Batteries OUT before the steps IN

NowWhere2 wrote:
Pulled a bone-head move yesterday and pulled the batteries out of our brand new FR3 30DS while the retractable step was in :S I've done this before, but i failed to bring out my 'cheat sheet' from prior years to remind myself not to do that!

so i hooked one battery back up, but steps would not move, I tested the slide out and it had power, so my battery was hooked up OK

Isn't there a manual way to bring these steps in without disassembling them?

My steps work from the chassis starting battery and the slide comes from the house batteries.

RoyB wrote:
I guess my question is why do you take the batteries out haha... If the batteries are fully charged they will last the winter months around here just fine. Charged up batteries also will not freeze up as well.

AND there several different things that can, and often do, go wrong in the removal and replacement. If you leave them in and keep them charged, the list of possible problems is a LOT shorter.

Couple of questions. One iare they 6 or 12 volt batteries. If 6 did you put both of them back? And second make sure cables are not grounded and start the engine. Mine will power the steps. Also check the connections on the battery, Pos and neg. Good luck

Its very common for the steps to be powered by the coach starting battery and not the house battery check and ensure you are connecting to the cables powering the start circuit. Heat effects batteries much more so that cold. A fully charged battery will be fine even in the coldest weather. A better reason for leaving the batteries in is that some electronic circuits on the newer engines and transmissions need constant power to perform correctly when restarted in the spring. An example is a ford 400 transmission it will have a stiffer shift pattern for some time after all power has been removed, but will learn as ford calls it to smooth out. I never remove the batteries and keep a battery tender on the starting battery.

I also take my batteries out for the winter, it's a good time to clean up that area of the engine compartment. They can be manually retracted, but it does take some disassembly so it's probably not worth the effort. It sounds like your steps are powered from the opposite source of the slides (chassis vs. coach), did you try switching the battery to the other cables?

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

1. I would be a millionaire if I got $100 for every customer that stated they were positive they connected ALL cables correctly and did not miss 1 cable when they have disconnected the Batteries from their RV.
2. The general rule of thumb I ALWAYS follow with this type complaint is this--IF IT WORKED BEFORE YOU DISCONNECTED THE BATTERIES AND NOW SOMETHING DOES NOT WORK, THEN YOU DID NOT CONNECT ALL THE CABLES OR MISCONNECTED A CABLE. This works 99% of the time.
3. Without power to the steps you must disconnect the linkage to get them up
4. There is a amber light underneath the step. Does this light come on and OFF when you open and close the door? If so, you have power to the step. Doug

I guess my question is why do you take the batteries out haha... If the batteries are fully charged they will last the winter months around here just fine. Charged up batteries also will not freeze up as well.

Being a motorhome i guess the truck start battery should get switched out as well.. I was always leary of switching out the truck start batteies as all of the electronic controlled things for the truck motor system may have to be reset again when you hook them back up... Aorund here that will cost $90 to be connected up to the dealership computer system to reset things with.

I just switch my batteries completely out of the circuit here and leave them sitting. Out of habit however I still do a status check on them with my meter panel ocassionally.

My RV trailers are parked here at home so don't have to deal with the storage lots or worry about thief...

Not familiar with the step motors - too fancy for me haha - others will have to answer that question.

I jumped the gun on answering this - didn't realize it was a motorhome at first...

Battery systems work the same however whether or not they are used in a motorhome or POPUP camper like I have.

Roy Ken