slide outs

upsidedown Charlie wrote:
Thanks. I love thinking of questions late at night and waking up to answers. We just called the dealer and everything is ready so our sis in law is driving us 60 miles to pick it up. It has been torture waiting 4 weeks for these guys to get it ready.

Plan is to gas up a mile from home. We'll run the genset and spend the night aboard so I can get an accurate GPH burn on it. We like the notion of boondocking or boon-squatting at free places.

We have the weekend to load the interior and pack stuff in the basement storage. Knowing that we pick up today has lifted a heavy leaden pall from our lives. I think the experience of buying and waiting made us anxious and on top of the crazy goings on politically we've been on the edge of crazy.

Stress measurements dropped like a brick when we got off the phone with the dealer.

Don't worry, our wifi is great in the driveway so I can still ask late night questions. Thanks to everybody for taking the time to help. When I actually know something, I'll give back.

GPH on the generator will depend on size, a 4.0 Onan gas generator will be about 1/2 GPH +/- depending on what load you have on, but the size of that Winny in your signiture, may well have a 5.5 or 7.

You can extend the slides and then cut all power to the camper and it will not affect the slides at all. You can keep them in the extended position indefinitely and it really won't hurt anything. They are made to be extended.

We have, on several occasions, extended the slides only half way, in order to gain access (but mostly when I'm working or treating the rubber seals around the slides). When traveling, we may stop somewhere and pull the slides out some (not all the way) for a little more leg room. Our camper can be used 100% with all slides in, but sometimes, it's just easier getting to the back end with one of the slides extended about a foot. It does not hurt anything.

To leave it partially extended is probably not a good idea. The seals will not be completely sealed. As stated above, you can have water come in if it rains, or get bugs inside. But for a few minutes, even a few hours, it won't hurt anything. If actually using the camper, the slides really should be all the way in, or all the way out. Partial, only for a momentary event.

Thanks. I love thinking of questions late at night and waking up to answers. We just called the dealer and everything is ready so our sis in law is driving us 60 miles to pick it up. It has been torture waiting 4 weeks for these guys to get it ready.

Plan is to gas up a mile from home. We'll run the genset and spend the night aboard so I can get an accurate GPH burn on it. We like the notion of boondocking or boon-squatting at free places.

We have the weekend to load the interior and pack stuff in the basement storage. Knowing that we pick up today has lifted a heavy leaden pall from our lives. I think the experience of buying and waiting made us anxious and on top of the crazy goings on politically we've been on the edge of crazy.

Stress measurements dropped like a brick when we got off the phone with the dealer.

Don't worry, our wifi is great in the driveway so I can still ask late night questions. Thanks to everybody for taking the time to help. When I actually know something, I'll give back.

I would extend the slide all the way if possible, then there would be no potential problem standing, walking, or sitting on the slide. ( I was told not to put my weight on the slide while retracted ).

Slideouts don't care about shore power or generator. When they are not moving, they need no power. When they are moving, they are usually doing it on 12V power systems, and if they need more power than what is available from batteries, starting the engine is usually a better source than plugging in to 120V for the limited power available from a converter.

Slideouts are best supported all the way in or all the way out. They are sealed against weather and vermin (we hope) only in full in and full out positions. Whether or not they will support weight in these intermediate positions depends on slide structure and support mechanisms. If you want to move them a little to get into a cabinet or drawer, you should be OK, they should support their own weight in intermediate positions, but not necessarily additional load weights.

Slides use DC to operate......so good batteries you can run them in/out

Partially extended........yeah if it is just to squeeze by to get at something BUT not for leaving them that way.
Slides are fully self supporting WHEN fully extended (can be when retracted IF they are the type that ride in/out above floor)
Slide only SEAL when fully extended or retracted..no in between,

Driveway camping (level) is a great way to learn/experience a new RV
Spend some time ...cook in it, sleep in it, relax in it, camp in ----enjoy it!

When parked at home, level and jacks down, we usually have the slides extended. No different from being at a campground. If weather starts to look bad, storms or snow, we will usually retract them and leave then in until we need something. Power on or off makes no difference.

upsidedown Charlie wrote:
If you guys keep answering, I'll keep asking. Learning so much.

If we park in the driveway, level up and run out the slides, is there any reason to not leave them outwith no shore power or generator running?

We plan on taking a few days to load and prep.

Is it okay to partially extend slides to get to drawers? Does it matter if you leave it partially extended ? I have a hard time reading the smart papers without being aboard to look at what they describe. Hopefully I can lock myself in and crawl over every square inch and study how things work.

We are picking up our RV tomorrow whether the dealer is done or not. The only thing left on their punch list is replacing the ice maker and a few light bulbs. If I can't manage those we'll deal with it later.

I don't see any problem. The only thing I would do is bring them in if there is going to be lots of wind.It just reduses un nesacarey wear and tear on the slide topers. If I am camping and they predict extreme wind I would bring in the slides to prevent damage. As a bonus comment NEVER leave your main awning out if you are not there.
"Is it okay to partially extend slides to get to drawers?"
There is no problem but be aware the seals are not making contact and it maynot be weather tight.
Here is a thought, spend the night in your new coach in the driveway. Make believe you are at a remote campground. now write down on a tablet all the things you forgot.;)
Bill

It's ok to partially extend them but many manufacturers warn against walking on them in that position. I ignored that advice and ended up paying!
Also, leaving it partially extended probably means the slide is not sealed and everything from bugs and critters to rain may get in.