Community Forums

DeWat · 01-02-2023, 12:06 PM

I know I can't be the only one concerned about this... our '22 Allegro Bus is the first MH we've owned with the cassette style steps. We do a lot of "curb stopping"; city streets, rest areas, even the street outside of our sticks and bricks when I pull out of the driveway and prepare for hooking up the towed, and I am seriously concerned that one day I will forget to go to "high ride", fully inflating the air bags before opening the door causing the door of the cassette steps to get badly scratched up rubbing on the curb. (In our case, this would be extremely ugly since we have the lower stainless steel panels to include the cassette step door).

There have been many times on our previous MHs where the steps would just bang up against the curb or rub over the top of the curb, but with cassette style steps, the part that rubs the top of the curb becomes a very serious eyesore since you end up with a very scratched up street facing panel below the coach entry door.

At the least, I will be using a magnet to make the door think that it is still closed when I open it, but I would like to install a switch that just stops the power to the step motor so I don't have to worry about this. Has anyone else done anything like this before?

153stars · 01-02-2023, 01:33 PM

Is there a switch by door that disables steps or does it just keeps them out while parked. You could make/add a disable switch. You would have to be that more careful not to leave with them out. A double throw switch could light a lamp that they are disabled. I suppose a DPDT switch could also go to beeper/alarm if power is trying to pull in and switch is in disable position as well.

Domo · 01-02-2023, 01:44 PM

The switch sounds like a good solution. Simply provide 12 V to the yellow ignition sense wire.

If I installed one I'd use a momentary switch for the override, that way I could hold the stair retracted and DW could open the door and check for clearance by eyeball and when I let go of the switch it would go back to normal operation.

I know I've dropped onto curbs, luckily with minor scrape damage - I'm luckier than you as ours is just the black step metal - not a continuation of the side panel.

I can see where the original owner of our let out the steps while still at ride height and then dumped the air and bent the stairs arms a bit. I keep meaning to drop the steps and get those straightened out...

DeWat · 01-02-2023, 05:35 PM

Thanks to both of you. When I think further about this, I think the best solution rather than putting a switch on the step motor power wire is to put a switch on the door magnet wire. That way, as @153stars cautioned, there's no worry about accidentally leaving the steps extended since the switch override would cause the steps not to go out at all. Adding the switch to the magnet wire rather than the step motor wire will allow me to turn the magnet switch off (override position) as if the door never opened and assuming the switch is right at the door, I could flip it to "normal" operation while watching the steps. If the steps look like they're going to hit a curb, I would be able to flip the switch back to override, and the steps will just reverse and go back in as if the door were closed. Putting the switch on the step motor would result in the steps just stopping and staying right where they are, or worse, possibly being left deployed rather than stowed. Thanks again to both of you

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EDIT: @153stars, the switch by the door works in what I would call the "normal" function of preventing the steps from coming back in anytime the door is closed when the ignition is off, my goal is to stop the steps from going out regardless of ignition on or off.

Domo · 01-03-2023, 10:35 AM

Upon thinking about it, my post #3 would not work. So, if you read this far - ignore it! (or admin - go ahead and delete it as it's misleading at the best)

DeWat · 01-03-2023, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domo

Upon thinking about it, my post #3 would not work. So, if you read this far - ignore it! (or admin - go ahead and delete it as it's misleading at the best)

No problem @Domo, no harm, no foul. I already know from here and the "other" board than your intentions are well and normally very helpful.