What we have learned

DutchmenSport wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:

jbrad13 wrote:
Also, if you have slides, try to not have any appliances on them; i.e. refrigerator, sink, stove, etc

Why?

I'll chime in here.

My Outback does not have any appliances on the slides. the only thing in my slides are 120 volt electric plugs and 12 volt lights. I can see some issues with appliances on slides, and some of these have been addressed on these forums too.

1. Weight. The added weight of the appliances, entertainment centers, and cabinets make the slide mechanisms work harder than if they are empty, or have just furniture on them. You would think the manufacturers would produce adequate systems to handle the weight. But if you examine close, the same mechanism are used on the same style of campers with the different floor plans. The extra weight simply causes extra exertion on the moving parts. There's an added risk there.

2. Weight. When slides are out, the extra weight on the protruding slide could cause the slide tracks to weaken or bend. If you have the choice between a slide with appliances on it, or a slide that does not ... why take chances.

3. Moving parts. No, not the slide mechanism. I'm referring to electric wires bending and bending and bending every time the slide is extracted or retracted. The plumbing (if the slide has the kitchen built in), will bend every extract or retract. The constant bending and flexing of the plumbing, drains, water, wiring could cause problems after a while. Joints weaken, water lines and drains get pinched, and wires that bend back and forth enough break. Anything that moves is subject to failure.

These are my assumptions why some folks would be concerned about appliances on the slides. Some of these issues have been discussed on these forums too.

For what it's worth, my Outback has no appliances on the slides only a couch, 2 chairs, and a table. But I've crawled under the trailer and examined how all this works and is tied in together. The wires are held in place with a plastic support that bends. The wires all bend with it. I can see over time, where I will eventually have wire failure.

Just my suggestions why anyone would suggest do not get appliances on slides.

As Dutchman points out in the end you can have wiring or mechanical failure on the slides with or without appliances.
I have appliances on my slides and have had no issues.
Slides are about added space when set up.
While I do think access to bathroom and fridge with slides closed is a major consideration, overall slides are a wonderful thing.
Don't over think/analyze the slide issue. Slides allow for lots of additional space. Yes there is the risk that something could go wrong but the additional space provided by the slide supersedes the risk factor.
My advice is to live on the edge and enjoy all the space the slides create. For the record my current unit has 5 slides that create an enormous amount of additional space.