Fitting step to Adria Compact - possible?

[Orion]

I’ll throw this open to the collective wisdom of the forum for advice before proceeding.

Our Adria Compact has the E&P Levelling System installed and we used it constantly during our recent Greece and Crete trip, where we spent the majority of overnights off grid and on some very rough ground. In normal situations the first step on the habitation door threshold is absolutely fine, but….. when that side of the van was jacked up to compensate for a slope it becomes a bit a mission to get onboard, hence thinking about fitting a retractable step.

Before anyone suggests it, yes I tried a small portable step up but only succeeded in seriously barking my shin and removing a mini rasher of skin when my foot slipped, (hands up alcohol was involved ), plus I don’t want another piece of junk cluttering up the place.

Looking underneath there appears to be some pre-installation for a retractable step with an aluminium tray with pre-drilled angle either side, and the dimensions coincide with those of the Thule 550mm single folding step - including the mounting hole positions (requiring Rivnuts or similar) as per the pic below.

What concerns me is that in the stowed position the ground clearance below the step is ‘only’ 200mm, (360mm from the mounting location less 156mm for the folded step), although that is roughly the same as the retracted E&P feet as far as I can make out.

So, should I be worried on that score or, hopefully, has anyone else fitted one? I’ve posed the question to the dealer but they have referred it back to Adria, so it could take a while to answer and I’m keen to get on with it.

https://www.thule.com/-/s/approved/std.lang.all/62/70/446270.pdf?rev=2.2

 

[Phill D]

If that is a spare wheel attached under the chassis, and you newly added step does not sit any lower than that I would think it would be fine.

But, having said that , 200 mm clearance to the road in the mid distance between axles is quite low and some sleeping policemen could be a problem.

Apologies if the above is not much help

 

[GMLS]

Have a look at motorhomeretrofits on youtube.They fit fixed steps to the cabs, and retractable and have a great reputation

 

[Aksp]

We’ve fitted a Thule step on our Compact DL

 

[Orion]

We’ve fitted a Thule step on our Compact DL

Folding one ? Did you have the same pre-installation setup and if so how did you attach it?

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[Orion]

If that is a spare wheel attached under the chassis, and you newly added step does not sit any lower than that I would think it would be fine.

But, having said that , 200 mm clearance to the road in the mid distance between axles is quite low and some sleeping policemen could be a problem.

Apologies if the above is not much help

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately the spare wheel sits higher - angle of the photo I guess - so I can’t gauge it by that. The habitation door is slightly forward of midway but, as you say, sleeping policemen, (particularly some of the high ‘gendarme endormi’ that infest French villages), were also my concern.

Hopefully Aksp will come back with their experiences and info.

 

[Aksp]

Folding one ? Did you have the same pre-installation setup and if so how did you attach it?

Yes folding. Angle bracket to make the connection between the Thule fixing & existing rails on Camper and bolted together. No need to drill through floor but fiddly game underneath! It fits no lower than my grey waste tank. Done 5000 miles in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy & Greece and only caught it once on a very high protruding rock in a car park at the top of the Furka Pass. Slight scrape left on the rock but no damage to the step
NB. Can’t fit spare wheel midship on the DL as my grey waste tank is there My spare has to go in the garage

 

[Orion]

Excellent, thank you for that. I’ll have a look around for the best deal on one now.

 

[mike_babb]

Hi Orion, just wondering if there is an update on this? I have a 2021 Adria Compact SC and would like to fit the Thule Single Step V15. Was it a fairly easy task? Any advice you would give?

Also, I note your spare wheel mounted under the vehicle. Did you just retrofit one of those Ducato kits available from eBay? Any advice on this would be gratefully received as well!

TIA

Mike

 

[Orion]

Hi Orion, just wondering if there is an update on this? I have a 2021 Adria Compact SC and would like to fit the Thule Single Step V15. Was it a fairly easy task? Any advice you would give?

Also, I note your spare wheel mounted under the vehicle. Did you just retrofit one of those Ducato kits available from eBay? Any advice on this would be gratefully received as well!

TIA

Mike

Hi Mike,

Yes, all installed and working well - a boon when parked on a side slope with the levelling system down. Some more details on this thread:

Thule 12v Step Installation - Wiring Query

Just installed it to our 72 plate Adria Compact on the Fiat Ducato 160 base. Physical installation went swimmingly as there is a pre-drilled aluminium tray with side angles already fitted as part of the O/E door entrance - just had the hassle of removing the complete fly screen assembly and...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Biggest hassle was easing the fly screen assembly out of the way for access to the inside of the step box to drop the 6 bolts through, a good idea to have another pair of hands available for that one!

It’s a standard Fiat wind up spare wheel assembly but needed an additional box section mounted longitudinally between the centre chassis sections to bolt it up to. PM me if you want any additional details or pics.

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[mike_babb]

Hi Mike,

Yes, all installed and working well - a boon when parked on a side slope with the levelling system down. Some more details on this thread:

Thule 12v Step Installation - Wiring Query

Just installed it to our 72 plate Adria Compact on the Fiat Ducato 160 base. Physical installation went swimmingly as there is a pre-drilled aluminium tray with side angles already fitted as part of the O/E door entrance - just had the hassle of removing the complete fly screen assembly and...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Biggest hassle was easing the fly screen assembly out of the way for access to the inside of the step box to drop the 6 bolts through, a good idea to have another pair of hands available for that one!

It’s a standard Fiat wind up spare wheel assembly but needed an additional box section mounted longitudinally between the centre chassis sections to bolt it up to. PM me if you want any additional details or pics.

Fantastic. Thanks for the link to the step install thread. I definitely want to do both of these things so I'll ping you a PM WRT the spare wheel mod.

 

[mike_babb]

Fantastic. Thanks for the link to the step install thread. I definitely want to do both of these things so I'll ping you a PM WRT the spare wheel mod.

...when I work out how to send a PM

 

[Phill D]

...when I work out how to send a PM

you can only send a pm if you subscribe, click on the persons name and then on start a conversation,

 

[mike_babb]

you can only send a pm if you subscribe, click on the persons name and then on start a conversation,

Thanks Phill. Subscribed