6 Best RV Steps For Fifth Wheels That Seasoned Nomads Swear By
Ditch wobbly factory steps. Seasoned nomads share the 6 best fifth wheel step upgrades for unmatched stability, safety, and ground-solid performance.
There’s a moment every RVer knows: stepping out of your fifth wheel onto factory-installed steps that bounce and creak with every move. It’s a small thing that chips away at the feeling of having a solid, stable home. Upgrading your entry steps is one of the most impactful changes you can make, transforming your rig’s entire feel from temporary shelter to a true home base.
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Why Upgrading Your 5th Wheel Steps Is a Must
Factory-installed "diving board" steps are a notorious weak point in many fifth wheels. They hang in the air, relying solely on the RV’s frame for support. This design inevitably leads to bouncing, swaying, and a general lack of confidence, especially when carrying groceries or for anyone with mobility concerns.
This instability isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a safety issue. Pets, especially older dogs, can be terrified of the movement and may refuse to use them. Small children can easily lose their footing. A solid set of steps that makes contact with the ground eliminates this wobble entirely, providing a secure, residential-like entry that feels safe and sturdy every single time.
Beyond safety, an upgrade is about quality of life. Your entryway is the first and last thing you interact with every time you come and go. A firm foundation underfoot reinforces the sense of home. It’s a surprisingly profound upgrade that you’ll appreciate multiple times a day, every day you’re on the road.
MORryde StepAbove: The Gold Standard in Stability
The MORryde StepAbove is often the first name that comes up in any conversation about step upgrades, and for good reason. These steps fold up and store inside your RV’s doorway, and when deployed, they extend all the way to the ground. This ground contact is the key to their legendary stability. There is zero bounce.
The design features adjustable feet to accommodate uneven terrain, ensuring a level and secure footing at almost any campsite. The wide, deep treads feel more like a staircase at home than a set of flimsy RV steps. For full-timers or anyone who spends significant time in their rig, this upgrade single-handedly makes an RV feel more permanent and secure.
The primary tradeoff with the StepAbove is its deployment arc. Because it swings out from the doorway, you need several feet of clearance beside your rig. This can be a problem in tight storage lots or at rally-style campsites packed closely together. You also have to be diligent about sweeping them off before storing them, as any dirt, rain, or snow on the steps comes right inside your living space.
Lippert SolidStep: A Strong and Secure Entryway
Lippert’s SolidStep is a direct and formidable competitor to the MORryde StepAbove, operating on the same core principle: a solid, ground-connecting staircase that stores inside the doorway. It delivers that same rock-solid, no-bounce feel that transforms an RV entrance. The sense of security you get from a SolidStep is immediate and impressive.
Lippert has incorporated thoughtful features, like an extra-wide top step that acts as a comfortable landing. This makes maneuvering through the doorway with arms full of gear much easier. Like the MORryde, it has adjustable legs to handle uneven ground, a critical feature for anyone who camps outside of perfectly paved RV parks.
The considerations are identical to the StepAbove. You need that side clearance to deploy them, making them impractical for tight quarters. And, of course, they bring the outside elements in when you fold them up. The choice between MORryde and Lippert often comes down to specific fitment for your rig, brand preference, or minor feature differences like the handle design or adjustment mechanism.
Torklift GlowStep Revolution: Ultimate Versatility
For nomads who value versatility above all, the Torklift GlowStep Revolution is in a class of its own. Unlike solid steps that store inside, this is a scissor-style step system that mounts underneath the doorway and collapses into itself for storage. This means it doesn’t bring dirt inside and can be deployed in the tightest of spots—a massive advantage in storage lots or close-quarters camping.
Its most brilliant feature is the all-terrain landing gear. Each leg adjusts independently, allowing you to get a stable footing on wildly uneven, sloping, or difficult terrain where a solid step would be impossible to deploy safely. The steps also glow in the dark for up to 10 hours, a simple but incredibly effective safety feature for late-night returns to your rig.
