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Fold down step sheared in half: VERY dangerous


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#51 longhorn1

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Posted 16 April 2017 - 08:39 PM

I didn't purchase mine with the intent of climbing, only to hang things from or as a tie-off point. jd
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#52 RicoV

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Posted 26 April 2017 - 11:48 PM

Is there still no info from the mfr as to why/how the step sheared in such a gruesome manner?  Inquiring minds do in fact want to know, so hoping the OP will weigh-in on this soon...

Rico


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#53 RicoV

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 07:28 PM

4-month bump on this topic... Has any additional intel been gleaned from the step manufacturer or FWC as to why the step sheared in such an extreme manner?  Thanks,

Rico.


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#54 Bombsight

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 08:10 PM

I doubt we ever get the underlying facts of this event.


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#55 nikonron

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 08:33 PM

Pretty obvious it was just a flaw in the casting to me.  Ron


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#56 Mickey Bitsko

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Posted 17 August 2017 - 11:02 PM

If nothing else comes from this thread, people that read have probably safety checked their steps..
I do believe Ron has the correct assumtion.

Mickey
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#57 Bombsight

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Posted 18 August 2017 - 03:34 PM

If nothing else comes from this thread, people that read have probably safety checked their steps..
I do believe Ron has the correct assumtion.

Mickey

Thats a good thing. ... but if it's a casting flaw or the corrosion started from within, it will be hard to detect prior to.


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#58 PaulT

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Posted 18 August 2017 - 03:56 PM

If you are very concerned about defects in the fold down steps, look for dye penetrant inspection kits. Three quick find links below:

https://en.m.wikiped...rant_inspection
http://www.esabna.co...on-of-welds.cfm
https://www.pegasusa....asp?RecID=1207

Paul
ps. My wife wasn't concerned with a step breaking but with my slipping off the step or losing my grip & falling. Our solution was to buy one if the telescoping ladders from Camping World. They were on sale last month & is much safer than the folding steps.
http://www.campingwo...on-ladder/69450

Edited by PaulT, 18 August 2017 - 04:06 PM.

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I thought getting old would take longer.

#59 Bombsight

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Posted 18 August 2017 - 09:28 PM


Paul
 Our solution was to buy one if the telescoping ladders from Camping World. They were on sale last month & is much safer than the folding steps.
http://www.campingwo...on-ladder/69450

Very nice ladders! Really compact and strong.

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#60 Sharx

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Posted 24 August 2017 - 07:07 AM

I read this tonight and it scared the hell out of me that's for sure.  I have the same steps which came with my Fleet. I have only folded them down and have not put any weight on them yet.  I have only used a step ladder to get to the roof to clean my solar and the top.  I agree with others that the picture certainly doesn't look like the metal is solid and the color variation is quite different from the outer to the inner.  It looks to me (and a friend I showed this to) that the center is pot-metal and then the aluminum is casted over it.  If you look closely, the rust color is surrounded by the aluminum.  I doubt that a crack could make it rust like that.  But I am no metallurgist.  I would think the factory guys will not be happy with their supplier and now will want solid core units for the future.  The liability could be scary if someone really gets hurt.  Kifo, thank you so much for putting this up here, whether bad or not, safety is number one in my book.  Be careful folks.  I probably would have really "klutzed" and been hospitalized.


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