Last Man Out Switch / Electric Steps

[RovinOn]

Anyone disconnect the Last Man Out switch or wire for their electric steps. How hard or easy is it to do?
If not how do you keep from having your steps hit a curb when you shut down your coach on the street, like in front of my house.
Am I missing something here in not having it activate?
My Bounder didn't have this feature and I sure don't like it on my Southwind.
My steps have it the curb so many times now I believe it has it out of adjustment and they won'y go all the way up.

Your thoughts are appreciated,

Regards,
RovinOn
Southwind 37C

[jrshall]

There should be a switch to turn the step motor off. With the step in, turn the motor off and the step should stay in when you open the door.

[RovinOn]

It will always put the step out one more time after the engine is turned off whether or not the step switch is on or off.
I believe it will do it one more even if the battery sswitch is off, it must be a direct wire for that operation!

I beleive it is suppose to be a safety so no one can fall out the door

[Pat Z]

Not going all the way up could be a lubrication issue. That's what happens to mine when thy need to be lubed, which is often.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RovinOn Anyone disconnect the Last Man Out switch or wire for their electric steps. How hard or easy is it to do? If not how do you keep from having your steps hit a curb when you shut down your coach on the street, like in front of my house. Am I missing something here in not having it activate? My Bounder didn't have this feature and I sure don't like it on my Southwind. My steps have it the curb so many times now I believe it has it out of adjustment and they won'y go all the way up. Your thoughts are appreciated, Regards, RovinOn Southwind 37C

[Dr4Film]

I had to refer to my owners manual to retrieve the instructions of how to hold the entry step in the Retracted Position.

Step#1. Turn engine ignition switch OFF.
Step#2. Wait 15 seconds, then turn the power step switch from OFF to ON, then back to OFF again. The step will stay retracted until the step switch is turned back on, or the ignition switch is turned on. The retracted position is useful for high curbs or on boat ferries.

That is quoted right from my manual.

The retracted position is also great when you want to use a custom built riser and platform for extended living in one place.

Good luck!

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[heavyequipt]

I was of the understanding that the last man out feature was required in events where the coach was started and ready to move,then someone wanted to exit, the steps would once more entend.This of course would not be possiably without that feature since the ignition switch in the run position would want to keep the steps retracted.

[RovinOn]

Step#1. Turn engine ignition switch OFF.
Step#2. Wait 15 seconds, then turn the power step switch from OFF to ON, then back to OFF again. The step will stay retracted until the step switch is turned back on, or the ignition switch is turned on. The retracted position is useful for high curbs or on boat

Dr4, I'm sure going to give that a shot, sounds logical, I'm going to go through my step manual again and see if they say anything like that!
But it sounds like that should work....Thanks!

Pat, I will check the lube issue as soon as I can. The weather here in PA is not co-operating right now to do that, especialy since my coach is currently snowed in and we are suppose to be leaving for Florida March 17

Regards,
RovinOn
05 Southwind 37C

[wa8yxm]

Ok, Kwikee has two different step controllers.. On the old squarish one if you turn off the POWER switch, then with one exceptions the steps stay put (If you close the door with the ignition on the steps should retract, This is the exception) with the switch ON, the steps follow the door.

With the new one, if you turn the switch on the steps will extend and stay there unless the engine is running, else (or if engine running) they follow the door

NOTE: if you start the engine AFTER closing the door the steps remain extended This is a major design flaw in my opinion .

Now, what happens if the steps hit a curb on the way out

Kwikee does not use switches to sense switch position, they measure motor current

So normal operation, no obstructions, the motor starts, the steps extend, when the arms hit the hard stop. the motor stalls, the current goes up and the controller says "Job done" and switches back to standby.

If, on the steps get, say half way out, and hit something (your leg for example) the controller says "Job Done" and switches to standby.. Same result.

No damage

Normal (Far as the system is concerned)

DANGER WILL ROBINSON when you step out on that half-extended step you may well break a leg, or your neck, or other body part.

What I did:

I have a toggle switch, it's buried in the carpeting alongside the step. it is, as I recall, in parallel with the door switch.. The switch is normally open, if open then the door switch is sensed, normally.

I toggle the switch, and the controller things the door is closed. SO it pulls 'em in and keeps 'em there.. I can then use other steps to get in and out of the rig with no danger of a half extended step.

[heavyequipt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm Ok, Kwikee has two different step controllers.. On the old squarish one if you turn off the POWER switch, then with one exceptions the steps stay put (If you close the door with the ignition on the steps should retract, This is the exception) with the switch ON, the steps follow the door. With the new one, if you turn the switch on the steps will extend and stay there unless the engine is running, else (or if engine running) they follow the door NOTE: if you start the engine AFTER closing the door the steps remain extended This is a major design flaw in my opinion . Now, what happens if the steps hit a curb on the way out Kwikee does not use switches to sense switch position, they measure motor current So normal operation, no obstructions, the motor starts, the steps extend, when the arms hit the hard stop. the motor stalls, the current goes up and the controller says "Job done" and switches back to standby. If, on the steps get, say half way out, and hit something (your leg for example) the controller says "Job Done" and switches to standby.. Same result. No damage Normal (Far as the system is concerned) DANGER WILL ROBINSON when you step out on that half-extended step you may well break a leg, or your neck, or other body part. What I did: I have a toggle switch, it's buried in the carpeting alongside the step. it is, as I recall, in parallel with the door switch.. The switch is normally open, if open then the door switch is sensed, normally. I toggle the switch, and the controller things the door is closed. SO it pulls 'em in and keeps 'em there.. I can then use other steps to get in and out of the rig with no danger of a half extended step.

I thought step controller was used to sense end of travel (Steps extend or retract) or obstruction contact.Door magnetic switch controls step extend with door "Open" and step retract with with door "Closed".

[Pete & Linda]

Mine with switch on step follows door. Switch off extends when door opens and stays there. Motor running follows door regardless of switch. I will have to try the procedure above.

[Pete & Linda]

Rovinon do you know if the Southwind 37-C is the same floor plan is the Pace Arrow 37-C?

[RovinOn]

Pete & Linda,,, I believe that it is but not 100% sure.
Do you have 3 slides and a hallway that leads back to the bed and bathroom?
If so then it is!

[YO-Vista, Ca]

I've been one of those who have had the issue where the step is out and hit the curb. This happened after i had it worked on at the ford dealership. Anyway, it got tweaked and I used a hammer with a piece of wood to put it back into shape. also needed my big creshen(sp) wrench to help reshape part of the frame. Works better now than before.

[Pete & Linda]

RovinOn yes.