Our 5 Highest Rated RV Step Covers
(Ultimate Buyer's Guide )
- April 9, 2020
- Reading Time : 7 Minutes
When you are out camping, the first thing that gets on your nerves is the sheer volume of dirt entering the trailer. So you put step rugs and cross your fingers. But all covers are not created equal. The best RV step covers should both look good and last long.
Table of Contents
How To Choose The Best RV Step Covers ?
When you decide to buy outdoor step rugs, consider its features. It is not going to be just an item of décor. Sure, it can make your camper look cooler but that’s not its only job. RV step covers are lifesavers. The wrong step mat can give you endless hours of agony as you spent dollar after dollar. The right one, in contrast, is what satisfied campers beam at. But the right step cover can prove to be quite elusive.
With an overloaded market, every brand claims to be the ultimate, indispensable, unique step cover fashioned for the gods. Before you splurge on your favorite step mat, take a moment to shortlist models and run a review. Compare features and prices beforehand.
No two mounts are the same. Thus, you can expect prices to vary from one device to the other. I’ll suggest you set a budget if you’re to make the most out of your buying experience. This budget should take into consideration all the features and type of mount you desire.
A pull down motion mount, for instance will cost more than a flat mount.
Having a budget range makes the buying process a lot easier for you. It reduces your plethora of choices to a more manageable amount.
Our Top 5 Picks
Highlights
- Attractive price
- Easy to install
- Easy to Clean
- Can be used on either electric or manual steps
This is a straightforward, wrap-around step cover. It works for both electric and manual steps. It’s made of polyester and hence resistant to fungal attack. You can easily clean it up with a little washing powder or soap. It comes with a couple of spring hooks to lock the cover in place. It has a soft feel but scraps the dust and dirt off of feet. There are three options in colors – blue, green and brown
Good For:
- Installation is trouble-free. The tension springs it comes with are angled backwards so you can hook it to the eyelets easily. Wrap it around the steps of the Toy Hauler and secure it in place with the spring hooks.
- The cover fabric is fairly tough. That's useful considering the kind of rough use it is subjected to at all times.
- Another feature is its suitability for treads measuring between 8 inches and 10.5 inches. So, it can be adjusted on several RV steps.
- One of the things that do not work well is the weak spring hook. It breaks off easily. The thing to do here is ditch the hook for plastic ties, just so the cover doesn't slip away from under your feet.
- The fabric begins to fray pretty early as it is really thin. I would recommend using a thicker carpet cloth even if all you do it just climb up and down it barefoot.
Best Locking Mount–Camco Grey RV Step Rug
Highlights
- Strong steel frame
- Supports a large range of sizes
- 24/7 Customer service and lifetime warranty
Another Camco step cover has found its place on the list. The most talked-about feature of this rug is it cushions your feet and is very soft to step on. It is available in black, grey and brown colors. It is available in two sizes: 17.5 inches X 18 inches and 22 inches X 23 inches.
Good For:
- The cover material is PVC and gives it a supple, springy feel. If there are kids in the trailer or pets that love to go up and down the steps, this would provide a gentler step. Most of the times we do not like to walk into the trailer with our shoes on so as not to get any dirt inside but the steps hurt our feet. So this cover can help mitigate the discomfort.
- It is quicker to dry than polyester rugs and can be washed while they are still fixed to the steps.
- The cover is made of commercial carpet fabric and is thick. Due to this, it sometimes gets difficult to fold up the steps while the cover's still on. It may not work smoothly with trailers with automatic steps due to different retraction mechanisms.
- It’s a bit pricier than other covers in its class.
Best Removable Mount–Prest-O-Fit RV Step Rug
Highlights
- Easy to install
- Easy to clean - just hose off and dry
- Resistant to mold and mildew
- UV-protected against sun damage and fading
The Prest-O-Fit wraparound RV Step cover is specially designed for steps with a rounded edge. It is available in as many as 8 colors – Black, Harvest Gold, Green, Burgundy Wine, Brown, Imperial Blue, Espresso and Stony Grey. Finishing on its edges prevent premature fraying as it undergoes wear and tear outdoors.
Good For:
- Its spring hooks are sturdy and they keep the rug in place even after regular use.
- It's thick and soft and comes with a durable backing. This extra layer offers it additional strength to retain its shape and prevent rips, tears and wearing out due to stress.
- The cover is made of some tough material, superior grade Astroturf, not some cheap paper-thin cloth masquerading as carpet.
- It won’t really fit on rectangular steps and a portion of the step would be exposed to the elements.
- It would be more beneficial if it came in sets of at least two or three, given the price. Covering up all the steps looks very expensive.
- It may track pebbles inside the vehicle. It has just one job and we expect a better performance for the price tag it comes in.
Easy To Install-Prest-O-Fit Wraparound Radius RV Step Rug
Highlights
- Micro-ribbed texture provides better traction
- Designed for curved steps
- Easy to clean
This Prest-O-Fit model is especially meant for steps with a curved edge. It is made of olefin carpet which ranks just below nylon in terms of reliability. Suitable for RV steps that are 8 to 10 inches wide and curved on both edges. It is available in 4 colors – Atlantic Blue, Walnut Brown, Castle Gray and Black Onyx.
