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allenm's avatar
allenm
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015

Squeaky Floor due to Slideout

My main floor squeaks really bad right in front of the slideout when it's extended. This is a Starcraft Launch Ultralite, but I'm wondering if this is common to ultalite trailers due to construction?

The slideout covers the area that squeaks when it's retracted, so I can't tell much.

I'm tempted to try a couple external slider jacks to confirm the slider puts too much strain on the floor joists or whatever. I guess it's possible the extra weight of the slider has caused some floor fasteners to come loose?

Anyone have this problem?
  • My guess from experience is that it is not the slide causing the problem, but rather that the floor in that area was not securely fastened to the frame below it.

    Not all that unusual considering the lack of quality and attention to detail in the RV industry.

    You might be able to tighten it up somewhat by crawling underneath and jamming a shim with glue between a frame cross rail and the sub-floor if you can even access it...

    Good luck.
  • downtheroad wrote:
    My guess from experience is that it is not the slide causing the problem, but rather that the floor in that area was not securely fastened to the frame below it.

    Not all that unusual considering the lack of quality and attention to detail in the RV industry.

    You might be able to tighten it up somewhat by crawling underneath and jamming a shim with glue between a frame cross rail and the sub-floor if you can even access it...

    Good luck.


    You're probably right about the slide not being the problem. I called my dealer back in Indianapolis to register the problem and let them know I would need to bring it in when I get back in April. It's under warranty.

    He suggested I put a couple jacks under the slide and see if that helps for now. Actually, he said slide jacks are a good idea if staying in the same place for a few months. Not sure I agree, but maybe - if a person is careful.

    Anyway, I did put jacks under the slide and snugged them up pretty good, making sure I didn't over do it. Didn't help at all, so the floor screws or whatever they use have probably come loose. No way to access from underneath due to the Artic package.

    Not sure we can take this screeching till April...
  • Also consider the structural ramifications of cutting a giant hole in the side of the trailer for the slide to occupy. Every effort is made to save a buck building these things, so it's not likely that there is any special consideration made to reinforcing the trailer's structure. They just cut a hole in the wall and stuffed the slideout in.
  • Just as a thought, when I was building Quicksilver, the teak floor squeaked. he ship's carpenter tried everything but to his frustration "fixes" lasted for a bit then shifted. Finally I "suggested" the base itself was the problem. A major retrofit. Boy was he angry!

    I used an adhesive I cannot find any more

    Franklin Tite Bond (for sub floors)

    The best wood adhesive I have ever seen. I wonder if volatile emissions standards killed it? It made "Liquid Nails" look like a joke.
  • An old flooring trick is to use talc between the squeaking wood and what it rubs against. This is easy to do with a strip floor on plank, probably not that easy with sheet goods and small joists tucked on top of a frame.

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