Forum Discussion

BillandCarole's avatar
BillandCarole
Explorer
Jan 25, 2018

Noisy Slide - Sounds like Crypt Being Opened

We have a 2017 Fox Mountain 235RLS and the slide is really noisy. It screeches and squeals both on the in and the out cycles. The local Fox Mountain dealer (Cordelia RV) refuses to service it as we purchased it out of area. The main office says it will pay to have it serviced else where but the only other local dealer is CW and they are booked up. Our warranty expires in March so we have to take action soon.

1. How serious is this from a mechanical point of view? Are we having a motor/gear/rail failure?

2. Has anyone quieted a noisy slide, and if so, how and with what?

I have tried spraying silicone and molylube (molybdenum di-sulfide) on the tracks but with little to no success. Suggestions welcomed.

Regards
Bill (and Carole)
  • mtofell1's avatar
    mtofell1
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2018
    Have you owned other RVs with slides and this one is noticeably different/louder? Has it always been this loud and something changed?

    I can tell you the slides on every RV I've ever owned scare the hell out of me regularly. They screech, squeal and flex when moving in/out and every time I extend or retract one I'm sure something is going to break... but after 15+ years and 3 different RVs nothing has ever failed me.

    I always try to envision driving home from dry camping down a narrow logging road with my slide extended and broken :)
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Jan 25, 2018
    I'd absolutely make sure the builder and the dealer are aware of the issue before the warranty expires. Screeching and squealing on a new rig doesn't sound good to me.
  • jerseyjim's avatar
    jerseyjim
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2018
    FWIW, my slide makes noise, but it comes from the gasket surrounding the slideout. Periodic silicone spray on the gasket does it for me.

    If really mechanical, have it fixed before warranty expires. Last resort: take it to the "out of area" dealer you bought it from.

    Sometimes, saving a few hundred bucks for a dealer far way ain't such a deal. However, your local dealer refusing to take on a warranty job, is, IMO simply BS. Punishing you for not buying there.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jan 25, 2018
    More than likely it's the slide seals. They'll squirt them and say have a good day.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Jan 25, 2018
    jerseyjim wrote:
    FWIW, my slide makes noise, but it comes from the gasket surrounding the slideout. Periodic silicone spray on the gasket does it for me.

    If really mechanical, have it fixed before warranty expires. Last resort: take it to the "out of area" dealer you bought it from.

    Sometimes, saving a few hundred bucks for a dealer far way ain't such a deal. However, your local dealer refusing to take on a warranty job, is, IMO simply BS. Punishing you for not buying there.


    This was my thought, also. I'd be contacting Northwoods and raising holy hell over it, if it's a flat refusal. Putting you to the back of the line is bad enough. One of my pet peeves about the industry and one that if a couple of mfrs allied together to change would make a =lot= of happy(ier) customers, IMO.

    Lyle
  • DiskDoctr's avatar
    DiskDoctr
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2018
    Phone call: Yeah, this is Joe. I need to know who is going to sign for this camper when I return it. Your dealers have breached the contract by refusing to honor the warranty, so I will bring it back and expect a full refund when I arrive. Where would you like it parked?

    :)
  • ulvik's avatar
    ulvik
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2018
    Had something like that happened where local dealership refused warranty work because I bought it elsewhere. I advised manufacturer and they informed me they could not force the dealership to do the repairs so I informed them to find a dealership/repair shop near me that would do the job and set up an appointment and call me back. And that is just what they did. Some dealerships are just a POS! Good luck and be stern with the manufacturer!
  • Johndanielscpa's avatar
    Johndanielscpa
    Explorer
    Jan 25, 2018
    I owned a Arctic Fox 990 camper for 7 years and have owned a Arctic Fox 27-5L fifth wheel for 3 years. Both of these had loud, squeaky slides. No idea why. Maybe Northwood uses a harder rubber than most?? Anyway, you can reduce the noise by treating the slide seals with any number of treatments; just Google that. I re-treat every year. I have never had a problem with either one of them failing. It is not recommended to spray anything on the slide tracks; just wipe them with a dry rag from time-to-time.
  • RollandB's avatar
    RollandB
    Explorer
    Jan 26, 2018
    Having owned an Arctic Fox for over 2 years I highly recommend lubricating the slide seals and wax the slide out wall with a good car wax. It made a huge difference in ours. Comparing to some other manfucture seals, Northwood does have a thicker material which doesn’t always flip easily when operating. I use a slide seal spray any RV store will have. To tiger the inside of the seal I just get one hand behind the seal to get it away from the slide, spray my hand and rub it on the seal. It takes several sections applied this way and is messy but does the job. I do mine a couple times a year.

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