7 Best RV Steps for Mobility and Accessibility Solutions Nomads Swear By
Enhance RV accessibility with the right steps. We review 7 nomad-approved solutions, focusing on stability, handrails, and safe entry for all mobility levels.
That last step out of your RV can feel like a leap of faith, especially when the ground is uneven or your knees are reminding you of yesterday’s hike. Standard RV steps are notoriously wobbly and steep, turning a simple entry into a daily challenge for anyone with mobility concerns. Choosing the right steps isn’t just about convenience; it’s about safety, confidence, and ensuring your life on the road remains accessible and enjoyable for years to come.
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Lippert SolidStep: The Ultimate for Stability
Enhance your RV entry with the Lippert Solid Step Triple Step. Enjoy added stability from its wide, aluminum treads and adjustable legs, plus improved safety with recessed feet that minimize tripping hazards. This durable steel step folds easily for storage and installs directly into your existing doorway.
If your biggest complaint is that wobbly, bouncy feeling of traditional fold-out steps, the Lippert SolidStep is your answer. These steps don’t hang in the air; they extend all the way to the ground. This ground contact completely eliminates the bounce and sway, creating a stable platform that feels more like the stairs at a permanent home than something on a vehicle.
The design is brilliant in its simplicity. Each leg is independently adjustable, allowing you to get a firm, level footing even when parked on a slope or uneven dirt patch. The extra-wide top step also provides a large, secure landing area, which makes maneuvering through the doorway with groceries or a small pet much easier. For anyone concerned with balance, this rock-solid feel is a massive confidence booster.
The primary tradeoff is storage. The SolidStep folds up and stores inside the RV doorway. This means you have to sweep them off before packing up, or you’ll bring dirt, mud, or water inside with you. It also means you need several feet of clear space next to your rig to deploy them, which can be a problem in tight storage lots or crowded campsites.
MORryde StepAbove: Effortless Lift-Assist
Upgrade your RV entry with MORryde's STEPABOVE. This durable auto accessory provides a stable, secure platform for easy access, featuring a robust design for lasting performance.
The MORryde StepAbove operates on the same ground-contact principle as the Lippert SolidStep, delivering that same reassuring stability. It plants firmly on the ground, features adjustable feet, and provides a secure, no-bounce entry. Visually and functionally, it’s a direct competitor, but it has one feature that makes all the difference for many nomads.
That feature is its lift-assist strut. A gas strut integrated into the hinge mechanism carries most of the steps’ weight, making them incredibly easy to lift and lower. Instead of muscling a heavy metal staircase into place, you can guide it with minimal effort. For anyone with limited upper body strength, a bad back, or shoulder issues, this is a game-changer.
Like the SolidStep, the StepAbove also stores inside the doorway, bringing the same challenges of interior dirt and requiring side clearance for deployment. The choice between the two often comes down to a simple question: is the ease of lifting worth the typically higher price point? For many, the answer is a resounding yes, as it removes a significant physical barrier to setting up and tearing down camp.
Torklift GlowStep: Best All-Terrain Solution
Torklift takes a completely different approach with its GlowStep Revolution. Instead of a solid staircase that folds into the door, this is a scissor-style step system that collapses and stores directly underneath the RV entrance. This single design choice solves the biggest problems of the ground-contact steps: no dirt comes inside, and you don’t need extra side clearance to deploy them.
This makes the GlowStep the undisputed champion for boondockers and those who camp in varied terrain. The accordion-style design can handle a much wider range of heights and angles. Combined with the optional All Terrain Landing Gear—large, adjustable feet that pivot—you can get a stable setup on just about any surface imaginable. It’s a system built for the realities of off-grid camping.
As the name implies, the steps feature glow-in-the-dark strips for better visibility at night, a simple but effective safety feature. The system is also modular, allowing you to add or remove steps to perfectly match your rig’s height. While they may have slightly more side-to-side wiggle than a SolidStep, their versatility and clever storage make them the go-to for adventurous travelers.
Coachstep Electric Steps: Powered Accessibility
For the ultimate in effortless entry, nothing beats a powered electric step. Systems like the Kwikee series by Lippert (often called "Coachstep") automatically extend when you open the RV door and retract when you close it. There is zero physical effort required from the user, making them an essential solution for individuals with significant mobility limitations.
These steps are typically wired into the RV’s 12-volt system and the chassis ignition, ensuring they automatically retract when you start the engine—a critical safety feature. Many models also include anti-slip textures and an under-step light that illuminates the ground at night, further enhancing safety. The convenience is simply unmatched.
However, that convenience comes with complexity and cost. Electric steps are a significant investment and add another mechanical system that can potentially fail. A dead battery or a faulty motor can leave your steps stuck in or out, requiring a manual override. They also hang below the RV, which can sometimes reduce ground clearance, a key consideration for getting into rougher campsites.
