Voltage owners. Wood under the slide outs?

steelpony5555 wrote:
I agree run away from it. When we went looking for a new to us 5er we liked the Big Horn. But they also did not use plastic under the slides. Every used Big Horn we looked at had floor rot in the slides or had the floor in the slides already replaced. I think they have since changed and now have plastic under the slides....

They have changed it. Like the other manufacturers, they tried it for a few years and realized the same thing every other manufacturer has: it's the wrong place to save a buck and take a short cut.

I agree run away from it. When we went looking for a new to us 5er we liked the Big Horn. But they also did not use plastic under the slides. Every used Big Horn we looked at had floor rot in the slides or had the floor in the slides already replaced. I think they have since changed and now have plastic under the slides....

Cedar Creek, Sunline, Forest River, and others have all tried the exposed slide out edges painted with an anti-wicking agent with very little success. Sure, it works great if you live in the southwest or Texas - but it's an issue over time in moist climates. I don't have a preference to either the Cyclone or Voltage but I personally wouldn't own a camper that doesn't have a fully wrapped subfloor on the slide. Seems like a silly way to save a buck or two.

I had a S&S slide in truck camper with exposed painted wood for 14 years and never had a problem with the wood. I was parked outside in the elements it's entire life. Wood exposed and painted while the slides are out are not a concern. Look at how many campers have the same exposed wood and note very few ever have a problem. Making an issue out of something that isn't an issue,

I had issues the first yr we had our 3600 but last yr everything worked fine. I agree, I don't like the exposed wood but haven't had it wet and have about 4000 miles and many nights in it. I wonder if there is a protective coating that could be sprayed on to keep the wood protective. Also, I'm not a big fan of the schwintek system and did have one motor fail on the bedroom slide but since then "knock on wood" everything has been fine.

I've looked at several toy haulers and chose the Voltage 3200. I think all units will have their issues, as a matter of fact I'm sure of it. My wife and I have been in the motor home rv stuff for 25 years plus.

This is our first 5th wheel so it will be a learning experience. Thankfully I am mechanically inclinded and not concerned with minor issues. I usually tell people if you cant work on it.... dont buy it. I agree shouldn't have to do anything after paying big bucks but that would be an unrealistic reality.

I'm not going to bash another brand or someone's choice based on what they consider good or bad. What someone considers major may be a simple fix or modification for someone else. Enjoy what you have take care of it and be mindful that it goes up and down the road and with that will come isses. Keep a good eye on stuff and try to repair before it gets out of hand, especially when it comes to water intrusion.

Slim
2014 Voltage 3200 Epic Package
2014 Dodge 3500 6.7 Cummins

grizzly660fan wrote:
We love ours too! We use it 10 months a year and go out at least once a month during those ten months. If you keep the slides maintained, they haven't been a problem for me. I agree, the bottom of our slides haven't been wet. If you think about it how are they going to get wet? when you travel you close the slides and they sit above the inside floor, when you camp then you extend them, how are they getting wet underneath them when set up?

Well, i looked at over 7 voltages. Every one of them the wood was wet on the outside edges. I could see past the black wood and under that was just osb and that was wet also. My wife pointed that out... Easier for her to just walk under and look up then me.

That scared me right there.

We have a 2012 3600. Just went 3 months snow birding. Did 2 months last winter. Plus, camping during the summer locally.

Trailer performed like a dream. No problems. We looked at Cyclone and Voltage. To us, the Voltage won out easily on quality. Heavier axles for one thing. Interior finish better.

Put 4,000 miles on it last winter. Over 6,000 this winter.

We looked at a couple of Cyclones and then dismissed them for inferior construction. Wallpaper seem tape peeling in the bathroom, overhead cabinet door hinge broken, kitchen cabinet hinge screw splintered cabinet wood. And these were brand new trailers sitting on the dealer's lot. We just got a bad taste about Cyclone quality. Didn't see this on any other trailers we looked at.

We love ours too! We use it 10 months a year and go out at least once a month during those ten months. If you keep the slides maintained, they haven't been a problem for me. I agree, the bottom of our slides haven't been wet. If you think about it how are they going to get wet? when you travel you close the slides and they sit above the inside floor, when you camp then you extend them, how are they getting wet underneath them when set up?