Patent ID: 8720924

Claim:
An auxiliary step and hand hold system for accessing the cargo bay of a trailer, the trailer having an under-ride guard beam, a floor and at least one door, the auxiliary step and hand hold system comprising: a rotating-retractable step mountable to the under-ride guard beam, wherein the rotating-retractable step can be positioned below the under-ride guard beam in a use position and above the under-ride guard beam in a stowed position; a first pocket and a second pocket, both mountable to the trailer at a level lower than the at least one door and above the rotating-retractable step; and a first hand hold and a second hand hold, each shaped to assist a climb into the cargo bay and insertable into the pockets in a use position; further comprising a first cable attached to the first hand hold and the trailer and a second cable attached to the second hand hold and the trailer.