Took delivery in May 2016.

I spoke with the service department at FWC and am actually going to be visiting the factory Monday. They're going to pull the rung and send the pieces off for analysis. As usual, top notch customer service. I'm guessing it's some sort of casting failure that left a hairline. That one side that had center rust was night and day different than the other-indicates a specific point of water intrusion.

I'll keep everyone updated!
Click to expand...

Odd, we took delivery in February 2016 [Hawk] and our steps are not "bolted" into place like your picture shows yours are...ours are round head hex fasteners. So your FWC is also a 2016 model?

Let us know what FWC says after they look at your broken pieces.

Not good for you, but this is a rare event...has anyone else seen these steps break?

Good luck...Phil
 
Just as Wollowa mentioned above, the rear wall steps on my 2016 Eagle doesn't use bolts but uses hex fasteners. When I first saw the picture I just assumed it was an older camper. I guess it doesn't really matter as that is not where the step failed, but interesting to know FWC installs them in different ways.

I use my steps all the time to clear snow off the top or access the ski rack and haven't had any problems.
 
whwv said:
Just as Wollowa mentioned above, the rear wall steps on my 2016 Eagle doesn't use bolts but uses hex fasteners. When I first saw the picture I just assumed it was an older camper. I guess it doesn't really matter as that is not where the step failed, but interesting to know FWC installs them in different ways.

I use my steps all the time to clear snow off the top or access the ski rack and haven't had any problems.
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Just my WAG...but judging from the surface corrosion on the body of the step up against the camper, I don't believe this is a 2016.

Phil
 
JCatt said:
Looks like the OP may have a fiberglass sided camper? Perhaps the hardware used is different.
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Nailed it. I just took a look at the 2017 FWC owner's manual that Stan posted and they have side by side pictures of rear wall steps on fiberglass vs aluminum. The picture of the fiberglass model uses bolts and the standard aluminum uses the hex fasteners.
 
Could be a difference of bolts between standard (slide in) FWC and a flat bed. Cant see where it makes a difference when it comes to the step breaking.
 
Bombsight said:
Could be a difference of bolts between standard (slide in) FWC and a flat bed. Cant see where it makes a difference when it comes to the step breaking.
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Bolts vs Hexheads having nothing to do with the step breaking.....but until the fasteners used on the steps on FWC fiberglass vs aluminum siding was pointed out the question was and is what year model did the step break on?

OP: What is the year model of your FWC? Honestly this probably is a moot question in the end; the broken step could be an anomaly that could happen on any year model.

Again, I can't believe folks running for cover because there has been only one report of a broken step.. ;)

Whatever turns out to be the cause of the step breaking...it does not appear to be an epidemic. But hey, if an identifiable run of steps had casting/metallurgy defects then a "recall" or bulletin could go out.

Phil
 
PaulT said:
I went with AMSOLAR's tilt kit. Can tilt panel forward or to rear. Not always useful due to campsite's bearing but helps when our star lines up & I tilt it up prior to popping top.

Tilts 45 degrees.
Paul

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image.jpeg
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This is a great feature. Might have to check into it.
 
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