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Old 09-25-2007, 01:05 PM   #1
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Parking Blocks and Steps

Well I figured I'd never need parking blocks, then we went camping with some friends. They really wanted to be in a non-level spot. Luckily there were some big rocks around, but I would have needed about 6-10" for two wheels to get to the point where I was, which wasn't even what I'd consider level.

In addition the side step wound up being over 3' off the ground so we needed another rock as a stair.

So now I need to know what others are doing for leveling... do they make industrial sized leveling blocks?

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Old 09-26-2007, 06:43 AM   #2
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I bought two heavy duty Trilevelers at Sportsman's Warehouse and they work fine. You can get a wheel 8-10" off the ground on the highest level. When I put both under the wheels on the passenger side in camp, it made the cargo door entrance too high for our large labradogs, even with a large Safety Step stool.
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Old 09-26-2007, 11:51 PM   #3
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They need an online store!

Honestly, it LOOK a lot less steep than it is! I could have sworn those rocks were bigger too.

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Old 09-27-2007, 08:58 AM   #4
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Time for me to hijack this topic. What are people using for a step or steps for accessing the van through the side doors once setup for camping? I noticed someone mentioned a "Safety Step Stool" although I have no clue what that is. Someone else actually welded some RV style scissor steps to the van frame.

Basically I'm looking for something that will make getting in and out of the van easier for two short people and two 60 lb dogs. I also want to be able to stow it fairly easy. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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Old 09-27-2007, 09:30 AM   #5
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Seems to me that I posted this somewhere before, but I use a set of modified sissor steps. They are fantasic and fold up pretty small and I just put 'em behind the rear seat when not in use. We used to use a step stool and then a box, but it was tough getting it really stable on the rough ground and after my wife took a header off the the box I came up with this.

I can take more pictures if anyone is interested.

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Old 09-27-2007, 09:41 AM   #6
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I use a combination of the amp research powered step, and a step ladder.

If it's just a regular person hopping in our out of the van, we just use the power step. The TOP of that step is 22" off the ground, and it's just shy of 13" to the inset step in the van doors.

If we're loading the dog or camping, or someone with a skirt needs to get in, then we just deploy the step ladder, which just happens to FIT PERFECTLY in the instep in the doors.





This step ladder also serves as a gate for the dog, when we stop we can open the cargo door and he stands right at the step but doesn't try to get out. It's a visual barrier more than anything, but I could easily secure it and make it more stable. He has not yet pushed on it. He also will not try to jump out of the van unless the step is there. We've trained him to be wary of heights like that, being a lab and prone to hip issues.

(side note: when we get in the jeep, he sits near the drivers side door and waits patiently for me to run one arm under his belly and the other under his neck to lift him up into the jeep and then he gets in the back.)

BTW in case you don't know, the amp power step retracts to flush against the body when the door is closed.
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Old 09-27-2007, 10:43 AM   #7
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Pics of all of these 'solutions' would be a good thread in the Projects, DIY Modifications, and Known Issues section of the Forum. Yah?
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Old 09-27-2007, 10:53 AM   #8
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Well, I don't know if my rock warrants a project post...

You can compile other people's pics kzemach, just hit quote and copy the image string, put it in your own message. You an also right-click on the image, copy the location and put IMG tags around it to post.
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Old 09-27-2007, 01:36 PM   #9
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sdwindansea, Here's a picture of the 110lb extra-large black labradog loading up on the two stools we bought to make dog loading easier:



The getting in and out with the high floor level of a 4X4 has proven to be the hardest part of dealing with large dogs, especially when they are tired after a hike or swimming. The two heavy duty aluminum stools from www.safetystep.net help tremendously, and the smaller stool collapses and can be stored in the back of the SMB.
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Old 10-02-2007, 11:52 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kzemach
Pics of all of these 'solutions' would be a good thread in the Projects, DIY Modifications, and Known Issues section of the Forum. Yah?
I agree, but I actually have a better solution than the one I'm using above in the works, and I was planning on documenting that in the mods section
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