Entrance Step Cover

[Skykingrob]

Hi Guys
In the process of thinking how I want to cover the entrance steps infront of the passenger seat. I have looked at 24 volt inear actuators, 24 volt track actuators, air actuators so far. I am wondering what most of you did. I have tried doing a search of the archives and either the search mechanism is all crazy or I am the crazy one as I cannot find anything in the archives. I am sure this topic has been covered before. I did find one loney post by Jack Conrad about an electric step cover--Jack do you have pics? Anyone else have pics? I suspect most used air rather than electric but I am not as familar with air as electric, so if you used air, what are the components I need to be thinking about? I am sure there is someone out there who uses some type of manual cover, id so, do you have pics?

Rob
91 Prevost XL40
Missouri

[muldoonman]

Rob, my 91 prevost uses air and was installed when converted in 92. I don't know how they have it set up but when it closes it does it with a bang. Maybe you can put a regulator on yours so it doesn't seen like a guillotine.

glen

[Jeremy]

I forget who it is but someone on here is in the middle of a huge conversion job (practically rebuilding the entire bus) and has built a really neat system for covering the stairs. His front steps turn as the rise (ie, like the first two or three steps of a spiral staircase), and when driving a cover moves out from under the seats and covers the entire stairwell. Rather than sliding-out, the cover 'pivots-out' in a very neat fashion.

Difficult to describe but hopefully someone will recognise the bus I'm talking about and post a link to the pictures

Jeremy

[Don Fairchild]

Jeremy, are you talking about Gary Labombard, he I think is doing a complete rebuild of the coach frame. Their me be a couple more but he is who comes to mind.

Don

[Ace]

Why go air or electric? That's just something else that can go wrong when you really don't need it to! For instance, if you lost all your air or electric while your your cover or foot rest was out, your doomed trying to exit the coach! Ours is simple and it only provides a platform for Susan to put her feet! It is mounted on two drawer slides under her seat and simply slides out when needed and back in when not by using her heal. Very easy to do and it works great! Ours is carpeted to match the rest of carpet!

[Lin]

Ours is hinged on the front dash and just folds down into place.  It generally works completely on its own or by voice recognition.

[prevosman]

You have to decide on the level of sophistication you want. It is nice to push a button and have the steps covered. It is not so nice chasing air leaks in a cylinder or dealing with a failed electric actuator.

If I were to ever start from a new shell and design a new motorhome conversion I would avoid any air actuated devices to minimize chasing air leaks as the coach ages, and I am not certain I would even go with a powered floor slide. I want all the goodies, but I want the design to be bullet proof. These are recreational vehicles and it ain't much recreation if you have to fix stuff.

[artvonne]

bullet proof. These are recreational vehicles and it ain't much recreation if you have to fix stuff.

  Boy no kidding. Our daughter called the other day, had a car question. We were talking about electrical issues and I mentioned how almost all cars today have power everything and how cheapo junk most have become. She made a comment I thought was funny, how the younger generation doesnt know why people use the term "rolling" up the window.

  Make things well made, simple, and mechanical, and your lives will be much less hectic when the power quits.

[chev49]

thanks Ace.
I am just finishing up a center door on my bus cause i hate front ones... wish i would have seen your post as now maybe i need to take it apart where the top step is, and make a electric sliding floor piece.. would have been so easy to do if i had had enough brains to thimk of it.  

at least i will have a 9' room and another compartment in the front to fill up with more stuff. My last bus, i put the generator there.  

[uncle ned]

The step cover for "HUGGY" is a wooden platform that is hinged from the front. I just have to unfasten and let it down to cover the steps.

To leave I just unfasten and pull up and fasten to hold it up.

Works just like I do slow and old fashioned.

uncle ned

[Jeremy]

Found the pics - from http://ourbusconversion.blogspot.com/

Huge amount of work gone into this, as has the whole bus. The builder is "Steve" - hope he won't mind me posting his pics:






Jeremy

[Oonrahnjay]

    Wow.  I thought that my floor grid for the driver and passenger was pretty good.  Not any more.

[TomC]

I made a simple trap door (when it's up also has a grab handle to go up the stairs) and powered it through the old transit door air operator.  I lower it by hand, but can raise it with the air power-or just raise it by hand without the air.  It's nice not having to bend down to pick it up-lowering it isn't as hard.  Good Luck, TomC

[lostagain]

Lin, so funny, LOL. We have one just like that too...! It usually falls on Valerie's feet when the CB crackles, ouch! Although I've tightened it up so you really have to YELL at it now, lol.

But seriously, I like the simplicity of it, without the high tech pneumatic or electric operators that are prone to failure.

JC

[Mex-Busnut]

I began reading this thread. The topic is one that interests me very much. But I was saddened by the lack of photos by those of you that have the simple setups: No electric, or air systems.

Please post a few pix, my friends!