Looking for simple idea's of making a step for daddies trailer.

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All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Looking for simple idea's of making a step for daddies trailer.

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Looking for simple idea's of making a step for daddies ... - 6/11/2007 10:31:16 PM

FelinePersuasion

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It's about a foot or two off the ground, I want something stable, he's using a milk crate, and it's soooooooo inadiquite. I was thinking of getting some concrete blocks, and laying them out side by side. and maybe like building up the area with dirt.

Any other suggestions?

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/11/2007 10:37:06 PM

TheIslandofO

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use concrete steps you can get them at Home Depot or Walmart and then just lay them up on top of each other

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/11/2007 10:39:07 PM

FelinePersuasion

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That makes sense.

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 2:57:51 AM

Quivver

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I've used everything from concrete block to railroad ties for steps before.
No matter what you use, prepairing the gound under it is the biggest factor for stability.
You'll need to cut back any ground to the size needed and make it perfectly flat, then
tamp it hard so what ever the material you use sit's tight so it doesnt move when
you step on it.

Good Luck!

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 3:19:41 AM

Level

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http://www.mobilehomeadvantage.com/sku.cfm/sub_cat_id/138/ID/27

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 3:40:26 AM

LadyEllen

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If you can put something solid down - ie the trailer isnt going anywhere...

Dig about 6 inches down and 6 inches around where the step will be - watch out for electric and water pipes. Fill this with concrete (sharp sand, gravel and cement) and using a small plank, tamp it down level, though it will if its the right mix, settle pretty much level anyway. Give it a day or two to set hard. This gives you a very stable base on which to build.

You next need 11 concrete blocks of about 12'' x 8'' x 3'' and some cement (red sand and cement) to stick them together. With the blocks you make a wall with one 12'' length across the front of the step and 2 x 12'' lengths running from that toward the trailer on either side and another 12'' length across the back, next to the trailer, you also cement one 12'' length right across the middle, the 8'' dim is the height. Then you make another wall the same, stepped up from the first at the entrance to the trailer. The walls need to be level, but this isnt a house so its not critical.

Then you need two concrete paving slabs - good ones of at least 11/2'' and preferably 2'' thickness, measuring 18'' x 12'' to put on top for the steps. 2-3'' will need cutting off these slabs to make them fit on top of the walls, but this isnt usually a problem as places selling slabs should have a disk cutter for this purpose - if you do it yourself then bear in mind it makes a lot of choking dust.Cement the slabs onto the tops of the walls - here is where even if the walls are wonky you can make the steps level by adjusting their heights. Allow the whole thing to dry - should last for a century or so.

Though not exactly simple.

E

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 10:48:12 AM

DomKen

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Cinder blocks always worked pretty well for my relatives who lived in trailers. Although I would make sure the ground underneath is tamped down hard.

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 6:42:30 PM

Sinergy

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As an addition to LadyEllen's post, set 12 inch bolts in the concrete with the threads extending up out of it. Screw down whatever you put in place for steps with those bolts.

You can buy pre-cut step frames at Home Depot. You can buy concrete blocks. You can do whatever you need to do, but I would suggest figuring out a way to bolt everything into place. These steps will collapse with weight on them (yours) and if they do somebody is likely to get injured.

I built a storage deck in my garage that was so strong it would support a Honda, but I prefer to overbuild things than underbuild.

Sinergy

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 8:30:10 PM

FelinePersuasion

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It's an RV park, so you can take them in an out, if he ever moves out someone else will put theirs there. Those mobil steps were neat, but expensive. I'm liking the idea of digging out a space stamping it down hard packed and then putting concret blocks rail road ties or the like.

Eventually he'd like to build a little deck, and we're putting a table and chairs out there, with cushions.

sinergy, so any blocks or ties we put in will collapse if their not secured?

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 8:59:44 PM

Gauge

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I used to do heating and air conditioning work in a lot of mobile homes. I know that they make pre-cast steps that are very lightweight (compared to pre-cast concrete) and easy to transport should the need arise. The best thing to do is to call a mobile home dealer near you and ask them.

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RE: Looking for simple idea's of making a step for dadd... - 6/12/2007 9:09:26 PM

Sinergy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: FelinePersuasion

sinergy, so any blocks or ties we put in will collapse if their not secured?

I am not saying that.

What I am saying is that I personally tend to prefer to err on the side of safety. Stairs take a lot of vertical weight, but they also endure a lot of shear (force perpendicular to the center line) force. This is why I overbuild. If it is a trailer park and you wont be able to build a permanent thing, buy some concrete piers at Home Depot, dig holes, sink them in, and bolt everything to it. When you move out, it is fairly simple to dig the piers up and be done with it.

Good luck!

Sinergy

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