Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Keeping front step up (Read 682 times) previous topic - next topic

Keeping front step up

Anyone have any tricks for keeping the front step in the up position after I have cut air off to the Pistons/arms?

That whole Norgren valve is leaking and I want to cut air off to it while I am driving
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #1 –
It doesn't take much to hold it up. Maybe heavy duty Velcro or a wooden shim stuck in the top would work.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #2 –
Quote from: craneman –
It doesn't take much to hold it up. Maybe heavy duty Velcro or a wooden shim stuck in the top would work.
Duct tape and Velcro, two things that I have a lot of!  We'll see how it goes!
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #3 –
We've been chasing a flopping step for several years now without success. I've finally decided that I'll just live with it. Might be an air leak somewhere, but FOT couldn't find it. We can go several travel days without a peep from it, and then it will chatter all the next day.

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #4 –
They make an easy release duct tape.  Otherwise, you may find that the tape will start to discolor the fiberglas after awhile.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Rich Bowman –
They make an easy release duct tape.  Otherwise, you may find that the tape will start to discolor the fiberglas after awhile.

Rich

Or the glue sticking to fiberglass when you go and remove it.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #6 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
We've been chasing a flopping step for several years now without success. I've finally decided that I'll just live with it. Might be an air leak somewhere, but FOT couldn't find it. We can go several travel days without a peep from it, and then it will chatter all the next day.


Ours did the same for over a year. After tracing out the wiring and replacing the door switch without positive results, I was ready to replace the solenoid valve when I discovered the ground wire to the  solenoid was loose behind a screw head that was tapped into the frame.

If you haven't already checked this I would recommend making sure that the solenoid has a good clean and tight ground connection.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #7 –
I just slammed the duct tape on there to get us to our destination because I was in a bit of a hurry. It's off now and as it turns out, the Velcro was too much on its own lol. I had to use a wonder bar to get the step down.

Cutting off that Norgren valve was not my issue by the way. All the same symptoms I previously mentioned persisted so now I'm pretty confident it's the six pack or ride height valve.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #8 –
I didn't have that issue with my step but I did have issues with the step itself being too small for me. I'm a big guy, 220 lb 6 ft 1 or at least I used to be six foot one. Size 12 shoe. I never felt comfortable with that step. so when I was at xtreme for some work I had them put in the sliding step that's electrically powered, and it's the best thing I could have done. I really like it a lot. So if you can afford it I definitely recommend it. I was going to install it myself but after talking the crane man about it, and then looking at rance at xtreme install it, glad I didn't.
I would not use duct tape on it unless it's an emergency. It'll be very hard to get it off. Oh it will come off but it will take elbow grease. Try jamming a small wooden wedge in it like craneman suggested.
Then start saving up for the new step. you won't be disappointed with it other than the chunk out of your wallet.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore –
I didn't have that issue with my step but I did have issues with the step itself being too small for me. I'm a big guy, 220 lb 6 ft 1 or at least I used to be six foot one. Size 12 shoe. I never felt comfortable with that step. so when I was at xtreme for some work I had them put in the sliding step that's electrically powered, and it's the best thing I could have done. I really like it a lot. So if you can afford it I definitely recommend it. I was going to install it myself but after talking the crane man about it, and then looking at rance at xtreme install it, glad I didn't.
I would not use duct tape on it unless it's an emergency. It'll be very hard to get it off. Oh it will come off but it will take elbow grease. Try jamming a small wooden wedge in it like craneman suggested.
Then start saving up for the new step. you won't be disappointed with it other than the chunk out of your wallet.
Interesting. I'm a bigger dude than you and don't mind the step. Makes me wonder what I missing out on. Duct tape was easy to take off. Velcro on the other hand... probably won't do that again.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #10 –
I would think painters tape would hold it up for now, and is much easier to take off.
J.R.
99 U320 40' WTFE
Build # 5388
 

Re: Keeping front step up

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Elliott –
Interesting. I'm a bigger dude than you and don't mind the step. Makes me wonder what I missing out on. Duct tape was easy to take off. Velcro on the other hand... probably won't do that again.

Elliot I guess to each his own. And remember all duct tapes are not the same. When I was having problems with my bay doors opening I used duct tape to help hold them it was gorilla glue duct tape and the residue that it left behind was not so easy to get off. So it depends on the duct tape. As far as that lower step was concerned many people have complained about it so it's not the first time I'm sure you've heard it, if you like it good for you. I didn't like it wasn't good for me.  the step that slides out is a vast improvement over the fold down step in my opinion. I used to feel the need to walk down the steps backwards as I felt more secure then.
In the end I decided spending $4,000 to replace the step with one that was secure comfortable and safe to use would have been a whole lot less than if I had tripped coming down the other step and twisted or broke my ankle. Also it adds value to the coach although I'll never get that back out it's selling time I bet and has some nice functionality as well. It's real easy to close a step at night without doing any modifications other than that modification LOL. but I've also changed out a lot of things in my coach got rid of the gold accents some of the original lights and other things. You might be the kind of things all that is fine. Some people want their foretravels to be original from the factory. Me I want my foretravel to work for me in the best way that I can afford it.
As they say, YMMV. Cheers!
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired