We have our travel trailer parked permanently parked in a campground. I generally move the slides in when we leave after a weekend of camping. Most of the other folks leave their slides out all of the time. I thought I was told that leaving them out causes them to sag over time.....What do you all think????

I usually pull mine in when not using the rv. Keeps the sun off the seals and less chance of critter entery.

When we had ours on a permanent spot, I usually pulled it in unless we were doing back-to-back weekends. If I had had an awning over it, I may have left it out more. Lots of people there left their's out though.

We leave ours out all summer long, do to the fact that we go to our place every weekend thru out the summer. Plus ours get some shade so I don't worry about the seals getting dry. And as for the critters, I only have the mice problem during winter when the slides are close figure that one out. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.;)

Ours stay out all summer, although periodically we bring them in and back out to "exercise" them... That was our dealer suggestion, and certainly does no harm.

If my RV was permanently parked and I was not there, I would put them in to avoid severe weather if it occurred to prevent extensive damage. Very simple to pull the slides in vs. leaving them out exposed to unexpected severe weather IMO.

should sliders stay in or out??? | Good Sam Community

sacmarata
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
I'm curious to hear more about this frame flex. I can't find any old posts about it. I can't imagine there being much flex at all or interior "stuff" would start breaking and not lining up.
My TT is 9 years old and the previous owner said he averaged 11,000 miles a year with it, but everything inside is still tight as a drum. I would think if the frame flexed much at all, it wouldn't take too many chug holes for interior components to begin showing signs that theres been movement.
I know theres gotta be SOME, but personally I doubt theres enough to establish concerns about the slideout for this debate.
I'm sure it varies by model as well.
doxiluvr
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2014
We have always had permanent site in Wisconsin and now in Colorado. We put our slides out when we arrive in June and put back in at the end of September. Our unit is now 8 years old and we have never had a problem. Slides are very well built and if maintained properly will not "sag."
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2014
Double post
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2014
No, that's not right. Because of the spring connnection between tandem
axles, a flat tire will move the force to the other axle, not the jack. That puts unequal weight distribution at the axle point...right where the slide is. Poor decision to use slide supports.

I don't know how your trailer axles are but mine are connected to the frame and if the frame is supported 1-2-3 or 4 flats are "not" going to move the frame or slide.

Ever set up a mobile home then take the axles and tires off, I have and it's the same concept... That's extreme but 4 screw jacks rated at 6500 lbs each are more than capable of holding the trailer in place on solid ground without worry of a flat tire.

By the way, I've had it happen without any movement at all with corner jacks..... What is your actual experience with a flat tire with 4 corner jacks down?????

Your guessing I'm not!
sacmarata
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
jaycocreek wrote:
My wife read our manual and said Keystone recommends running the slide in and out every month. I'll have to read it one of these days but I don't do it every 30 days and doubt most do either especially in the winter months.

Any electric motor should be run occasionally to "keep it loose."
That I can definitely agree with. So, depending on how often and what the motor size/weight ration and other mechanical factors are, I can see my previous statements as being slightly off.

I would stand by my previous statements on wear if frequently slid in and back out.
fatboy66
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
jaycocreek wrote:
I don't know how anyone else sets up. All my corner jacks go on 2x6's and checked often. The corner jacks are on the frame and the slide is not dependent on the tires but are on the frame. The slide out would work fine without tires or axles even on it if the frame was supported properly!

Would I use slide supports with the phony electric stabilizers.. No.. But I do with the scissors jacks on solid ground.

A flat tire cannot effect the slide at all if the trailer frame is properly blocked up/secured....

This is Idaho and we live on solid ground.:B

No, that's not right. Because of the spring connnection between tandem
axles, a flat tire will move the force to the other axle, not the jack. That puts unequal weight distribution at the axle point...right where the slide is. Poor decision to use slide supports.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2014
My wife read our manual and said Keystone recommends running the slide in and out every month. I'll have to read it one of these days but I don't do it every 30 days and doubt most do either especially in the winter months.
sacmarata
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
The easy answer is to pull them in. ZERO risk other than more use = more wear. The more frequently you slide em in and out the more likely you are to experience mechanical failure. Thats just the facts.

The tricky answer depends on if yer smart enough to set it up so that a flat won't create undo stress on the slideout. It's not rocket science, but theres lots of folks out there who are anxious about doing anything outside the boundaries of what the "experts" say. NEWS FLASH...the experts say what they do because they want to limit liability not because it's actually a best practice. If the experts said to support the slideout and little Mr. pay someone to do everything for him comes along and decides to jack it up instead of support it or supports it without the leveling jacks down...voila...instant lawsuit once a tire goes flat.

So, for those that arent afraid to think for themselves and have reasonable mechanical kowledge, supporting a slide out is a no brainer. If you only trust the "experts" and get anxious about thinking outside the box, leave em in. The worst that can happen is premature wear on the motor brushes, higher risk of puncturing the seal, battery drain, binding, increased maintenance, etc...

If you don't have the blocks/tools to set up your RV so the jacks wont sink, then keep em in.
Huntindog
Explorer
May 30, 2014
jaycocreek wrote:
I don't know how anyone else sets up. All my corner jacks go on 2x6's and checked often. The corner jacks are on the frame and the slide is not dependent on the tires but are on the frame. The slide out would work fine without tires or axles even on it if the frame was supported properly!

Would I use slide supports with the phony electric stabilizers.. No.. But I do with the scissors jacks on solid ground.

A flat tire cannot effect the slide at all if the trailer frame is properly blocked up/secured....

This is Idaho and we live on solid ground.:B

Jacks on the corners.. The usual locations.
You do know that most it not all TTs suffer from frame flex, right? There are many threads on this.

You referenced a mobile home as an example... Poor choice. They are not designed to move frequently and are braced in many locations with very solid supports. If you brace your TT to that standard, then sure, there will be no movement, and slide supports probably would cause no harm or have no benefit.
It would be quite a chore setting up and breaking camp though.

Idaho has solid ground... Does it ever rain there?
I often have to snug my jacks up every few days. If the ground is wet, they will not all settle at the same rate. (usually)
jaycocreek
Explorer II
May 30, 2014
I don't know how anyone else sets up. All my corner jacks go on 2x6's and checked often. The corner jacks are on the frame and the slide is not dependent on the tires but are on the frame. The slide out would work fine without tires or axles even on it if the frame was supported properly!

Would I use slide supports with the phony electric stabilizers.. No.. But I do with the scissors jacks on solid ground.

A flat tire cannot effect the slide at all if the trailer frame is properly blocked up/secured....

This is Idaho and we live on solid ground.:B

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should sliders stay in or out???

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