Slides out or autolevelers down first?

Racklefratz wrote:

phil-t wrote:
Common sense (regardless of what the coach builder says) dictates being level before deploying slide(s). That's all there is to it! Slide mechanisms are not designed to operate when out of level. Read the slide out manual, or call the slide manufacturer.

I have to agree.

I'm not one to countermand whatever an RV manufacturer says in its literature provided with the RV, but it makes zero sense to me to extend slides if the vehicle is out of level.

It's simple physics - gravity's going to come into play if things aren't level, and the energy required to move slides in/out will obviously not be the same.

Unless it's mechanically impossible - like my new coach.

phil-t wrote:
Common sense (regardless of what the coach builder says) dictates being level before deploying slide(s). That's all there is to it! Slide mechanisms are not designed to operate when out of level. Read the slide out manual, or call the slide manufacturer.

I have to agree.

I'm not one to countermand whatever an RV manufacturer says in its literature provided with the RV, but it makes zero sense to me to extend slides if the vehicle is out of level.

It's simple physics - gravity's going to come into play if things aren't level, and the energy required to move slides in/out will obviously not be the same.

Two Jayhawks wrote:

Bruce Brown wrote:

Ro"n"Joe wrote:
On our rig, while aired up slides out first then level. On leaving air up bags, slides in then jacks up.

That must be something new for Newmar, they were always level first then slides.

I'm thinking maybe the full wall slide has changed things from the old days.

My 2015 Dutch Star instructions says to leave aired up, don't level first, deploy slides. Same as Ro"n"Joe. I believe this instruction is there to protect the full wall slide. Yes it's backward to some but that's why you follow mfg's instructions. I'm 8 years in following Newmars instructions & no issues.

I'm guessing you have the newer "Star Chassis". I was told at factory pickup that the slideouts are setup to work with airbags inflated. Nothing was mentioned about protecting the full wall slide.

An interesting question asked often on this and other forums. My rig is on a Freightliner XC chassis. I always dump my air first as I was told I could damage my airbags leveling aired up, then deploy the slides. Reverse, slides in, jacks up, air up.

So we just brought home our new MH and my perspective has changed a bit. The new one the MBS chassis requires the engine to be running to put the slides out, but requires the engine to be off to put down the jacks. This literally forces me to put the slides out first - something I have never done on any RV I have owned. granted this is a C but wanted to note that the process really is unique to the unit.

The instruction manual on our 1997 Monaco Dynasty with three point levelers is: slides out at full ride height, dump air bags, deploy levelers. When breaking camp it's air up to full ride height, retract levelers, retract slides. Been doing it this way for 17 years with no issues.

Bruce Brown wrote:

Ro"n"Joe wrote:
On our rig, while aired up slides out first then level. On leaving air up bags, slides in then jacks up.

That must be something new for Newmar, they were always level first then slides.

I'm thinking maybe the full wall slide has changed things from the old days.

My 2015 Dutch Star instructions says to leave aired up, don't level first, deploy slides. Same as Ro"n"Joe. I believe this instruction is there to protect the full wall slide. Yes it's backward to some but that's why you follow mfg's instructions. I'm 8 years in following Newmars instructions & no issues.

RTFM as in read the factory manual.I have seen slide and then level and level and then slide.

chompchomp wrote:
We’re now on our third Class A MH and the dealer insisted slides go out first . We have always leveled first. Any thoughts?

Reccomendations from the manufacturer will vary depending on several factors, but the most important is the structural integrity of the vehicle with the slides in vs the slides out.
Some RVs (mainly the ones with a lower cost) use the slide out closed as part of the structure. In these cases you need to level first and open the slide outs afterwards because the slides need to be part of the structure. The only issue is that when you open the slideouts the weight distribution will change and the RV might stress a little on one jack or even move if you are on soft ground.
The RVs in which the slideout wall is not part of the structure (a bus chassis for example) don't need the wall of the slideout to be in to maintain structure, so it is better to level the RV with the slides out to ensure great weight distribution.
I always believed that the safest bet is always to level first and open slideout afterwards, but me driving an Alfa, when the 4 feet slideout monster comes out you absolutelly can feel the RV change position...

Ro"n"Joe wrote:
On our rig, while aired up slides out first then level. On leaving air up bags, slides in then jacks up.

That must be something new for Newmar, they were always level first then slides.

I'm thinking maybe the full wall slide has changed things from the old days.