Entrance step repair/replacement

[j.m.jackson]

Anyone know what is under the entrance step rubber on a gmc bus? Mine gets swollen up after a rain, binding the doors... I suspect it's marine plywood, anyone replaced/replaced this before?

[buswarrior]

plywood, and don't bet the farm on the "marine" part...

Tear it out and replace, simple carpenter skills.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[j.m.jackson]

Ok. I've replaced wooden floors in horse trailers, didn't figure it would be much different.

[j.m.jackson]

It really became a problem when I had the glass out of the door, but from the wear on the rubber step, it's been a problem for a while. Maybe it won't rain every single day this week.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 We could sure use some of that rain here in Utah,, were we have an ongoing 44 thousand acre forestfire with 40 MPH winds at that level.>>>Dan

[j.m.jackson]

Well, it's not a wooden step. Fiberglass + metal, a 6" wide piece of c-channel, rusty, and had 1/2 an inch of rust / dirt / nasty stuff under the rubber floor. That's definitely what was binding the doors on full open. Any recommendations on replacement material for the 1/4 inch rubber covering that looks decent?

[Zephod]

More rubber step material? It's available at most bus parts retailers and it lasts a good long time! Remember to screw it down.


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[j.m.jackson]

Didn't think about current stuff. I sometimes get into the box of 'none of this is made anymore'. Turns out it's readily available. Depending on price I may also do the second step in too. The top step/area at the standee area is in decent shape.

http://www.rcarubber.com/transit/products/treads.asp

[j.m.jackson]

Yes, I had to use an ez-out on every single screw. Once I realized the rubber material was not salvageable, I just pried it off. Then it took vice-grips to get the rest of the remaining screws out. The entrance step took a beating from the salt and elements when this bus was in service in Baltimore / Annapolis.

[j.m.jackson]

Aaaand, treads are $100 each. So I'm going to spend $20 for some 3/8" thick rubber mat at our local tractor supply and some transition moulding instead to do both steps. Stolen straight from a skoolie.

[j.m.jackson]

Finished up the step refurbishment. Definitely worth the effort. No binding at all. I've got some nylon brush strip on the way to seal the bottom edge, so hopefully it will be fairly weather tight and wasp proof.

[buswarrior]

Nice work!

happy coaching!
buswarrior