HWH Steps Supported by Wood Blocks Opinions Solicited

[righellis]

We have the HWH hydraulic steps. We like them. Being three steps makes the need for adding a step stool rare, which is nice.

Care is necessary to avoid damaging them; having them hit the ground / curb when extending, grounding when the coach lowers during leveling, stepping on the lower step's corner stressing the left support.

The purpose of this discussion is supporting the bottom step with wood blocks. At our winter home port RV Resort, we have three or four folks who place a wood block beneath them.

I asked our NewServe mobile repair guy what he thought of that. He wondered if one knows the coach will always be exactly at the same height when parked for a prolonged time. We are full timers and parked there five months per year, so the steps get used 10-20 times per day.

Opinions on externally supporting the steps ???

[palehorse89]

Hello Tony, if your jack's settle at all it will put a lot of stress on the steps. Most when staying long term build a set of step's and put wheels on them so they can be moved easily and turn the switch off for the steps leaving them in.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Hello Tony, if your jack's settle at all it will put a lot of stress on the steps. Most when staying long term build a set of step's and put wheels on them so they can be moved easily and turn the switch off for the steps leaving them in.

We used a porch when we had a Ventana. Had to cut power (there is no fuse) to the step so they wouldn't extend when the door is open, but it worked well.

That porch is not wide enough for these steps because of there is a wide plate that hides them when retracted. I need to learn how to cut power to these steps (just haven't read up on it yet) and do what you suggest.

[palehorse89]

Going to have to find the fuse for the steps Tony, pulling that would be the easiest. In doing a quick search, looks like fuse 11 in the compartment under the drivers seat powers the steps. Try to confirm this though, or pull it and see if the steps stay in Tony. Hope this helps you! Have a great holiday weekend!

[righellis]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Going to have to find the fuse for the steps Tony, pulling that would be the easiest. In doing a quick search, looks like fuse 11 in the compartment under the drivers seat powers the steps. Try to confirm this though, or pull it and see if the steps stay in Tony. Hope this helps you! Have a great holiday weekend!

Just took a peak, at the F11 fuse the circuit board says 'NO STEP'. Looks like you nailed it. Did not test yet, but will when we get back to home port. Paranoid about doing tests while on the road; even the benign.

Thanks very much.

[Dutch Star Don]

Before you make anything, look at these.

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camp...ent=0%20-%2030

[sramer]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!! And I speak from experience, I did the block trick and the coach settled and damaged the steps.

What I did was installed a cut off switch on the HWH pump and bought a set of stairs to use when I am home in my garage.

FYI as mentioned above, this switch it tied to the F11 fuse so the other option is to simply pull that fuse.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by sramer

DON'T DO IT!!!!!! And I speak from experience, I did the block trick and the coach settled and damaged the steps.

What I did was installed a cut off switch on the HWH pump and bought a set of stairs to use when I am home in my garage.

FYI as mentioned above, this switch it tied to the F11 fuse so the other option is to simply pull that fuse.

GREAT!!!! Thanks. Am I correct F11 is only for the steps and nothing else? Reason I ask is the manual mentions F11 for trouble shooting the entire HWH system, but the circuit board says NO STEP next to F11.

[sramer]

Originally Posted by righellis

GREAT!!!! Thanks. Am I correct F11 is only for the steps and nothing else? Reason I ask is the manual mentions F11 for trouble shooting the entire HWH system, but the circuit board says NO STEP next to F11.

No, it kills everything HWH. Steps, Full Wall Slide, Jacks and Gen slide if equipped

[righellis]

Originally Posted by sramer

No, it kills everything HWH. Steps, Full Wall Slide, Jacks and Gen slide if equipped

Thinking it through, that makes sense as it is the hydraulic pump that drives all four. So if I choose to access the generator area to periodically check the hydraulic fluid level, then I have to be sure to move the porch away before re-inserting the fuse F11. Thanks for your help.

[Argosy]

On a level pad my air dumps then the jacks just touch and shut off. It it does that you don't have much chance of it settling, it's sitting on the bottomed out suspension.

[sramer]

Originally Posted by righellis

Thinking it through, that makes sense as it is the hydraulic pump that drives all four. So if I choose to access the generator area to periodically check the hydraulic fluid level, then I have to be sure to move the porch away before re-inserting the fuse F11. Thanks for your help.

Yes, you are correct.

[righellis]

Originally Posted by sramer

DON'T DO IT!!!!!! And I speak from experience, I did the block trick and the coach settled and damaged the steps.

What I did was installed a cut off switch on the HWH pump and bought a set of stairs to use when I am home in my garage.

FYI as mentioned above, this switch it tied to the F11 fuse so the other option is to simply pull that fuse.

Just learned that F11 fuse affects the MIOM. Question, what is MIOM?

[haveaday]

Originally Posted by righellis

Just learned that F11 fuse affects the MIOM. Question, what is MIOM?

In light of everything F11 affects, I'd be inclined to find the door open magnetic switch line and put an inline switch on that instead.

-Ben