Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

December 10, 2017, 05:52:57 am

The air-operated slide cover deploys normally, but after about 15 minutes of travel, it retracts, startling my wife. It is located by the door, part of the floor, is electric switch-operated and allows my co-pilot wife to rest her legs. Is the problem most likely in the:

- electrical switch and wiring
- electric-air solenoid
- piston

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #1 – December 10, 2017, 07:56:09 am

Tim,

Most likely a wiring problem. The electric-air solenoid & piston seem to be working as the step opens and closes.

When the step cover magically opens will it close back when you push the switch?

Does your coach have 2 switches that control the step well cover?  1 at the passengers cup holder and the 2nd above the throttle pedal mounted on the side of the "dog house"?  If so check both

Mike

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #2 – December 10, 2017, 12:07:58 pm

Mine is acting similar, I suspect the air solienoid is acting up, not the wiring, but not a priority to chase at this time since it seems to like to stick in open position at present

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #3 – December 10, 2017, 12:45:44 pm

I will be interested in any follow-up.  I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago.  As with Tim, it is not a priority for me either.  I looked around briefly once and just decided to disable the air pressure being fed to the system.  Maybe one of these days I will get back to it and fix it correctly. 

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #4 – December 10, 2017, 06:15:50 pm

It has two switches.

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #5 – December 11, 2017, 09:00:58 am

When I had a problem it was the air solenoid.  Took it apart, cleaned it all up, put back together and worked ever since.

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #6 – December 12, 2017, 06:53:06 am

Where is the solenoid located?

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #7 – December 12, 2017, 06:58:42 am

Mine is mounted to the back of the step.  Have to raise up coach to get to it.  There are two of them there. One is for the floor and one is the door/step

Make sure put in your blocks in case you undue the wrong line and the bags deflate.

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #8 – December 12, 2017, 05:35:49 pm

Mine was leaking air bad, took 5 min. to pull off. Put it on the bench, took it apart, cleaned it, re-assembled with Vaseline. Works awesome now. Make sure you watch the way the 2 seals come off. They go back several different ways,but only work the correct way.
Chris

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #9 – December 12, 2017, 08:30:16 pm

here is what you are looking for

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #10 – December 12, 2017, 10:16:04 pm

We added a switch-controlled 3-way valve to relieve all air pressure from step slide piston after slide is in open or closed positon.  This is only installed to extend the life of the difficult to remove piston, and may give the original piston a very long life. 

The original configuration keeps air pressure in piston 24/7, open or closed, as long as the air tank has air pressure. 

This is also true for outside drop-down step, if installed, but an override switch on this step could cause a fall injury if one expects the step to be down when leaving the coach.  And the outside step pair of air cylinders are much easier to change.

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Re: Floor Slide Cover Randomly Retracts

Reply #11 – December 12, 2017, 10:26:26 pm

original air operated piston notorious for a source of leaks....

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

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