Montana 305 RLS

I purchased a 2013 Montana High Country 318RE in March of last year trading in a 2010 Sprinter TT. The Sprinter had a gear driven slide out and performed flawlessly for the nearly three years that we had it. The Montana has the cable slide outs and after a full season of use the cable system has performed flawlessly. The main difference beside one system is gear driven while the second system is driven by cables and pulleys is the weight between the two system. The dry weight for the 25 foot TT had a shipping weight of 6,284 with the one slide. The Montana had a shipping weight of 9,183 with three slides and 34.5 feet nearly 10 feet longer. Simple physics states that the heavier the load the greater the fuel consumption. However, aerodynamics also is a major factor. Though towing nearly 3,000 pounds more my fuel consumption has decreased. Weight therefore is the primary difference weather could have a minimal affect since the cables are exposed to the elements ice and snow, rain however would not be an issue. If however, I had a slide stuck in the open position because of a motor failure the cable is easier to access to manually retract the slide. Just make sure you have an electric drill to use the retraction tool. Another thing to consider is the weight difference between the two 5vers both shipping weight and pin weight and then the tow capacity of your tow vehicle that should be your deciding factor .

The Wilderness I have has a cable operated slide and has performed without any problems. I have not had this issue but I could see at some point the cables "stretching" and needing adjusting. The adjustment would be easy as the adjustments are on top of the slide and at the front making them easy to get to.

I think every type of slide mechanism can have problems if the owner does not maintain the system correctly.
Personally I like my hydraulic slides. Never had a leak, they open and close smoothly and are quiet. I have read lots of horror stories about electric slides. Mainly the issue seems to stem from undersized electric motors. Cable systems I can see having a lot of down the road issues. Cables jumping off a wheel, motor failures, stretching cables are only a few examples. For a good idea of how they will work ling term look at most any garage door.

lalt wrote:
The sales rep took us outside to the Montana and as we stepped inside the rep said " the Montana has cable operated slides and you will not like the cable slides".

did the sales rep say why you wouldn't like the cable slides?

The salesman was an idiot.........

Just another buffoon speaking of that which he knows not.

How do these bozos keep a job :S

Simply pushing you towards a higher profit margin RV to better line his pockets.

OB - they keep their job my selling those high profit margin units...

No system is bullet proof.

Shadoow- no the salesman didn't say why I wouldn't like the cable operated slides. It just upsets me that the salesman seem to think they know all. He was bragging up the Grand Design to no end. That experience just made my mind up not to deal with this dealership.

My Cardinal 3800FL has two cable slides and three hydraulic slides and the cable slides work great. The bring the slide in and out at a very even pull and seal very tight in both open and closed positions. I wish I could say the same for the hydraulic ones. They seem to come in and out at different speeds and not always even. They don't seem to seal as flush as the cable ones.

lalt wrote:
Shadoow- no the salesman didn't say why I wouldn't like the cable operated slides. It just upsets me that the salesman seem to think they know all. He was bragging up the Grand Design to no end. That experience just made my mind up not to deal with this dealership.

that's what i kinda figured. We've had similar experience and i agree, time to get another salesman or dealer.

I agree with Donn. I've always said if it moves (not just slides) it stands a chance to fail. When we were looking at 5ers we considered one with cable slides. I talked to a client who's business is manufacturing expandable mobile offices out of 40' truck trailers. He uses all types of slide mechanisms and with cable slides he said they didn't have any more issues than the other types.