Saving Your Slide-Out

June 15, 2011

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a slide-out, but really only a handful of things that usually do. Almost all are related to opening or closing the slide-out, or maintenance issues on it. So, saving your slide-out usually means paying close attention to maintaining it, using it properly, blocking or securing it as you should, and keeping the slide channels cleaned out, and free of debris.

If you haven't looked at RV's yet, a slide-out is the name given to a room, or area of the RV that literally slides out of the side of the RV when it is parked to give additional room to the interior of the RV. The most popular slide-outs are for the bedroom and living room, although there are bathroom slideouts as well. Because an open slide-out can significantly increase the living area of the RV where it is, they are very popular features to get on an RV. However, because they are also used frequently and are pieces of machinery and moving parts, they tend to have some problems if not opened, closed, transported or maintained properly.

Tips For Saving Your Slide-out

• Keep the battery to your slide-out fully charged. A low battery can leave your slide-out stalled halfway in or out, meaning you'll have to crank it out by hand, or wait for the battery to recharge. Unless you built it yourself, all slide-outs working off of a motor system use a battery.
• Check the outside and topside of your rig for any leaves, birds nests, tree limbs, branches, puddle water, thick layers of dirt or dust, debris, or even animals or anything on top of the slide that could be retracted along with the room. Clear it off. If those things are retracted along with the slide you're almost guaranteed to be sitting in a RV dealer's service room waiting for repairs. It takes a little longer, but saves you headaches down the road to wipe off the top and sides of your slide with a damp rag or towel before retracting it.
• Check the floor inside the slide-out for obstructions, sand, dirt or other items, such as toys that can scratch your flooring or get trapped or caught or throw the room off track as it is being retracted.
• Replace the seals as needed. This is a job you can do yourself. Check for leaks (slide-outs are number one source for RV leaks), cracking and drying and replace as needed.
• When winterizing your RV be aware that slide-outs and the cracks and crevices around them - even when closed, are the primary access route for animals, rain, water, snow and the elements. Use a slide-out awning when camping and make sure your slide-outs seals are in good shape and sealing tight when closed and when being stored.
• Do not allow children, adults, gear or any extra weight in the slide-out when it is being moved. It's not an amusement park ride. This can result in a drag or strain on the motor at least, and cause tracking and alignment issues at best. Remove ice chests, bikes and gear before extending or retracting your slide.



• Read and follow the instructions in the manual provided with your RV. Manufacturers know your slide-out best. Some advise you keep the extend/retract button pushed for a few seconds after the slide has made the full travel. Others may advise you release the switch or button once the room is entirely in or out. Still other manufacturers prefer you never, never, ever change room direction until the slide-out has completed a full cycle. For instance, don't change your mind as you are extending the room and then retract it. Let the slide go all the way out first, and then retract it. This is specific for each manufacturer, so read your manual to see what your manufacturer recommends for your rig.
• Lubricate and adjust tracks and gears and guides regularly. This will also go a long way to help you save your slide-out. However, failures and problems still occur - as they will with any complex piece of equipment that gets a lot of use. Check your RV manual to see what your manufacturer recommends. Some prefer a dry lubricant, others swear by a wet lubricant. One thing is certain -don't mix them or you'll get a gummy mess. So check your owner's manual to see what is recommended or see the RV Parts Department for the ideal solution.
• If you have a hydraulic system, check your hydraulic reservoirs regularly - each time you take a trip, once a month, or before using the slide if you are long-term parking. Use what your manufacturer recommends. Some systems require a special hydraulic fluid, others are fine with transmission fluid, but make sure before you pour. Check the manual.
• Do not use silicone-based products on rubber. Silicone dries rubber out, causing it to crack, become stiff and inflexible. Use a Slide Seal Conditioner.
• If you're lucky your slide-out will fail in a closed position - allowing you to drive it to a dealer or repairman. If you maintain it, treat it well and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to block and care for it, you won't have to depend so much on luck, at least for quite a while.

There are two types of slide-outs, electric and hydraulic. The type of system you have depends on what type of RV you have, the size of the slide-outs, and who manufactured it. Most have a manual backup system that allows you to hand crack the slide in or out should the gears or hydraulic system fail.

Typical things that fail in a Hydraulic System

• Leak in one of the hydraulic lines-the hydraulic pump may run, but not enough fluid is getting to the places it needs to go to move your slide-out.
• Faulty hydraulic pump - if the pump doesn't start, or starts, but doesn't run, hydraulic fluid can't get to where it needs to go to open your slide-out.
• Bad or faulty hydraulic valve - if the valve is bad it could cause the pump to run, but not allow enough fluid to get to where it is supposed to go to move your slide-out.
• A fuse is blown- if you're not getting anything happening, check this first.

Typical Things That Fail In an Electric System

• The shear pin on the main gear that moves the slide breaks. This is such a common problem many RV'ers carry spare shear pins with them since it is a fairly simple repair once you've done it a time or two and are somewhat mechanically inclined. The slide-out motor runs, but the gear won't engage because the pin has sheared off, so the slide-out doesn't move.
• The gearbox itself fails. Again, the motor runs but nothing moves.
• Motor can become overloaded and fail if there is a drag or obstruction on the guides.
• Blow fuses, due to low battery voltage.

There are obviously a great deal of pros and cons to slide-outs. The most obvious pro being the added space of course. If you're parked for a long time, have many family members using the RV at once, or like to entertain, slide-outs make life much easier.

Like people, slide-outs tend to show their age. Guide rails begin to stick or bind. Things get out of adjustment. The many hard miles of jiggling and bouncing down highways tend to move things around, even if the slide-out is properly blocked and locked to prevent that sort of things, the most shifts occur and collect over time.

Even if the slide-out continues to work, the rubber seals around the slide-out age and become stiff, inflexible and crack over time - allowing water leaks, which lead to more slide-out problems. Maintain the slide-out with Slide Seal Conditioner.

Weigh the pros and cons of having a slide-out before you get one. If you have one or more, make sure you devote as much time possible to their maintenance and upkeep to avoid expense repairs down the road.