Installing the MORryde Safe-T-Rail entry handle on our Rockwood Mini Lite 2205s
We recently had the MORryde Safe-T-Rail RV entry door hand rail installed on our Rockwood Mini Lite 2205s. This is essentially a replacement hand rail for the entry door on our RV. So why would we replace the entry door handle? Several reasons.
What is the MORryde Safe-T-Rail?
The MORryde Safe-T-Rail replaces the assist handle by the door of your RV. It’s a completely different design than what typically comes with an RV in that it’s a long, metal hand rail that you are able to grab at the bottom of your RV’s steps and hold on to the entire way up.
Our previous door handle was a more traditional folding variety that could be folded flat against the door or flat against the wall. With that handle you couldn’t really grab it until you were at least on the second step of the RV. With the Safe-T-Rail you’ve got it with you the whole way.
Unlike traditional handle the MORryde Safe-T-Rail extends from the wall of the RV rather than folding against it. You pull out the extension of the handle which slides out from the upper portion. This provides 54” of continuous surface to grab onto and extends 42.5” from the side of the RV.
The way the Safe-T-Rail stows is interesting in that the two sections slide into one another and the support brace has a magnet that attaches to the base plate of the handle. It’s pretty ingenious.
How easily can the MORryde Safe-T-Rail be installed?
To be very honest ours was installed by a team member at MORryde at the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation and RV Show. But it was relatively easy. I watched.
First the old handle, which we damaged by squeezing it into the awning mechanism, had to come off. This was just eight screws.
Then holes were pre-drilled with the base plate of the Safe-T-Rail and then filled with sealant so they don’t leak. The MORryde team member also thoroughly re-sealed the holes left by the previous handle.
Branden, from MORryde, informed me that the surrounding area of the entry door on RVs has a metal structure under the surface which is what the Safe-T-Rail gets attached to.
Once the base plate is in the rest just screws into that and you’re done. Branden did have to remove some of the trim on the skirt molding of our Rockwood Mini Lite but it was a pretty straightforward process to do that. Oh, and more sealant, of course.
More thoughts
Our first exposure to the Safe-T-Rail was on our “summer trailer” which was a 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 2205s. That’s the same trailer that got crunched when a careless driver rear-ended us.
MORryde installed one of these handles, along with a number of other prototype features, on that trailer and it was this handle that we liked the best of all the features.
Before the accident we had it on display at the FROG Rally where the handle was the hit of the show. The MORryde folks said more people came to their booth and ordered one of these Safe-T-Rail handles after seeing it in action on our trailer at the FROG rally.
When we got the new trailer it had the same handle as all the other Rockwood Mini Lite 2205s models but, oops, we smashed that handle with the awning so we bought this Safe-T-Rail handle at Quartzsite.
To be clear, this is not a door handle. It’s a rail you hang on to as you ascend or descend the steps of your RV. If you want a replacement door handle on your RV we have had RVLock’s replacement keyless entry system handles for some time and really like them. We also like seeing them every year in Quartzsite and it’s the same family members returning - nice to see a family-owned business that has such a good product.
The MORryde Safe-T-Rail can only be used on smooth-sided RVs and they have to be a flat wall. So things like Airstreams are out. You also couldn’t use one on an RV with a corrugated side wall.
Overall we’re really happy with the purchase of this MORryde Safe-T-Rail handle. It’s one of those products that just makes our RV life a little more StressLess.