Stromberg Carlson Platform Step: Portable Riser
This heavy-duty cast aluminum platform step offers a stable, adjustable height (7-3/16" to 8-9/16") for easy access to RVs and trucks. Its 1000 lbs capacity and anti-slip rubber feet ensure secure use on any terrain.
Sometimes the problem isn’t the entire staircase, but just that first big step up from the ground. The Stromberg Carlson Platform Step is a simple, robust, and portable solution to this exact problem. It’s a standalone, adjustable-height platform that you place on the ground in front of your existing RV steps.
This simple riser can reduce the height of that first step by several inches, making a huge difference for those with bad knees or hips. The legs adjust individually, so you can make it stable on uneven ground where your RV’s own bottom step might be awkwardly high. It’s a targeted fix that doesn’t require a permanent modification to your rig.
Of course, being portable means it’s one more piece of gear to store and set up. But its utility often extends beyond just being a step. Many nomads use it as a small outdoor table, a seat, or a platform for washing the rig. It’s a low-cost, high-impact tool for bridging that awkward gap between the ground and your first step.
Safety Step Stool: Bridging the Ground Gap
Reach higher with confidence using this sturdy step stool featuring a supportive handle and a non-slip platform. Its durable steel construction safely supports up to 300 pounds, making it ideal for everyday use.
Think of the Safety Step Stool as the minimalist version of the platform step. It’s not meant to be a large landing but a small, incredibly stable bridge for a single step. These stools are typically shorter and wider than a normal step stool, with angled, anti-tip legs and a massive non-slip rubber surface.
Their purpose is singular: to make that first step safe and manageable. When your RV is leveled on blocks, the bottom fold-out step can end up 12 inches or more off the ground. A Safety Step cuts that rise in half. Its low center of gravity and grippy feet mean it won’t slide or tip, even on wet grass or gravel.
This isn’t a replacement for a full step system, but it’s an incredibly effective supplement. It’s small enough to store easily and provides a targeted solution to a very common problem. For a small investment, it can restore confidence and eliminate the daily strain of that one, too-high step.
Add-A-Handrail Kits: Crucial Support Add-On
Steps are only half of the accessibility equation; support is the other. Many RVs come with a small, flimsy grab handle next to the door that is often poorly placed and too short. Add-on handrail kits are designed to fix this by providing continuous support from the ground all the way into your RV.
Products like the MORryde Safe-T-Rail or the Lippert SolidStep Handrail are designed to bolt directly onto their respective step systems or the RV itself. They create a sturdy, ergonomic railing that you can hold onto throughout the entire process of climbing or descending the stairs. This is absolutely critical for anyone with balance issues.
Get residential-style safety for your RV with the MORryde Safe-T-Rail. This telescopic rail extends 42.5" and features a magnetic lock to keep it secure while traveling.
Installing a proper handrail can be the single most important accessibility upgrade you make. It transforms the act of entering and exiting from a careful, two-handed balancing act into a simple, secure movement. Don’t underestimate the psychological benefit—the confidence a solid handrail provides is immense.
Key Factors for Choosing Your Accessible Steps
There is no single "best" RV step; there is only the best step for you, your rig, and your travel style. Making the right choice means honestly assessing your needs and understanding the tradeoffs of each design. It’s about creating a system that removes barriers, not one that adds new ones.
Before you buy, consider these crucial factors:
- Your Physical Needs: Be realistic about your strength, balance, and joint health. Do you need a lift-assist feature? Is a powered step necessary? Is a sturdy handrail non-negotiable? Match the product’s features directly to your physical requirements.
- Storage & Deployment: Where do the steps store? If they store inside (Lippert/MORryde), are you okay with the potential for mess? Do you have the side clearance at your home or storage spot to deploy them? If not, an under-mount system (Torklift/Coachstep) is a better choice.
- Your Camping Style: If you’re primarily in paved RV parks, ground-contact steps offer superior stability. If you’re a boondocker who parks on wildly uneven terrain, the all-terrain adaptability of a scissor-step system is invaluable.
- Budget & Installation: The price range is huge, from a $50 portable stool to a $1,500+ powered system. Factor in the cost and complexity of installation. Some are simple bolt-on projects, while others may require professional help and wiring.
Often, the ultimate solution is a combination of products. You might choose the stable MORryde StepAbove, add their Safe-T-Rail for support, and still keep a portable platform step in the bay for those times you park on a particularly awkward slope. The goal is to build a system that makes your RV feel as safe and accessible as a stationary home.
Ultimately, the right steps give you the freedom to keep moving. They are an investment not just in your RV, but in your ability to continue exploring with confidence and independence. By choosing a solution that truly fits your needs, you ensure that the adventure never has to stop at your doorstep.
