New member with question about unlabeled switch on dash.

[Jeff Ramey]

I have a 2000 Patriot Thunder 425 with dual slide Brandywine (not sure what Brandywine actually means ).
I LOVE THIS COACH! The wife and I have even thought about boondocking in the front yard just to spend more time in it.
My question: On the left side of the dash instrument panel, near the headlight and air dump switch, is a metal 2 position toggle switch, not unlike the air dump switch, that when thrown lets out a single "PSSSH!" of air as if you released the brakes. I don't customarily throw switches I know nothing about as in my last occupation that could have proven fatal. So, I have not experimented further. Does anyone know what this switch is for, besides clearing stray cats from under the coach immediately? If I receive no responses, I am content to label it "SELF DESTRUCT" and install a red, safety wired, switch guard on it. 
   

[Joel Ashley]

I can't answer what that toggle is for, as I don't have a similar rig.  But my morning's attitude appreciates the amusing context of the question. 

As to Brandywine, that's the floor plan, 40ft with toilet and shower together on the streetside.  One might think it's the color, often port, but I've seen the coach model in blue, green I think, and brown.

Joel

[Jeff Ramey]

THANKS! At least I have one mystery solved. My interior is white washed or "frosted" woodwork with bright brass hardware, with bone colored ultra-pleather upholstery that matches the countertops, and a light-goldish looking leather textured wallcovering, with matching colored fabric appointments on the valances.   The whole interior has a light and open beach feel to it.

Called BCS and spoke with Matt in parts and Ken Carpenter in service, both are great guys and very helpful! Ken helped me get familiar with several componets specific to my coach's build out. While he also had no idea about my toggle switch, and with his decades of experience with Beavers, we kind of suspect it might have something to do with an aftermarket tow setup given the close proximity to a small red bulb (also not OEM) mounted near it. Ken suspects the bulb would indicate tow car brakelight operation. As I have no toad yet, and am completely unfamilar with the "Remco" (sp?) towing setup apparently installed, that shall remain a mystery... for the moment.

[Russ Mann]

Hi Jeff, welcome to the club.

I'll take a shot at your mystery toggle switch. I am assuming it is a momentary switch.

The previous owner most likely had Henderson's Line Up in Grants Pass, Oregon or another RV Chassis expert in another state install a "SAFE-T-PLUS" by SuperSteer steering control on your unit. It operates similar to other steering control units and yours may be a different brand.
The way mine works is when driving, position the wheel on a path that will keep you in the middle of your lane. Toggle the switch to the momentary position and hold for a couple of seconds and then release. If done properly you will traverse down the road without hardly any deviation of the steering wheel, I can actually take my hands of the wheel and it will stay in my lane. It is especially nice when you have a strong crosswind or a lot of trucks passing you at high speed. I just drove across Alberta and Manitoba on 16 and 1 with heavy crosswind and it was a breeze (except for crappy roads and RR tracks at 65MPH).

I had Henderson's install mine this spring and the difference in driver fatigue is amazing. After 5,500 miles my feeling is I wish I would have installed it 10 years ago. If the previous owner installed this option check for Koni shocks and SuperSteer Motion Control Unit.

The web site is: www.SuperSteerParts.com

Look under the coach at the steering arms and check for what looks like a big shock with air assist.

[Jeff Ramey]

DING DING DING!!!
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Russ, you nailed it.
Climbed underneath to be greeted by gold colored Koni shocks, a pnuematic ram that looks like a power steering setup, and an air chamber mounted on the driver side of it. Even the triangle shaped bracket looked like the one in the weblink you posted for a trim assist unit. A big THANKS to Russ, and this forum! I'm sold on this forum. I've received several times more in value than the small cost of the member dues in less than 2 months! I'll be here as long as I have the Beaver. PERIOD.   

Sorry for sideways and upside down pics. I don't know why it uploaded like that.

[Russ Mann]

Jeff, you're going to love it. You got $4,000.00 in upgrades you didn't know you had. Happy trails!

