What is the best way to de-ice slide-outs in below zero temps after freezing rain and/or snow? We spend more time camping in freezing temps than we do in warm weather. We just upgraded our Arctic Fox travel trailer to an AF fifth wheel so we are new to the slide-out game. I saw one tip about using the outdoor shower but I could almost guarantee that in -10 degree temps the water would freeze long before I ever get the slide-out retracted.I have thought about using a quality windshield washer fluid that incorporates a de-icing chemical, as it is easy on paint and rubber parts. Dispersing the fluid, I would use a small hand pump pressurized sprayer like the type used on lawns and gardens.I need a chemical or method that is not going to damage paint and seals. Most bare-ground deicer fluids or granules have some type of chloride (salt) in them, which spells disaster for a slide-out. Aircraft de-icing fluid is cost prohibitive.

Slide toppers might help prevent the build up of ice on the slide top it's self and help prevent damage to the slide seals. Ice on a slide topper could be broken up easily by using a wooden broom handle to push up on it. The remaining ice should brake away as the slide goes in.

We were caught in a TX icestorm two winters ago that left 2" of solid ice on everything. Shut down roads, campground, and everything for two days. Fortunately for us we didn't have slide-awnings as one camper had a mess with that. Even more fortunate for us was that we could just stay an extra couple days and the temperatures started to warm enough that escaping heat from camper started to melt enough that I could lift off large slabs of 2" thick ice. If I had to pull the slides in earlier I don't know what I would have done, but windshield washer deicer is probably my best guess.I'd do my best to pull slides in before an icestorm in the future. Good luck!

Snow provides insulation, but slide out roofs are not insulated very well so it turns to ice pretty quickly. So I try to keep snow from building by simply brushing it off as needed...usually once a day when it is snowing.

I was caught in an ice storm about 200 miles from our destination a few years ago while in TX. We spent the night. In the morning everything on the north side of our trailer and truck was frozen and covered with ice. We started the truck with our remote start and let it run to thaw out the doors, then drove to Wally World. I purchase a garden tank sprayer, some windshield washer fluid and some isoprophyl alcohol. I added the alcohol to the washer fluid to increase its' melting ability. Sprayed all the rubber seals down and waited for them to loosen up enough to release from the sides so I could close them without tearing a seal. As I look back I probably should have just stayed another day and let nature warm them up for me..B.O.

I think you answered your own question, BDSUSA, with a good idea. Prevention is the best way, like pulling the slides in before hand, but it's not always possible. With sub-zero temperatures, ice will be tough to deal with.One year out in SD, I had seen campers' departures delayed waiting for the sun to come out and thaw things out a bit. And some were equipped with slide toppers. The toppers sagged with the accumulated rain water and froze to a block of ice overnight.

What is the best way to de-ice slide-outs | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

3oaks
Explorer
Aug 20, 2015
I think you answered your own question, BDSUSA, with a good idea. Prevention is the best way, like pulling the slides in before hand, but it's not always possible. With sub-zero temperatures, ice will be tough to deal with.

One year out in SD, I had seen campers' departures delayed waiting for the sun to come out and thaw things out a bit. And some were equipped with slide toppers. The toppers sagged with the accumulated rain water and froze to a block of ice overnight.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2015
I was caught in an ice storm about 200 miles from our destination a few years ago while in TX. We spent the night. In the morning everything on the north side of our trailer and truck was frozen and covered with ice. We started the truck with our remote start and let it run to thaw out the doors, then drove to Wally World. I purchase a garden tank sprayer, some windshield washer fluid and some isoprophyl alcohol. I added the alcohol to the washer fluid to increase its' melting ability. Sprayed all the rubber seals down and waited for them to loosen up enough to release from the sides so I could close them without tearing a seal. As I look back I probably should have just stayed another day and let nature warm them up for me..

B.O.
SteveAE
Explorer
Aug 20, 2015
Snow provides insulation, but slide out roofs are not insulated very well so it turns to ice pretty quickly. So I try to keep snow from building by simply brushing it off as needed...usually once a day when it is snowing.
MNRon
Explorer
Aug 20, 2015
We were caught in a TX icestorm two winters ago that left 2" of solid ice on everything. Shut down roads, campground, and everything for two days. Fortunately for us we didn't have slide-awnings as one camper had a mess with that. Even more fortunate for us was that we could just stay an extra couple days and the temperatures started to warm enough that escaping heat from camper started to melt enough that I could lift off large slabs of 2" thick ice. If I had to pull the slides in earlier I don't know what I would have done, but windshield washer deicer is probably my best guess.

I'd do my best to pull slides in before an icestorm in the future. Good luck!
We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Aug 20, 2015
Slide toppers might help prevent the build up of ice on the slide top it's self and help prevent damage to the slide seals. Ice on a slide topper could be broken up easily by using a wooden broom handle to push up on it. The remaining ice should brake away as the slide goes in.

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What is the best way to de-ice slide-outs

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