Slide not staying closed

These were common on our first slideouts when they were pulled out by hand.

My first rv trailer with a powered electric/gear slideout was a 1984 5er. It came with two carpet covered 2x3 boards cut to the proper length to keep the slideout in. The slideout never moved when in while going down the road so after a time they stayed in the storage bin.

Our 2nd rv with a slide was a '96 electric/hyd unit. The trailer mfg cheaped out and didn't add a double acting control valve that would hold the slide in.
I added two heavy slam latches on the two slideout tubes to keep the slideout in.

Our present slideouts are both electric/gear and will not move/creep once out or in.

If your slideout creeps out easily I wouldn't use a adjustable shower curtain rod as a slideout is heavy while on twisty winding roads.

What ever you use keep a close watch while going down the road.

A friend was having the same problem with his 5er. Fix was to replace a hydraulic metering block near the pump where the lines attached. Dealer said they had gotten a notice from the company that made the hydraulics there was a batch of these metering blocks that would go bad prematurely and allow hydraulic fluid to seep opening the slide. The dealer had replaced about half dozen. Fixed the problem.

After closer examination and reading the manual it said 'rail tension setting too loose' and to call Happijac Co. Since I have an enclosed underbelly I'm sure this will not be an easy fix. I'll get some of those bars as a temporary fix.

fj12ryder wrote:
My thought would be if it's electric then the brake isn't holding. If it's hydraulic then the system has a bad seal and is allowing hydraulic pressure to bleed off.

My thoughts exactly. I also would not circumvent the issue by putting props in it.

If you cannot find the issue I would "get" it fixed.

BTW, did we figure out if it way hydraulic or electric?

I'm all for "an ounce of prevention" even when there is no problem. I never though about my slides moving while in transit. If a little resistance like those bars offer would keep them from every moving at all in the first place, nothing would ever get broken and it would help ease the tension on the slide brakes and stops too. I think I'll experiment with those shower curtain rods I have. It sure won't hurt anything at all to experiment with it. I'm one that's 100% for safety and snugging everything up when on the road. I can add this one to my list of paranoia! And it would be very simple to cut a length of 2x4 and make one that would simply slide right in, enough to prevent possible movement! Great idea! Guess I have a new project to tinker with today.

Some earlier coaches with slideout rooms came with slideout bars.

I think shower curtain rods, shortened, would work if they offered enough adjustment range to get in place then still tighten. I think they'd have to be the threaded twist-to-tighten type. Not spring loaded but I'm not sure.

Harbor Fright used to have a bar, meant to expand between the sides of a pickup truck bed. Used to keep cargo from sliding around. Those worked the same way as the "RV" ones, at about 1/3 the price, but would have to be shortened. I looked today to link it here and didn't find it... OOPS... 96811 "Ratcheting" Cargo Bar at $22. They seem to have gone up-scale from the old Twist Type.

SoundGuy wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
I suppose I've never seen anything like this product before. How does it work?

Pretty simple actually.

Oh! Thank you. Could you do the same thing with a bathroom shower tension rod? The shorter ones of course. I have several shower rods not being used any more.

You need to get this checked. I have a broken bottom slide bracket inside the RV. Mine would not retract properly but yours may be letting go and not holding. Something is not correct and needs attention before it gets worse! Hopefully it is minor.

DutchmenSport wrote:
I suppose I've never seen anything like this product before. How does it work?

Pretty simple actually.

downtheroad wrote:
Here is one solution....Slide Locks....link

On a previous trailer we had I just made my own using standard wood doweling...

I suppose I've never seen anything like this product before. How does it work? How is it attached? inside the camper, outside the camper. The link doesn't provide enough information, I can't even read what the name brand is, it's so small in the image.

I'm not having any problems, but I do like to keep up on things like this. This one is new to me.