The GlowStep Revolution is often considered the premium option, and its price reflects that. It’s more complex than a solid step, with more moving parts. While it offers unparalleled stability for a scissor-style step, some users may find the solid steps from MORryde or Lippert feel marginally more rigid. However, for those who camp in varied locations and need a step that adapts to any situation, the Torklift is the undisputed champion.
Stromberg Carlson EHS-104-R: Enhance Existing Steps
Not everyone needs or wants to rip out their entire step assembly. For those looking for a significant stability boost on a tighter budget, the Stromberg Carlson EHS-104-R is a fantastic solution. This isn’t a full replacement; it’s an "add-a-step" kit that attaches to the bottom of your existing factory fold-out steps.
The magic is that this bottom step has adjustable legs that make contact with the ground. By grounding your existing steps, you eliminate a huge percentage of the bounce and wiggle that makes them feel so unstable. It’s a simple, elegant solution that dramatically improves the safety and feel of your entryway without the cost and installation hassle of a full replacement.
This is a compromise, of course. It won’t feel as completely solid as a MORryde or Torklift system because the upper steps are still hanging from the RV frame. But for the cost, it’s arguably the best bang-for-your-buck upgrade you can make. It’s the perfect middle-ground for the weekend warrior or budget-conscious full-timer who wants a tangible improvement without a major overhaul.
Quick Products JQ-S150: Freestanding Platform
Sometimes the problem isn’t the steps themselves, but the awkward transition from the bottom step to the ground. The Quick Products JQ-S150 is a freestanding platform step that offers a simple, non-permanent solution. It’s essentially a large, incredibly stable single step with adjustable legs that you place on the ground at the base of your existing RV steps.
This is an ideal solution for several scenarios. It’s perfect for people with mobility challenges who need a larger, lower, and more stable first step. It can also bridge the gap when your RV is parked on a slope, creating a level landing before you even begin to climb. Because it’s not attached to the RV, there’s zero vibration transfer, and it can be positioned exactly where you need it.
The obvious downside is that it’s another piece of gear to store and set up. It doesn’t solve the problem of bouncy factory steps, but it makes navigating them much safer and more comfortable. For many, pairing a freestanding platform with an add-on step like the Stromberg Carlson is a highly effective and affordable combination.
Lippert Victory Step: A Solid Manual Fold-Out
The Lippert Victory Step is an interesting hybrid that bridges the gap between traditional hanging steps and the newer solid-step systems. It’s a manual, fold-out step that mounts directly to the fifth wheel’s chassis, not the floor of the doorway. This chassis-mount design provides a much more stable foundation than standard factory steps.
Because it folds out from under the doorway, it doesn’t require the wide-open side clearance of a StepAbove or SolidStep, and it doesn’t bring dirt inside your rig. While it doesn’t have legs that extend to the ground, its robust construction and direct connection to the frame significantly reduce the springiness and sway you’re used to.
This is a great choice for someone who wants a major stability upgrade but can’t accommodate an interior-storing step system due to their floor plan or typical camping style. It’s a straightforward, durable, and very effective improvement that maintains the classic "underneath storage" convenience while delivering a much safer and more pleasant user experience.
Key Factors for Choosing Your New RV Steps
Choosing the right steps isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the best one for you. The decision hinges on how and where you travel. Rushing into a purchase without thinking through these factors is the number one mistake I see people make.
Start by evaluating your typical campsite.
- Tight Spaces: Do you frequently use storage lots, tight rally sites, or street park? If so, a solid step like the MORryde or Lippert SolidStep that swings out will be a constant source of frustration. The Torklift GlowStep Revolution or a chassis-mounted step like the Lippert Victory Step is a far better choice.
- Uneven Terrain: If you boondock or stay in state parks with unpaved sites, ground-contact steps with highly adjustable legs are non-negotiable. The Torklift system offers the most flexibility here, but the MORryde and Lippert SolidStep also handle moderate slopes well.
