Entry Steps Cleaning/Maintenance...

[MAX Burner]

Installed new carpet treads a couple days ago and planned to clean and lubricate the step mechanism with CV-2 grease.  FYI:  Just a small amount of CV-2 applied to the rail slots make deploying/retracting the steps quieter and much easier with a lot less effort.

Noticing that the leading edge/forward aluminum step frame had been quite hammered by road debris after 6+ years of usage, we decided to address this situation with an angle grinder fit with a polishing wheel and green rouge.

Here's what happened after about 30 minutes of effort:

We're liking the results and should allow being able to keep this area cleaner over time...

Cheers!

[ScubaRx]

1 hour ago, MAX Burner said:

We're liking the results and should allow being able to keep this area cleaner over time...

Cheers!

It appears the steps are currently being made from tread plate rather than flat plate aluminum. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Our 2022 is flat plate. Must have been an interim thing. 

[SeaDawg]

Our old (2010?) steps are flat plate, plus nonskid strips.

[MAX Burner]

2 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:

Our 2022 is flat plate. Must have been an interim thing. 

FYI:  The plates are in fact flat aluminum, they look like diamond plate because they're reflecting the diamond plate floor mat that the trailer is positioned on.  The second photo shows the plate finish without the reflection.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

12 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

Installed new carpet treads a couple days ago and planned to clean and lubricate the step mechanism with CV-2 grease.  FYI:  Just a small amount of CV-2 applied to the rail slots make deploying/retracting the steps quieter and much easier with a lot less effort.

Noticing that the leading edge/forward aluminum step frame had been quite hammered by road debris after 6+ years of usage, we decided to address this situation with an angle grinder fit with a polishing wheel and green rouge.

Here's what happened after about 30 minutes of effort:

We're liking the results and should allow being able to keep this area cleaner over time...

Cheers!

Art, it appears you still have a bit of aluminitus left over from the Airstream days.   I like it.

[ScubaRx]

8 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

FYI:  The plates are in fact flat aluminum, they look like diamond plate because they're reflecting the diamond plate floor mat that the trailer is positioned on.  The second photo shows the plate finish without the reflection.

My bad, I see it now, Thanks!

[Jim and Frances]

While I love CV@ grease, you might want to consider either a dry spray PTFE or white lithium instead on exposed applications like your steps. 

While I am no grease expert, some suggest that since dry spray PTFE or white lithium is not as tacky or sticky as CV2, it will not keep as much road grime.  For this reason, I use CV2 in non-exposed areas (like bearings, wet bolts in suspension, etc.) and I use white lithium on exposed areas like hitch ball, rear bumper pins, etc.   I use a dry lube PTFE spray for steps, door latches, etc.  I have even switched to PTFE dry spray for jack struts as normal grease (even lithium) was getting nasty with road grime.  The downside to the PTFE is having to apply is more frequently, but it is very easy to do.  I use the 3-in-1 RVCare Window Track Dry lube spray for my window tracks.

I am sure there are others much more experienced with grease applications and I would defer to them.

Edited October 11, 2023 by Jim and Frances
typo

[Ronbrink]

On 10/9/2023 at 8:06 PM, MAX Burner said:

Just a small amount of CV-2 applied to the rail slots

I got this for the hitch ball, gonna give it a try on the steps!  Amazon purchase, per product info: “Say goodbye to white and black grease stains. This multi-use, non-melting, waterproof grease is fortified with PTFE, the ultimate in nonstick technology.” I’m also a fan of their Silicone Paste dielectric grease.