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Topic: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320 (Read 1867 times) previous topic - next topic

Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

A while back I'd asked about options to replace our entry steps, the old Kwikee double-step swing out version.  Many of you recommended the Xtreme Paint and Graphics step conversion.  We decided to splurge and go for it.

We also picked up a Foretravel-logo'd non-skid pad from Encore RV and had that installed in place of the narrower one the step comes with.  We got the idea from the Savournins, and it really makes the step look factory-original.  And now we have an Xtreme paint job - on our step  :))

The selected media item is not currently available.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #1 –
Love it. Much classier and more substantial looking than the Kwikee. Can they be closed up when the coach is put in storage?

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #2 –
That looks very good. I will have to think on that mod too....I can copy you now.....  ;D
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #3 –
Can it rotate upward?  Say for instance you're parked with it extended out over a curb and the coach settles down.
1996 U270
Build #4846

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Gayland Baasch –
Can it rotate upward?  Say for instance you're parked with it extended out over a curb and the coach settles down.

No, it strictly extends and retracts horizontally.  We have an override switch so we can force the step to stay retracted when there's a curb or other clearance problem.  It takes a bit of getting used to - the ignition has to be off and you have to let the step cycle so it's last "known" action is retracting.  Then you flip the switch and it stays retracted.

It's the same behavior as our original step. 

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #5 –
Are the slides covered when retracted?  Looks like Accuride slides,  (ball bearing slides) which can be unhappy in the presence of grit.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Dave Katsuki –
Are the slides covered when retracted?  Looks like Accuride slides,  (ball bearing slides) which can be unhappy in the presence of grit.

This is actually a Kwikee product as well - Powergear 42 Series.  The same steps FT is installing on the new Nimbus.

42 Series Step



Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #7 –
Michelle. At the risk of being rude, how much was it? I like it! The bottom step of our OEM has been removed because of problems with clearances. At our age the height of the second step is a pain when leveled.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #8 –
Michelle
That step conversion looks great.
Rick and Mary Zika
unit #4609
new full body paint by Foretravel of Texas
1995 U240 2014 jeep
The selected media item is not currently available."Rick and Mary"

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #9 –
Michelle,
All your upgrades look great!  I know I'm next to get to Nac for my upgrades...hopefully not long from now.  I bet I'll be singing the George Strait song "All My Ex'$ Live in Texas"  where Ex's stand for dollar signs.  And, these $'s are living with the Texans we know as James & Jennifer... :))
 
I really can't wait.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Horace B. Cupp Jr. –
Michelle. At the risk of being rude, how much was it? I like it!

Horace,

Ours was $2675 plus tax, and that didn't include the Foretravel logo'd non-skid (that was around $40 plus tax).  It took 3 days.

We discovered the "stay in" feature isn't currently working (we forgot to test it before leaving Nac) but think that's a simple wiring swap on the override switch in our coach.  We'll call Kwikee this week and check.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Steve & Michelle –
Quote from: Horace B. Cupp Jr. –
Michelle. At the risk of being rude, how much was it? I like it!

Horace,

Ours was $2675 plus tax, and that didn't include the Foretravel logo'd non-skid (that was around $40 plus tax).  It took 3 days.

We discovered the "stay in" feature isn't currently working (we forgot to test it before leaving Nac) but think that's a simple wiring swap on the override switch in our coach.  We'll call Kwikee this week and check.

Michelle

Wow! That is a little above our budget, right now! Sure does look good. I hope you get it working as hoped for!

 Thank you,
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Horace B. Cupp Jr. –
That is a little above our budget, right now! Sure does look good.

Just for reference, the parts alone to replace the old Kwikee step (series 40, I believe) were $400-500.  Cost of parts on the new one are about double.

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #13 –
Quote
"We also picked up a Foretravel-logo'd non-skid pad from Encore RV and had that installed in place of the narrower one the step comes with.  We got the idea from the Savournins, and it really makes the step look factory-original. "

The REAL reason we went with the larger non-skid pad is that there were signs of wear and tear and some scratches on the painted portion of our step.  I am guessing that it was the result of things being muscled in and out of the coach during renovations and remodeling over the years.  The small non-skid strip came off easily, with solvent.  We were cheaping out on having the entire step re-painted, and I just trimmed the larger non-skid to fit the worn area.  Sometimes I even amaze myself!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #14 –
The new step looks great! I do like the Foretravel nonskid.  Do you have a picture with the step closed up?

