I have a 2005 Keystone Challenger 34TLB, w/3 slides. There is only one switch for the slides, you must extend/retract them ALL, in a prescribed sequence, to move (any of) :@them. I wish I had a single switch for each slide so that I could extend/retract any ONE of them, to any degree, as I need. Anyone done this switch change over? Input? Thanks.

It is a whole lot more involved than just a switch.

Roger10378, care to elaborate? I wish I had a good schematic of how the factory wired all this. I need to replace the plywood sheeting over the bedroom slide, that alone is enough of a project w/o having all three slides moving all the time.:R

There is probably a control board somewhere that handles the sequencing of all three of those slides. Finding it and figuring out how to bypass it with individual switches probably requires a little knowledge of electronics and being able to read the schematic if there even is a schematic.Jerry ParrProbably limit switches are also involved to help control the sequencing.If I were you I would try to find out who the manufacture of that control system is not the RV manufacture but the people that actually made the control system and get a hold of them and ask them how you can add some individual switches to that system and maybe get a schematic from them.

Flute Man: I would expect to disconnect the existing switch(es). Locate the power supply to each (Lippert) slide actuating unit, and wire-in my individual switches from there. Sound feasible?

For those of you who have the factory installed switch controlling the electric or gas operation, does the red idiot light function at all if you choose electric water heating 'only' ??:@

slide-out switch nightmare | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

Shaggy2024
Explorer
Oct 14, 2024
I had problems with my slideouts on my 2005 Keystone Challenger. Is there a specific sequence that they go in and out or is based upon least resistance?
Weldon
Explorer
Jul 25, 2019
your Keystone slide pump should have a valve for each slide. You can close the one or two if you desire and still have one working.
Fisher_Bill
Explorer
Jul 25, 2019
Mine does, we have either gas or electric for the hot water heater and the dummy lights do work on our unit, I always tell the DW to use electric in the campgrounds.

Bill

unclescratch wrote:
For those of you who have the factory installed switch controlling the electric or gas operation, does the red idiot light function at all if you choose electric water heating 'only' ??:@
RAS43
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
I've never seen a hydraulic slides with a manual tool, except for the one that cranks the motor, not seen any that use anything other than that. Dunno.

My Hitchhiker has a manual pump built into the electric pump. I have to turn a valve and then I can pump the slide in or out. There is a valve for each slide in case of a pump failure.
garyp4951
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2019
My previous Cedar Creek had a hydraulic manifold with adjusters for each slide, and a way to shut off pressure to any slide.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2019
BTW Don't automatically expect a hex key to work on your Lipper pump. My Lipper pump had no hex key slot. The motor had a right hand nut and the motor had to be turned CCW. Guess what happened?

When I pointed out the 5 design problems to Lipper including the pump leak directly into the motor they agreed to replace it with a newer design which has worked since 2011. Later I had to replace all 8 totally cheap and inferior hydraulic lines.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2019
The only practical way to move my hydraulic slides is with the pump and its motor or manually turning the motor.

My slides are very heavy which is the reason they are hydraulic. Yes I can open the hydraulic so that it would not restrict movement but the heavy slide would be very difficult to move especially the drop down slide. And once moved it would have to be secured for any driving since hydraulic pressure holds it in place both extended and retracted.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2019
I've never seen a hydraulic slides with a manual tool, except for the one that cranks the motor, not seen any that use anything other than that. Dunno.
ReneeG
Explorer
Jul 25, 2019
BB_TX wrote:
I don’t think you can move a slide with a “tool”. You would have to overcome the resistance of the hydraulic cylinder for that slide. You can operate the hydraulic pump by using a drill and hex bit to move the slides.

Lippert slides

We have an area and a tool that manually moves the slides in should the hydraulic system fail. Have never tried it because there has not been a need.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 25, 2019
I don’t think you can move a slide with a “tool”. You would have to overcome the resistance of the hydraulic cylinder for that slide. You can operate the hydraulic pump by using a drill and hex bit to move the slides.

Lippert slides