[Brad Barnes]

Russ maybe you can help me I purchased a 2009 Beaver Contessa and it has a momentary switch on the panel below the drivers switches that I have never been able to figure out. I have looked under the front end and I see what appears to me to be a Safe-t-plus. When I look up the safe-t-plus I don't see any mention of operating it with a switch. Can you give me any additional detail about the switch.
Thank you

[Joel Ashley]

Henderson's makes a device for controlling the Safe-T-Plus on Monaco chassis.  They asked if I wanted it when I had my STPlus added, but I figured I'd be happy enough without it, and I am. The STPlus will help in a sudden steering issue like a blowout, or with wind and passing trucks.  Adding the controller device can help manage centered steering as it varies with changing road conditions.  Our Roadmaster M coach has adjustable steering already, which if regularly checked by a knowledgeable tech like Henderson's employs should be adequate.

Since some have apparently purchased coaches where prior owners installed the control, the following may prove helpful:

http://www.supersteerparts.com/products/supersteer-trim-unit-monaco-motorhome-chassis-rr8r.html

Watch the video, but be careful the fellow doesn't talk you into a control unit...
oh, wait... you appear to already have one!

Joel

[Russ Mann]

Brad,
You should be able to chase down that switch if it is associated with the Safe Steer option. In your electrical bay below the driver look far an added electrically operate pneumatic switch. With the key ON, have someone toggle the switch and see if you can hear the pneumatic switch click. If so follow the 1/4" air line connected to the switch. It should go to an air diaphragm attached to the Safe T Steer. Look at Jeff's picture and see if it looks like that. The switch should be a momentary switch (returns to OFF when released).
If you don't have this configuration and the switch is not momentary, I would look around the coach and in the engine compartment for where the previous owner may have installed a light(s). I have seen several light setups on the rear of coaches to assist in backing up at night.
Good luck chasing it down.

[Brad Barnes]

Thanks Russ, the switch is a momentary returning to off when released. I have the motorhome off having a repair on a slide out topper but when I get it back in a few days I will follow up and let you know what I found out.

[Doug Allman]

Everyone got very close to the reason for the silver toggle switch and it has to do with the Safe-T-Steer cylinder.

The Safe-T-Steer cylinder has a spring in it that exerts approximately over 200 lbs of force. When installing this unit it is very difficult to get the coach tracking perfectly straight down the byways. Then you get differing ruts and road surfaces that make the tires pull to one side or the other. Wind is also a great  factor if it is a strong side or cross wind.

The additional unit added to move the Safe-T-Steer cylinder to adjust your tracking uses a momentary electrical impulse and an air operated cylinder (air device looks just like one on your air brakes) which allows you to "trim" your Safe-T-Steer cylinder due to differing conditions. This "Trim" unit was developed and sold to Hendersons by one of our Beaver members, Roy Mueller. Roy is still very active but rarely does he use the Forum.

In using the toggle switch you steer against the pull you are experiencing and hold the toggle switch for approx 2 seconds after you have gotten the steering wheel to the furthest point you want and then release. It only works if you hold the toggle switch on until after you get to the correction point you want. If you release it too soon you will not notice the correction you thought you would get. Possibly no correction.

Took me a little while to get the feel of how this worked and I found that many times I was letting the switch go back to neutral before it had time to activate the air and then move the cylinder. Sometimes you may have to do this in several increments to correct a hard sidewind.

And it really helps if you let your dear traveling partner know that you are going to do this correction as you may be turning into the other lane of the highway, even on the interstate, because they think that the move into the other lane is you going to sleep. Pulling the steering wheel opposite of the pull you are getting does move you out of your lane in most all cases to get the correction set to tracking straight down the highway again.

IMHO Safe-T-Steer is one of the best add ons you can get for your safety especially if you ever ride in the passenger seat. We have blown a front steer at 65 mph when the dear wife was driving and the steering wheel never moved around in her hands. She let the coach slow to almost a stop and then pulled off onto the shoulder. Handled just as if it was a normal day in the sunshine. The major spring in this unit is what keeps the tracking straight and the Trim unit is what aligns this for differing road conditions.

Roy Mueller is in the directory and if you have any questions you can give him a call. Many members purchased from Roy before he sold to Hendersons.

[Joel Weiss]

Welcome to the small club of SMC Patriot Thunder owners from the period (~99-01).  We've had our MH for 7 years and have put 55k miles on it all over the continent.  For the most part, it has been reasonably trouble-free, but no MH is without its issues and $$$$ sinks. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me.

Joel (AKA docj)

[Brad Barnes]

Just to follow up on my earlier post I did check and find that I do have the supersteering feature on my Saf-t-plus a big thank you to Russ and Joel for helping me figure this out