Electric steps only retract with ignition turned on

Make sure while you are checking all this that you have what they call the salesmans switch turned on. Otherwise you wont have voltage to anything. Not sure if your steps are wired thru it or not.

That was my 7 year old daughter, she's my sidekick. I have a 3 year old daughter too, she's more of a momma's girl but will help from time to time. I got the RV to be able to pull a trailer - my Polaris RZR when me and my 7 year old daughter want to go camping/riding or the car on family vacations. Only way I could get the wife to go on vacation and camp was with some type of camper. I'm having second thoughts on this one and have been consdering a 5th wheel toyhauler so I can still take my RZR with me. I'll have this for atleast another season or two - or longer, havent decided yet.


Yea, that aisle switch is on that same panel. There are 5 switches - Overhead (which is a light in the family room/cabin area), Trunks (turns on power to the lights in each storage space under the RV), Porch light, Aisle lights and the Step.

I noticed tonight when I used a live wire to the step switch, when I turned the step switch on, the light under the steps came on. I believe before the Aisle switch also turned that light on, along with a light inside the RV on the first step and a couple lights in the kitchen on the bottom of the floor cabinets.

I'll test that switch tomorrow to see if it's getting juice or having the same issue of only getting 6-7volts like I had with the step switch.

Wasn't your isle lights in the same switches as the step? Maybe it is a common problem.
In your videos, was that a son working as your helper? Good experience and quality time!
Don't give up!

I love troubleshooting things on my rig.

You will know a whole lot about it when your done!! :B

haha a very good learning experience, electrical is weakness. I really appreciate all the help and time!

I noticed now my aisle lights aren't working, so I'm going to trace that tomorrow to see what's causing them not to come up when I flip the switch in that panel :)

My alternator went out on that trip to Va Beach on the way down and I didn't realize it. The chassis batteries were dead after like day 2 or 3 and I figured I had left something on. So I went and bought 2 new chassis batteries the day before we left to come home (VA Beach to Cincinnati). 2 hours into the trip, the battery light came on and I noticed the volt gauge was below halfway and would come up a litttle when I let off the throttle. So when the battery finally died an hour away from home, I hooked the battery charger up to the batteries on 30amp and that was good enough for the gauges to start working again. I pulled the alternator off, had it tested (no output) and bought a rebuilt one for $120 and put it on the other day, fixed the problem.

Fun times :)

The wire should be hooked up so it is shut off by the battery control center, but be hot when it is in the operate mode.
You could add a fuse in that panel.
Since this is only control amperage, you could even jumper off the porch light.
You could try to run back to switch along the same path as the white wire.
Has this been a good learning experience?

That battery control center is in the dash as you walk up the steps. That switch panel I showed in the video is just above that panel to access some of the fuses. The power wire to the switch goes behind the dash which is closed off with wood paneling, I dont see a way to take it off. Tomorrow I'll check if it's open down by the pedals on the other side.

There are fuses marked from the chassis battery, so there is a hot wire coming from the battery up to that location that I can tap into. Just put a 6 amp fuse between that point and the switch?

What is on the other side of the wall where the switches are located? If it is a dinette the wiring maybe exposed under the seat.

Look under the wire guard under the step for the large red wire.
Did you look in wire guard for a fuse holder?
Run a new wire from there in the same path as the white wire to the door override switch. Install fuse holder on the step end and fuse as indicated 6 amp.
Second way is to run a new wire from panel below switch to an unused fuse location.
Manual says to connect to the coach battery. Make sure which ever you use is hot all the time.
Make sure you insulate the left over end at the switch.

Should I hook this new wire up off the chassis batteries so it's always live or hook it up to a power source only live when the battery center is turned on?

The plus of coming off the chassis battery is the switch/stairs always work. Coming off the battery center will only work if I have the house batteries turned on. I guess I can just jump out when it's parked and the battery center is turned off.