Are Power Steps Safe?

[alnbobby]

I have a 2022 RAM 3500 with the power steps / side rails. My rails are currently set to Auto ... meaning they extend / retract when a door opens / closes. They extend immediately when a door is opened. They take a few seconds before retracting after a door is shut. When the rails are extended there is a 6 inch gap (approximate) between the truck and the rail. My question is this: if an arm or a leg (or any object for that matter) happens to be between the truck and the rail when the rails retract, will the rails detect an obstruction and not retract? Or will it retract, and pin the object such that it can't retract further? FYI ... I've not tested this by placing a pole or anything else in the gap. Thanks in advance for your feedback. BG

 

[14 Lonestar]

The steps will retract once they sense an object preventing deployment.

 

[brian42]

It will stop retracting. The steps are safe (and so are your appendages )

The steps can "sense" when they contact an object (both when extending and retracting) and will stop motion to prevent damage to the object/body part and the step/assembly.

The motors are very small so don't provide a lot of force since the boards are pretty light. The boards are rated for 600lbs when fully extended.

 

[Farmer Fran]

I would not test it on Mr. Winky though.

 

[brian42]

Luckily my gut is too big for that to ever be an issue.

 

[Dean2]

I tested mine. They stop deploying when they contact something, I unintentionally used a dirt berm on a ditch by backing into the ditch, to load an antelope, so the board was only a couple of inches from the dirt. As soon as it touched the dirt berm it quit trying to deploy.

They also stop retracting when they contact something, I tested that by putting a piece of PVC pipe with a foam cover between the board and the rocker panel. It didn't hardly dent the foam.

 

[alnbobby]

Thanks all for the feedback! Glad to hear the power steps sense an obstruction.

 

[Stavinksi]

Once a company gets blamed for running over Superman or whoever that didn’t put their jeep in park, preventing power running boards from amputating legs is on the design release checklist, trust me. They probably pay consultants extra to make life sized hot dogs to use for testing and everything. There’s a reason these things are so expensive.

 

[TC Retired]

I would not test it on Mr. Winky though.

Thanks for the info, been wondering this myself since they seem to deploy with a lot of force. Have never tried sticking anything in there and especially NOT Mr. Winky...

But now that it has ben suggested, I suppose there will be that one who will try it.

 

[Marshall]

I just hope they don't post a picture, but these days????????
Fellow I know has a ford, when it is winter in Canada , they would freeze /ice up and not move.
Mine are solid , so they always work

 

[Dean2]

I just hope they don't post a picture, but these days????????
Fellow I know has a ford, when it is winter in Canada , they would freeze /ice up and not move.
Mine are solid , so they always work

Typical Ford. I live in Canada. Even at -45, the ones on my Ram 2500 work just fine.

 

[Fselrahc]

It will stop retracting. The steps are safe (and so are your appendages )

The steps can "sense" when they contact an object (both when extending and retracting) and will stop motion to prevent damage to the object/body part and the step/assembly.

The motors are very small so don't provide a lot of force since the boards are pretty light. The boards are rated for 600lbs when fully extended.

Thanks for your service Master Chief!

 

[CrispyBacon]

I asked the salesman at the dealer to put his foot in the gap as the step retracted. He did it and he kept all his toes. Lol. It sensed him and stuck the step back out. It stays out indefinitely untik you open/close a door, again.

 

[brian42]

Thanks for your service Master Chief!

Thanks. And to you as well!