Slide Out!

My Itasca class A slides will operate with or without the engine running (E-Brake must be set), but I prefer to have the engine running for the additional power that the alternator provides. Also, the last thing I want to do is put a heavy load on my batteries just as I begin camping (or just before I get ready to leave).

My 2006 fleetwood cl C had to have the engine running and parking brake on for the slides to operate. My 2017 jayco has to have the engine off and brake set to operate slides. Sometimes I still forget and leaving engine running when trying to put slides out and DW has to remind me to turn it off.

Chassis batteries are made for a burst of energy, not sustained draining. Coach batteries are made for slow drainage. Neither are powerful enough to handle the new slides. So depending on brand/model. engine running, shore power or generator

1L243,

That depends upon the motorhome. On our class A, I can put the slide out or bring them in without the engine running. They WILL NOT go out with the engine running (safety interlock feature). Also, my slides don't care if the parking brake is set or not, but if a storage bay door under a slide is open, the slides will not go out. The slides WILL come in with the engine running. In fact, I can literally hear the main slide motor working easier when the engine is running, so I usually start the engine to bring in the main slide. The small slide in the bedroom doesn’t seem to matter that much.

The fifth wheel you mention only HAS “coach” batteries as there IS no chassis battery, so no option there and the tow vehicle will start even if those batteries are weak/dead. A lot of (many/most/all?) motorhomes have the slides wired to the chassis battery. I believe the reason for this is so that IF you run the coach batteries down overnight (say with the furnace running), you can still bring in the slides in the morning using the fully charged chassis battery and hit the road. As was mentioned above, starting the engine boosts the battery voltage by a good 10+% which is easier on the motor and wiring.

Not being an RV designer, the other thing I wonder is if the slides in the motorhomes have to be built a bit more solidly seeing as there may be people sitting in the slide area while the vehicle is in motion. This isn’t a concern with trailers & fivers. Therefore the slides in the motorhomes might be heavier. Just guessing there.

Most likely, it’s whatever the manufacturer thinks is best. Or cheapest! LOL

~Rick

But WHY the difference? I have seen a 42 foot Toy Hauler with 5 slides and two house batteries run the slides in and out when dry camping on the batteries alone no 110 volt and no generator....

It appears on the Motorhome that you have no choice the engine has to be running...

If your slides work off the chassis electrical system, when the engine is running, the system voltage usually jumps to about +-13.2 to +-13.8 volts (possibly higher) instead of the battery rest voltage which is usually about +-12.8 assuming a fully charged battery.

The slightly increased system voltage helps the slide motors with a little extra voltage "push" which makes it/them work better. (just the opposite of a drained battery)

Chum lee

Same on my Class A.

On my travel trailer, I would often blow the slide fuse if I tried on battery. I used to keep the wiring harness to the tow vehicle and the tow vehicle engine running. Never blew a fuse that way. Or, better yet, plug into shore power before deploying slides.

My slide won’t work with the ignition key on or engine running but need E brake on

I found my class C generator liked the engine running when trying to start with one 12V battery. ?

The alternator was giving the 12V system a boost. Never had a rig do that before this one.

Class A Itasca 'recommends' engine running when deploying slides.

JM2¢ ~~ YMMV