I have a 2012 30' Itasca Class A. It came with (2) Napa 12V 210Ah house batteries (Total=420 Ah) . I replaced them with (6) Interstate 6V 210Ah batteries (Total=624 Ah)The single chassis battery is 12V 750 CCA Motocract MAX The owners manual states:NOTE: We recommend that you KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILEEXTENDING OR RETRACTING SLIDEOUT ROOMS so the enginealternator can provide maximum power for proper operation of the slideout mechanisms.With the extra battery power I've added, do you think there is any problem in not keeping the engine running when I open up the (2) slides? Any possible damage to slide electric motors?Thanks

Sounds like pretty hefty slide motors. The 2 batteries you have are good for serious welding. Would you have a problem with moving slides with them, you are in serious troubles.For comparison, I do have 8' slide in my Truck Camper. I can operate it on converter power alone, when batteries are disconnected. This will not work with camper jacks that take lot of power for lifting 5000lb camper.

The slides take a very heavy amperage draw - why would you not want to help the batteries out with power output from the engine? I'm sure you could do it, but why put the extra load on them?Bill

Trackrig wrote:The slides take a very heavy amperage draw - why would you not want to help the batteries out with power output from the engine? I'm sure you could do it, but why put the extra load on them?BillOn the other hand why would you burn $5 worth of fuel and add wear to the engine to do 10 cents job?

I would recommend that you continue to run the engine. It won't hurt anything and it will keep the battery voltage higher can could be achieved with a resting battery. Generally you will see 13.5+VDC while the engine is running (alternator charging the batteries) but somewhere around 12.5VDC while resting. Additionally, you will see that the batteries will likely maintain 13.6 during the slide movement whereas the batteries will likely drop pretty quickly from 12.5 during such a strenuous operation.

Kayteg1 wrote:Trackrig wrote:The slides take a very heavy amperage draw - why would you not want to help the batteries out with power output from the engine? I'm sure you could do it, but why put the extra load on them?BillOn the other hand why would you burn $5 worth of fuel and add wear to the engine to do 10 cents job?I think wear on the batteries will eventually cost more than wear on the engine. 60 seconds of idle on the engine vs a huge amp draw on the batteries.Bill

Can I Operate Slides With the Engine Off? | Good Sam Community

45 Replies

Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2015
Correct.
chuckftboy
Explorer
Sep 05, 2015
All coaches are a bit different. My FW slide has 3 motors that are powered from the Chassis battery. It will deploy without engine running but the voltage drops from 12.7 to around 11.7 and the amps go up. With the engine running, the voltage stays steady at 13.8 volts and the amps stay steady. Fleetwood says motor running to operate slides. Most will operate either way. Just depends on how soon you want to replace the slide motors I guess.
fivejackie
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
2115 Hurricane 27K slide operation instructions.

Make sure that there is adequate clearance to fully extend the room.
1. Apply the parking brake
2. Make sure ignition is in OFF position.
3. To extend the room, press and hold the ROOM CONTROL SWITCH in the “OUT” position. When the room is fully extended, release the ROOM CONTROL SWITCH.
dougrainer
Nomad
Sep 04, 2015
1. MOST slides can be operated without the chassis engine running
2. IF the manual states to have the Engine running, it is ONLY because the OEM wants that extra battery voltage to operate the slides. That way, IF the coach batteries are low(almost ALL electric slide rooms operate off the coach batteries, Hydraulic can be either), the batteries are out of the operation as the chassis alternator will supply the needed volts/amps.
3. A LOT of motorhome slides, you have to have the Ignition key ON (engine not started) to activate the slide rooms. Starting the engine, is just as easy when this is required
4. NEWMAR slide rooms will NOT operate if the engine is ON or the Key is ON. Doug
J-Rooster
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
I always run my engine
dalerussel
Explorer
Sep 04, 2015
We always run our engine when moving our slides in and out. The Winnebago manual says to use the extra power from alternator. The slides are powered by the chassis battery.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Kayteg1 wrote:
fivejackie wrote:
My Hurricane can drive with slide out.

You have a picture to prove that?

I previous Monaco Dynasty would let us drive with the slides out. I was having it washed once at the storage facility and I was blocking a resident, so I started it up and moved it about 20 ft.

Our manual in that coach stated to put out slides first then level.

Our current coach has the same procedure for slides.... slides out first, then level. The manual states the engine must be running on high idle and be at ride height. There is an emergency release in the rear passenger bay that will allow you to move the coach with the slides out.

A story was told that a coach caught fire next to a guy that had a Prevost and he couldn't move it in time as he had to start the engine to put the slides in. He lost his coach. He didn't have time to start the engine and put the slides in..... the emergency switch will allow movement with the slides out. The release was added to later coaches for that purpose.

MM.
frankdamp
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
I find it interesting that you have an owner's manual that goes into any detail about your coach. The one we got with our Georgetown was good for lighting fires a few times, but didn't tell us a thing about our particular model of coach.
Busskipper
Explorer
Sep 02, 2015
Racorman wrote:
Ed_Gee wrote:
Racorman wrote:
If you are hooked up to shore power...... will that also charge the chassis battery?

For most coaches, the slides run on the house battery in which case shore power will help.. Reading some of the comments here indicate that Winnibago appears to use the engine chassis battery, (weird), in which case shore power will not help.

I agree it is weird.

So the engine is running and I can drive down the road with my slides open :h

Bro in Law's Newmar 30' gasser will not allow the engine to start with the slides open

Interesting Topic.

My TS will not deploy the slides with the engine running. It will start with the slides out and can be driven, with the slide deployed.

But the really interesting thing is the fact that if you ever have an issue with the connection or the battery on a TS you can power the slide using an 18v Dewalt or Makita battery. these are big slides and I have deployed all and returned all using a Dewalt battery, so it does work.

Generally I have found for ease, I will back in - or pull in - connect the electric (or if dry camping, start the generator) - turn on the A/C - then level the coach and deploy the slides. Just having a routine avoids issues, all this is done while the DW is fixing the Adult Beverage, so my only suggestion is to figure out your routine and stick to it, thus avoiding any issues.

JHMO,
AllegroD
Nomad
Sep 02, 2015
Your house batteries do not have anything to do with this. It may be solely your chassis/engine battery. As others have said, the slides have a big surge draw. The alternator will help and that only works when engine is turning that belt thingy.

If I were you, I'd follow the advice of the mfgr as in your manual or call them.