We are in Bullhead City in a wind storm. At what wind speed would you pull in your slides? Sustained or gusts? Thanks!

Some will condemn this, but we use slide supports under the living room slide, our biggest. They will greatly reduce the side to side movement, especially in windy places.

I'm in the same storm in So Cal. When the wind becomes a steady roar, rattling my tilted solar panels, rocking the coach and banging the tv cable against the side, that's when I get worried. If my big slide is facing wind, it can be lifted, breaking the seal. That's when I bring it in - although I try to do that beforehand.I think that's around 40mphI just felt around my refrigerator.. facing wind.. there's quite a draft there.

Same area. My slide being out is helping me right now as it's on the wind side. I also have slide supports. Obviously the supports wouldn't do anything if the wind was actually strong enough against the slide side to tip it over. If the wind was opposite the slide side and you supported the slide it would help prevent it from tipping over as the footprint is now that much wider. I also went out and dropped my panels. I wasnt worried about them coming off, it just rocks less with them down.A different issue: I place my two bottle jacks mid point just in front of my tires and it seemed to take a good deal of movement out of the rig. Also for the dead horse issue of slide supports, I appreciate any concerns but I have it covered. I'm checking the tire pressure every 15 minutes just in case 2 tires go flat at the same time on the same side while not rolling. :)

rjxj wrote:If the wind was opposite the slide side and you supported the slide it would help prevent it from tipping over as the footprint is now that much wider.Tipping over? Jeez.. I hope to never be in wind like that.I would think slide supports would not be good given your description. If there's that much pressure on them, that means the slide rails cannot move, but the coach will.

2oldman wrote:rjxj wrote:If the wind was opposite the slide side and you supported the slide it would help prevent it from tipping over as the footprint is now that much wider.Tipping over? Jeez.. I hope to never be in wind like that.I would think slide supports would not be good given your description. If there's that much pressure on them, that means the slide rails and frame are taking that pressure too.There is hardly any pressure on them. They just help to stabilize. No the slide isn't lifted 3 inch with them either. You didn't read the last paragraph did you.

Pull in slides in wind? | Good Sam Community

49 Replies

NC_Hauler
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
dodge guy wrote:
joeburnes wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Slide outs are self supporting. No need for supports! If the slide out is lifting in the wind, there is much more to worry about......like getting to shelter!

....and there is no need for cruise control on vehicles....but it sure does help

Yes, but cruise control does not fix a problem. it is a factory offered option. never seen supports as an option!

Again, if one needs slide out supports, then something is broken!

Agree...I've never seen a 5er or TT that came with a slide out also come with supports for the slide out....In fact, I've owned more than several 5er's that stated in owners manuals to NOT use slide supports. I know I wouldn't want a slide support under my slide if unit is swaying side to side... it .would surely be putting stress on the slide out mechanism when slide sways downward and support is pushing upward. Saw a unit that was parked in a seasonal spot with supports underneath it's 3 slides, a curbside rear tire was flat and the living room slide was being pushed upward because support wouldn't let slide lower with that back part of the unit with flat tire....no one there to take care of it.

slide supports are not needed per most 5er manufacturers, and if one were to read their owners manual, they may find out it's not recommended. I've never used them, even when wind was blowing at 80 mph..5er was unscathed..

slide out supports are mostly an after market money ploy, (ever noticed they're not marketed by an RV manufacturer?), but people will buy and use them even if not recommended by the manufacturer of their unit
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2015
joeburnes wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Slide outs are self supporting. No need for supports! If the slide out is lifting in the wind, there is much more to worry about......like getting to shelter!

....and there is no need for cruise control on vehicles....but it sure does help

Yes, but cruise control does not fix a problem. it is a factory offered option. never seen supports as an option!

Again, if one needs slide out supports, then something is broken!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2015
joeburnes wrote:
JWRoberts wrote:
Never ever use slide supports, especially in high winds.

You should leave your slides out. The center of gravity will remain about the same, but the area around it will be greater. Thus more stability

Why "never ever use slide supports"?

Because supports are not required for a slide out. if your slideout needs to be supported, it is broken and needs to be fixed!
joeburnes
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
dodge guy wrote:
Slide outs are self supporting. No need for supports! If the slide out is lifting in the wind, there is much more to worry about......like getting to shelter!

....and there is no need for cruise control on vehicles....but it sure does help
joeburnes
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
JWRoberts wrote:
Never ever use slide supports, especially in high winds.

You should leave your slides out. The center of gravity will remain about the same, but the area around it will be greater. Thus more stability

Why "never ever use slide supports"?
azrving
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
Wind got one of my supports so I had to improvise. Thank god there was a tree near by.
Sluggo54
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
November 2006, Flint, TX: high winds from the south. Fiver really rocking. Pulled in slides, hitched up, faced into wind, and dropped trailer legs and put a bit of weight on them. That did a lot to stabilize the rig. Rode it (and a really impressive thunderstorm) out for four or five hours. Found out the next day a tornado had passed .3 mi to our west.

Oct 19,20,21 2007: Valley of Fires NRA, Carrizozo, NM. Three days of wind, guessing 40-60 mph. Had our short-legged tripod/dish antenna out, with maybe 40-50 lbs of rock on each foot. Blew over, anyway.

Funny how our two biggest wind experiences came in our first two years on the road.
Charley67
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
rjxj wrote:
2oldman wrote:
rjxj wrote:
You didn't read the last paragraph did you.
The sarcasm?

No, just a dead horse issue with disclaimer in last paragraph. We better get some rope and stakes, the wind may get worse later today. Buddies panels are up and he now doesn't want to go up there. I froze my hands off out there this morning. Why didn't you tell me this was coming?

Haven't visited Wall, but I've sure seen the signs!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
homefor2 wrote:
Us out West wrote:
homefor2 wrote:
I'm on the beach at Lake Havasu and it's been howling since the wee hours of the morning. I'm glad I don't have slide toppers due to noise. I have no movement of the slides at all and didn't consider bringing them in. Our unit is very heavy. Maybe that's why it doesn't move.

:h

If you don't have slide toppers how do you know they are noisy?

Just saying......

Oh btw... and ours are not a noise issue.

My last RV had them and was real noisy.
Only a little noise at times, but wind really had to be blowing...again, guess it depends on how well toppers were installed and if they maintain their tautness. ( fabric seems to do better than vinyl)
homefor2
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015
Us out West wrote:
homefor2 wrote:
I'm on the beach at Lake Havasu and it's been howling since the wee hours of the morning. I'm glad I don't have slide toppers due to noise. I have no movement of the slides at all and didn't consider bringing them in. Our unit is very heavy. Maybe that's why it doesn't move.

:h

If you don't have slide toppers how do you know they are noisy?

Just saying......

Oh btw... and ours are not a noise issue.

My last RV had them and was real noisy.