Steps breaking out of floor

[Thegoose]

I joined FRF yesterday not thinking I would be asking for help so soon. I just took ownership of a used SV262 from a family 100km North of where I live and noticed when I got home that the front door entry step is sagging on the left hand side. On closer inspection it looks like the floorboards are damaged and the screws/bolts that hold the steps on are breaking out of the subfloor and the subfloor sags a quarter inch when weight placed on it. There is evidence of some repair work before, extra screws at the bottom. Assuming the floor is cracked/broken etc. what can be done to secure the steps again so I can use them without the risk of destroying the flooring or myself. Any advice? Thanks!

[crunchman12001]

Congrats on the new to you SV262
If you can post some pictures along with the year of your trailer. We can help you with a fix.
Welcome to the forum.
crunchman

[Thegoose]

It was pouring down rain this morning so I didn't get a chance to take decent pictures from all angles. The attached picture is of the "rubberising" beside the steps, underneath the floor. It appears someone tried to repair the floor, rehang the step and re-sealed it with the black paint. Inside the trailer there is a little piece of carpet where you'd expect to see lino. The seller told me this is a "feature". Being relatively new to trailers I thought that might be true.

I trust the pictures made it through...

[bob34787]

definitely a bad repair of floor rot.

[Platokidd]

This is what I do with my steps to help prevent that from happening and adding support to the steps. Jacks under the steps frame. (just to the Missisip not to Omaha)

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by Thegoose

I joined FRF yesterday not thinking I would be asking for help so soon. I just took ownership of a used SV262 from a family 100km North of where I live and noticed when I got home that the front door entry step is sagging on the left hand side. On closer inspection it looks like the floorboards are damaged and the screws/bolts that hold the steps on are breaking out of the subfloor and the subfloor sags a quarter inch when weight placed on it. There is evidence of some repair work before, extra screws at the bottom. Assuming the floor is cracked/broken etc. what can be done to secure the steps again so I can use them without the risk of destroying the flooring or myself. Any advice? Thanks!

By your post it appears your in Oh Canada. I would contact the seller and document what they say happened to it. If they are forthcoming, chalk it up to coveat emptor, and try to have it fixed correctly. If they spin you a yarn, sue in small claims, assuming Canada has a remedy such as that. Reward honesty and try to teach those who like to hoodwink a lesson.

[Arefbee]

Seeing that it is a bunkhouse, I'd bet kids used the steps as a diving board one time too many.
If it is rot, plan to replace the area and reinforce as well as finding the source of the rot.. If it is just torn out, plan to just reinforce.
I'd start taking it apart and go from there.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Arefbee

Seeing that it is a bunkhouse, I'd bet kids used the steps as a diving board one time too many.
If it is rot, plan to replace the area and reinforce as well as finding the source of the rot.. If it is just torn out, plan to just reinforce.
I'd start taking it apart and go from there.

X2 on the above advice..
Just need to figure how far into the trailer the damage is and how to make a transition to your new floor feature.

[Platokidd]

I know folks that had a Surveyor with the same issue. (no kids) Guess thats what motivated me to use the jacks under the steps in the first place.

[keith_h]

Not knowing fully how that area is framed if it were me I would look at using some angle iron coming off of the frame to support the floor and to mount the stairs to. It would need to be pretty substantial steel. This is assuming the problem is not caused by rot and is just a busted out sub floor.

If it is rot you will need to cut back the bad floor to a point where it is good. Depending upon where the new floor joints fall in regard to the frame I would again build the needed supports using steel.

As far as matching the existing vinyl flooring you could replace it all or find a good transition point between old and new. I have also seen some folks here install engineered wood flooring which looks good.