Weldon, since you say it is the outside folding steps, we had the same problem with our 2011 3400. The steps would make all sorts of groaning, hideous noises going in and out. Solution.....which is actually in the manual, oil all the moving joints/pivot points. Standard motor oil will do. As soon as I got that done, not a sound out of them any more. Amazing what "dry" metal moving against each other will sound like......!