Next, consider your lifestyle and physical needs. Do you have pets, small kids, or mobility issues? The unwavering stability and wide treads of a ground-contact system are paramount for safety. Also, think about storage. Are you okay with sweeping steps off before bringing them inside, or would you rather have a system that stays outside, like the Torklift or Victory Step? Your answers will quickly narrow the field from six options to the two or three that truly fit your life.
Ultimately, the right RV steps are the ones you don’t have to think about—they just work, providing a safe and solid welcome home every single time you return to your rig.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are solid entry RV steps for fifth wheels?
Solid entry RV steps for fifth wheels are ground-contact stairs that hinge directly into the door threshold rather than hanging suspended from the chassis. Unlike floating factory stairs, these assemblies rest their aluminum legs firmly on the dirt or pavement, eliminating bounce and rocking when adults walk inside. Brands like MORryde StepAbove and Lippert SolidStep fold upright into the doorway during travel, which keeps road grime and road spray off the treads.
What does an RV step stabilizer do on a fifth wheel?
An RV step stabilizer is a bracing brace or jack mounted beneath floating fifth wheel steps to stop bouncing and flexing under foot traffic. Floating stairs flex downward with up to two inches of give under normal adult body weight, stressing the RV sidewalls. A stabilizer attaches under the bottom tread with adjustable pins or screw threads to ground the load, providing up to 500 pounds of extra support without requiring a complete step replacement.
How do I measure my door frame for replacement RV steps for fifth wheels?
Measure your fifth wheel door frame by recording the clear inside width of the doorway jamb and the vertical distance from the threshold to flat ground. Pull a tape measure across the narrowest point of the inner door opening, typically between 24 and 30 inches. Next, park on level concrete and measure from the entry threshold straight down to the pavement, which dictates whether you need a three-step or four-step assembly.
How do I adjust the leg extensions on fifth wheel RV steps?
Adjust fifth wheel RV step legs by depressing the quick-release lock pins on each foot and sliding the inner aluminum shaft up or down. Modern ground-contact steps feature independent leg extensions with pre-drilled holes spaced one inch apart to compensate for uneven campsite terrain. Set the threshold plate completely flat against the door sill first, then extend each leg until both foot pads touch the ground firmly, ensuring the latch engages securely inside the chosen adjustment hole.
Are fold-down RV steps better than traditional hanging steps for a fifth wheel?
Ground-contact fold-down RV steps provide significantly more stability and higher weight capacities than traditional hanging steps, though hanging models require less clearance to deploy. Fold-down stairs support 400 to 500 pounds with zero bounce because their legs transfer force into the ground rather than the RV frame. However, hanging steps remain convenient in tight storage facilities or gas stations where you only have two feet of clearance beside the coach to open the door.
How much do heavy-duty replacement RV steps for fifth wheels cost?
Heavy-duty replacement RV steps for fifth wheels generally cost between $250 and $700 depending on the step count, lift-assist features, and build materials. Standard four-step manual ground-contact systems from leading manufacturers run approximately $300 to $450. Premium models equipped with hydraulic gas struts for feather-light lifting, integrated handrails, or extra-wide top platforms range from $500 to $750, while professional installation typically adds an extra $100 to $200 in RV shop labor.
Why is my fifth wheel door hitting the RV steps when closing?
Door clearance issues happen when the fifth wheel RV step mounting bracket sits too high or the adjustable leg extensions are extended too far out. If the step hinge rests above the factory subfloor height, the bottom of the screen door catches on the flange. Lower the leg pins by one notch so the mounting plate sits completely flush against the door threshold before closing the entry door, or adjust the door sweep screws to gain an extra eighth of an inch of clearance.
Are aftermarket RV steps for fifth wheels worth the upgrade for full-time nomads?
Upgrading to aftermarket RV steps for fifth wheels is worth the cost for full-time nomads who prioritize joint comfort, dog safety, and long-term durability. Stock floating stairs often feel springy and cause joint strain over years of daily ingress and egress. Aftermarket models feature deep eight-to-ten-inch aluminum treads, high-traction grip surfaces, and solid ground footing that prevent pet claws from slipping through open gaps, greatly reducing fall injuries during frequent campsite relocations.
