HOW TO... FIT A RETAINER FOR YOUR CARAVAN STEP

HOW DO YOU store your van step while you are on the road? There is little doubt that the doorway is the most convenient place, because the step will be ready for use when needed, but how do you stop it bouncing around in the caravan when you are on the move, and possibly causing damage?

In an emergency stop, an unrestrained step will move forward until it hits the nearest obstacle, then the back will lift and the step might fly about, causing damage to the furniture. However, if you can control the back edge, the problem should be solved.

To find the best way to anchor the step, I experimented with a number of handmade clips and brackets, but a lot will depend on what your step is made from.

Mine is 22mm aluminium tube, a standard plumbing size, so the easiest solution was to buy a small pack of nylon clips.

Hinged clips

These clips are produced with and without a hinged lid, and because they were available in a smaller pack, I opted for the hinged type and simply cut off the lid with a craft knife.

The carpets in my van are thick and I also have an extra doormat, so the clip had to be raised to make a snug fit.

The base was cut off a spare clip and used as a spacer, adding 9mm to the height of the clip, which with the spacer, was simply screwed to the floor at the rear of the doorway.

• Double check that any warranty won’t be affected before starting