BTW --- I couldn't find the "thumbs-up" smiley.. 
Ron Sedgley
Former 2002 U320 - Custom 38' Owner
            (2007 to 2021)    Build No. 6001

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #15 –
When I look at all they they needed to do and how well they did it the price seem reasonable.  And they look great!

I'm curious:
How do you like the functionality? 
From the ground to the coach floor, does the spacing of the steps feel natural? 
What's your opinion of these steps verses the air step that most of us have?
I assume you considered converting to the air step? 
What was the driver to choose these?
(my apologies for the grilling...)
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #16 –
We've had our Xtreme-installed Kwickee steps for 15 months now and love them.  It was Anne's only requirement when we spec'd the FBP project.  She didn't like the shallow depth of the air step, or the large step down when the front of the coach was up in the air.  She loves the new steps.  They feel right, both in terms of depth and height.  We've never experienced a situation where we felt forced to prevent deployment.  I guess I just never park that near to curbs.  In fact, Anne reminded me today about that switch.  I had forgotten we had it.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #17 –
Quote from: JohnFitz –
I'm curious:
How do you like the functionality? 

The steps are a big improvement over the "scissor" swing down series 40 our coach came with.  They feel MUCH more substantial.

Quote
From the ground to the coach floor, does the spacing of the steps feel natural? 

For our coach, from the top of the new steps to the bottom step within the coach is only a slight difference.  Entering the coach, sometimes I step on that bottom one, sometimes I just go to the middle step of the coach itself.  It doesn't feel "unnatural" or awkward, but the transition is there.

Quote
What's your opinion of these steps verses the air step that most of us have?

We haven't really experienced the air step enough to comment.

Quote
I assume you considered converting to the air step? 

No, because the air step is only a single step.  For height reasons we wanted a double step.

Quote
What was the driver to choose these?

Our original series 40 were slightly damaged a few years ago.  They still worked, but had become loose and the metal at the mounting locations was worn enough that we were concerned they would fail.  The cost of just the replacement steps was over $400 and we figure they'd have the same longevity issues.  We have small dogs and I'm short so a single step wasn't an option for us and our coach.  We looked at the Executive step used on the Phenix, but the flip-down design of its lower step wouldn't work in some locations for us, plus it was much more costly.  We had seen the series 42 style of step on the Hatfields' coach (George and Pat) and really liked it.  Several other folks on the forum also strongly recommended the conversion that Xtreme does.

Quote
(my apologies for the grilling...)

No need to apologize - glad to share the thought process  :)

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320
 

Re: Xtreme step conversion on our '03 U320

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Steve & Michelle –
We discovered the "stay in" feature isn't currently working (we forgot to test it before leaving Nac) but think that's a simple wiring swap on the override switch in our coach.  We'll call Kwikee this week and check.

Michelle

Bumping this up because we've learned something.  In 2005 Kwikee modified the control logic for the electric steps

www.kwikee.com/PDFDocuments/StepNotice.pdf

Quote
Improved control unit logic Step is always open when door is open.
Step can be locked in the extended position. Step cannot be locked in retracted
position. Automatic ignition override makes step follow door.

This explains why we couldn't get the step to stay retracted, even though we have an override switch for our steps.  They've disabled that capability.  Most definitely over safety concerns - someone taking a tumble out when the step was retracted.

Steve designed a very complex, high-end work around.  A magnet placed on the top of the door switch (over the NC position) makes the controller think the door is closed.  So he put some velcro on the switch and velcro on the back of the magnet and now, in the rare instances we need the step to stay retracted when parked, we can use the "Official Override Magnet".

Might be a worthwhile experiment for others who cannot get their step to stay retracted or for those who don't have the override switch that makes the door stay extended when parked (you'll have to experiment with magnet placement - perhaps over the NO position).

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320