This weekend was kissed by 70-degree temps and low humidity. It feels more like early fall than late summer in Iowa. This was a project day for us. Like many people this time of year it’s hard to get schedules and weather in sync so you can get things done. Full time RV dwellers are no different.
We decided early on that a portable stoop and steps is more a necessity than a luxury. Collapsible aluminum decks are available, but we have resisted, for two reasons. We like to look of wood, and we’re both too cheap to shell out the $1500- $2000 they fetch. We investigated the composite deck material, but it is also heavy, expensive and the hardware it goes together with would be very labor intensive with repeated set up and disassembly. If you RV in a motor home, as we do, the metal steps likely unfold and retract when you open and close the door. The easy solution to that dilemma is to simply unplug the 12-volt motor located under the steps when they are retracted. When you get ready to change your scenery, plug them back in and when you turn the ignition key on, the steps will start going in and out with the door again. Some motor homes have a fuse you can pull. It will depend on your model.
People ask us all the time if we carry our porch around with us. We have built a couple of versions and learned some things about hauling one around and materials to build it with. We reworked our little deck last fall in a hurry before we headed south and neither of us was happy with it. That changed today. We built our third version and I can say after some trial and error and about six months with an ugly deck that we hated, we have the stoop we have envisioned since the beginning. Here are a few things we have learned.
Treated lumber is heavy and in this case, we have determined isn’t really necessary. The snowbirds traveling deck doesn’t endure winters and moisture freezing and expanding in the wood. We salvaged some of the original untreated boards from the first version we built 3 years ago, and they were still in good shape. Yes, they get wet and are subject to heat and sun, but the wood will hold up fine it it’s stained. It may not last 20 years like the deck on a traditional home built with treated lumber, but then again, it only cost around $100.00 to build and made for a fun afternoon project. This time around we cut all the pieces and stained each one thoroughly before assembly including the re-purposed boards. I chose a solid color oil-based stain by Pittsburg Paints and Stains. I went with solid color because if you have to replace a board or if you change something, the solid pigment stain will not reveal the presence of a new board. If you use semi-transparent or transparent stain a new board will stand out.
The second ugly version at 10 a.m. 
Staining everything before assembling
We have used 4x4’s and landscape timbers for uprights for
the first two versions. They are heavy! Landscape timbers are thick but split
easily. This time around we used 2x4’s and reinforced the bottom portion to
achieve the stability that 4x4’s provide. Much less weight.
2x4 Upright assembly 
Uprights in place under deck platform
The whole thing is built with disassembly in mind. The top decking comes off in one piece and rides in the back of the Equinox that we tow. The rest of the unit is assembled with carriage bolts, a washer and nut, in pre-drilled holes that easily come out without compromising the integrity of the deck by putting screws in and out.
Carriage bolts for all assembly joints. Deck screws for everything else 
Platform going together
The end result made us both happy. We have a nicely stained
stoop sturdy enough to square dance on. It can be taken down or reassembled in
less than 30 minutes. The whole things weighs about 35 lbs. instead of nearly
100 lbs. that the beast made of treated wood weighed. Best of all we have the look of wood that we both
prefer. Not a bad way to spend a nice Sunday in Iowa.
Until next time…
