Something is wrong with my steps!

Mex-Busnut · July 16, 2011, 12:41:46 PM

Dear friends,

My steps function properly as far as extending and retracting. However, the right side (facing the door from outside) does not stay put. It has and in/out movement of about 8 inches, which is very disconcerting when anybody steps on it! I believe it is missing something: A spring, another air piston?

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

robertglines1 · July 16, 2011, 05:44:46 PM

From observation only I would say it would take two cyl to make it work properly. A balanced system. look for a blocked of place for another set of air lines for a missing cyl. or do as most of the rest of us do and carry a wooden step around.

buswarrior · July 16, 2011, 08:15:27 PM

You may have noticed that there are few of those steps left on old coaches, and the new coaches stopped using them, long ago.

They get ripped off when you swing the nose of the coach over a curb to make that tight turn.

As well, they were great for getting someone to face plant on the ground as they trip over it, as they leave, as it doesn't end up where a step should be.

And they go weak when the air pressure goes away, again, throwing someone to the ground or into the stairwell on their face.

And it won't be you, it'll be her, or some other loved one.

I'd send it packing and fabricate a good sized step/box/platform to put down outside the door for the purpose, which will be positioned where it helps rather than harms.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Ed Hackenbruch · July 16, 2011, 09:26:52 PM

Camping World has a very nice step with folding legs for about $75. Rated for 1000 lbs. is silver colored, not the black collapseable one. I am on my second one......somebody ran over my first one.

brando4905 · July 17, 2011, 05:26:13 AM

I believe this is the step Ed is referring to, http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=aluminum+folding+step&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12017037393333477406&sa=X&ei=gdQiTv2lMKPj0QGC9Y28Aw&ved=0CF4Q8wIwAQ#ps-sellers

Purchased one for one of our work trailers, very beefy construction and perfect height.

happycamperbrat · July 17, 2011, 06:21:41 AM

Oh no! If you gotta do steps, these are absolutely the coolest, awesomeous, bestest steps ever! This is an experimental grandaddy RTS bus that GM made and then DESTROYED

and the design of the steps was never put into the final version of the RTS

But we can build it!

Watch the video to see how it operates

http://wiki.gmnext.com/wiki/index.php/1968_Rapid_Transit_Experimental_-_Revolutionizing_Transit_Bus_Design

Ed Hackenbruch · July 17, 2011, 06:41:55 AM

Yup, the one that Brando linked to is the one i was talking about.

lostagain · July 17, 2011, 07:32:29 AM

Ed, why did you need a 1000 lbs step stool? Just kidding, I know you and Stevie are skinny people LOL.

When I drove for Brewster's in the '70s, it was kind of a contest as to who had the nicest step stool. Some built there own, some bought one. You kept it on the bottom step. You were always the first one out and placed the step and stood there holding little old ladies hands. Or collecting tips at the end of a trip. You took it home with you. Really bugs me now when I see lazy bus driver's sitting on their seat while passengers go in or out.

JC

buswarrior · July 17, 2011, 08:44:37 AM

The trick for a charter driver to not run over their step stool is to have a chain on it that fastens to the grab rail inside the door.

You can't close the door with the chain out through the door frame, so hopefully, you aren't driving off with the door open...

For camping, maybe a pre-flight flag that attaches to the steering wheel when the step is out on the ground?

To go with the flag for the crank up TV antennae, and the other reminders we need?

happy coaching!
buswarrior