I removed my front step today so I could change out the stock bolts to stainless. The bolts attach the step hinge to a length of tube steel. When I was blowing out the bolt holes a little geyser of rusty water shot out. Didn't expect that. After I got my glasses cleaned I considered the issue.
I had drilled the corners of the step a couple of years ago and sealed up the step pretty well so I wasn't worried about water getting into the step. However, I hadn't thought about water getting into the frame that the step attaches to. I guess the water makes its way under the hinge and down the screws. I drilled a couple of holes in the tube and shot some Corrosion X down the bolt holes. Put a nice bead of silicone under the hinge too. I'm going to put plugs in my drilled holes once I'm pretty sure there is no more moisture i there. Anyhow, something to look out for if you leave your step down all the time while parked. Me? I'm going to check out the threads that discuss a switch to keep it up.
jor
Modify outside air step wiring to allow step to retract when ignition is off... (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=house:steps:modifyairstepwiring)
GV (Unihome) Air Step Mod (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=28607.msg239470#msg239470)
I wonder if one of the Forum's electrical guru's could draw up something using a latch relay as to not draw current when in the up position and ignition off. In my case the step could stay up until I needed to use the coach. I checked out mine with no air pressure and it stays up.
So where would you put the switch so you could easily get in the coach ? Where does the C11 wire come off from, the wiring area behind the dash? Anyone have pictures?
I think the switch can be in the coach, as it only closes the step when you close the door with the ignition off. It will still come down when you open the door. At least that is how I read the mod.
The step mechanism has two modes: one with the ignition switch in the "ON" position where the step is up when the door is closed but down when the door is open: and one with the ignition switch in the "OFF" position when the step is down with door open or closed (step does not move from down position).
The wiring involved is behind the removable panel under the dash on the passenger side.
On my 1996 U320 the circuit number is 12, which provides Ignition + to white wires #60 and #C11 (only when the ignition switch is "ON").
Wire #60 provides ignition + to the TV relay so 120 VAC does not reach the TV, while wire #C11 provides ignition + to the step.
To make the step react as if the ignition is ON when the ignition is OFF requires providing +12 to wire #C11 (but not to wire #60).