Good For:
- It is a heavy-duty step mat. It has two parts - the carpet part of the cover lies on the step while its vinyl part does the actual wrapping around. In other covers, it is the fabric itself that goes around and hence the front rim starts splitting off sooner than expected. Not this cover. Looks like it's worth the cost.
- The spring hooks do not pose any problem with folding the steps. The steps can be easily folded with the covers on.
- The covers do not flop or shift even when the trailer is moving along particularly bumpy terrain.
- Fibers may start fraying from the sides early on.
- The mat does an average job of cleaning dirt and debris.
- The cover material soaks up a lot of water. Excessive moisture compromises its mildew resistance. Cleaning it seems to be difficult and may take a lot of time and patience.
Best For Cable Management-Prest-O-Fit Ruggids RV Step Rug
Highlights
- Deep treads trap dirt at the door
- Designed for straight steps
- Easy to install
- Easy to clean
Here is another Prest-O-Fit step cover that is tough on dirt and easy on your steps. Made of commercial-grade olefin material it is slow to deteriorate. It has a rough texture that grips well and cleans dirt and sand.
Good For:
- It features zip cords. These have to be threaded through the grommet holes to hold the cover in place. The zip tie is better left alone until the step mat has acquired the desired pliability and hugs the steps fully. They can then be cut off to the desired length.
- It scores another point over its deep furrows that catch dirt off shoes satisfactorily.
- It might be a bit of a problem tying the plastic straps. You may have to bend and look under the steps and stay put until you have threaded them securely. The worst part? There are 4 of them. Difficult to put on and difficult to take off. Especially so since the steps won't fold over and shut with these on. Also, just think how many times you have to tie and untie for cleaning the mats.
- The plastic cords are not very tough, to begin with, and maybe adversely impacted by a hot sun. Besides, they are brittle and chip off along pressure points.
Toy Hauler Step FAQs
First, do you need RV step covers? Let's take a look at what they do for you.
RV steps are hard. They are metal and they hurt our feet. Some steps have small holes set as patterns. If you have pets, this can lead to accidents. It was in fact the first reason we got a step cover. My super frisky lab (all of 7 months) caught one of her nails in a hole and it got ripped so bad that she refused to get on the trailer for months after.
Step covers also protect the landings from the elements for as long as they stay pulled out - come hail or snow. Without a protective layer, the steps get slippery and lose whatever friction they offer. So unless you enjoy getting your back sore or your neck broken, putting the covers will look saner. They keep the steps clean too, not just the indoor parts of the camper. It is better to wash the fabric than spray metal steps with water and sentence them to untimely rusting.
So, yes, you do need them. To keep your RV interiors clean, to help prevent injuries and maintain the quality of the steps.
Fabric: The cover fabric should be able to withstand constant stress. Everyone who enters the camper rubs their footwear on it. Some may even come in barefooted. Dirty socks is one thing but soiled feet? You just can't throw them out and set off.
The mat, by default, must catch the dirt. It should keep out sand, mud and pebbles. The cover itself should be easy to clean. The step cover fabric is important. Long lasting rug cloth that does not fray or tear at the seams can make a difference in the long run. You should not need to throw away used covers every alternate month. Some mats come with a protective UV coating. The mats should be able to offer a decent grip. Look for ribbings or a textured surface.
Fastening: The locking mechanism of the rug cannot be over stated. Wrap around step covers come with spring hooks and eyelets. Another type uses zip ties. Both of them can be adjusted according to the width of the steps.
Fit: One thing I always check about these outdoors step mats is the fit. The dimensions of steps vary from one RV to another. One size often doesn’t fit all. It is better to double check the length and breadth of your steps. As for the shape of the steps, there are covers with curved and straight edges.
Apart from these, you can also check on the warranty provided by the manufacturer. That would give you a rough idea about its shelf-life. Another thing that can help you is checking the precautions or warnings mentioned on the package. Some step covers may expose you to lead, so following the instructions closely should help avoid any health issues later on.
You can surely find a step cover that fulfills all your requirements while also being within your budget.
Recommended Camco RV Step Rug | Final Words
Looking back, I think we have a clear winner. The Camco 42964 Grey Premium Wraparound RV Step Rug is one of the most reliable RV stair covers. It is deep and cushiony and is made of tough PVC. Not likely to wear off after two weeks’ worth of use, unlike similar and pricier products. Its strength is augmented by an additional back layer.
The spring hooks it comes with are steady and can take on the strains of outdoor life. Clip-on metal springs are any day better than brittle plastic ties. The drying time is shorter than plain polyester from Camco itself or the vinyl bordered mat from Prest-O-Fit. Unlike the rest of the RV step covers reviewed here, it comes in two distinct sizes to offer a more universal acceptance by campers.
So, these are the top five RV step mats we have reviewed here. They each have their benefits and a few drawbacks. My advice would be to choose one that has more positives to make your camping days as worry-free as possible.