Slide or not to slide
I am a newbie and looking to purchase a unit in the next year. Retiring and looking to use for long cross country trips. Wife and I have narrowed our choices down to a unit that we can drive and s...
Forum Discussion
The popularity of a slide out in a class C speaks volume.
With that said, my wife and I special ordered our shorter 23'-8" rig HERE without a slide out for we plan to own our rig for more than 30 years and didn't want to deal with developing issues as those years go by. We are 8 years in so far with over 22 years to go and we are still very happy with our choice NOT to have a slide out. We load our rig on trips to near the load rating of the chassis as it is. Adding one 500 pound slide out would tip the scales over.
Listed here are the benefits in having a slide out.
- resale value
- more open floor space
- some floor plans require a slide out to function right
Listed here are short and long term benefits NOT to have a slide out.
- around 500 pounds lighter (per slide out)
- no wind-driven rain penetration
- no cold air penetration
- no hot air penetration
- no humidity penetration
- no dust penetration
- no generator exhaust fumes penetration
- no rattles or wind noise when driving
- no bugs brought inside
- more quiet inside when sleeping at night
- bigger cabinets along the wall
- less things to break or fail
- less to get damaged by you and even other vehicles
- a stronger over-all house structure
- if on right side, a slide out takes up precious canopy space
- a slide out requires regular maintenance to work it's best
- a slide out as an option costs a lot of money
You determine your own priorities and go from there.
With that said, my wife and I special ordered our shorter 23'-8" rig HERE without a slide out for we plan to own our rig for more than 30 years and didn't want to deal with developing issues as those years go by. We are 8 years in so far with over 22 years to go and we are still very happy with our choice NOT to have a slide out. We load our rig on trips to near the load rating of the chassis as it is. Adding one 500 pound slide out would tip the scales over.
Listed here are the benefits in having a slide out.
- resale value
- more open floor space
- some floor plans require a slide out to function right
Listed here are short and long term benefits NOT to have a slide out.
- around 500 pounds lighter (per slide out)
- no wind-driven rain penetration
- no cold air penetration
- no hot air penetration
- no humidity penetration
- no dust penetration
- no generator exhaust fumes penetration
- no rattles or wind noise when driving
- no bugs brought inside
- more quiet inside when sleeping at night
- bigger cabinets along the wall
- less things to break or fail
- less to get damaged by you and even other vehicles
- a stronger over-all house structure
- if on right side, a slide out takes up precious canopy space
- a slide out requires regular maintenance to work it's best
- a slide out as an option costs a lot of money
You determine your own priorities and go from there.
