Forum Discussion

egarant's avatar
egarant
Explorer III
Aug 17, 2023

Slide Out Storage Capacity

I have a ‘13 Eagle Cap 950, it has a single motor drive Happijac slide mechanism. The slide has two small outside compartments that share an interior drawer. How much weight do you think I can comfortably store in those little storage compartments and should i put the heavier weight over the side of the slide that houses the drive motor as opposed to the opposite side?

The HappiJack site has absolutely no specs on carrying capacity…

Thanks!!

Mr. E
  • As noted, there isn't any way to know.

    However, I don't think the motor would be the issue. The frame that encloses the slide is. Generally speaking the more common issues with slides is adjustment and broken frames. That being said, I would avoid putting heavy items in any but the most secure reinforced compartments. You can always put very heavy items in the back floorboard or underneath most back seats assuming your truck has one.

    Fwiw, my guess is that the motor is very similar to what they used on their jacks. Those can lift over 1000 lbs, so practically speaking you'll never run out of capacity to move the slide in/out.
  • Buzzcut1 wrote:
    my slide houses a 4 person dinette so at 200 pounds per person it should easily support 800 pounds. only 2 of us ever sit in the dinette so if there were space (there isn't) I could stuff 400 pounds in and not worry about it. Don't over think stuff


    The question wasn't "support." It's what the slide mechanism will move in and out.

    Unless you get bored and everyone jumps in the dinette and rides the slide in and out for fun... Wheeeeeee! LOL :)

    Don't these slide mechanisms have overload clutches? So if you put too much in the slide, it will simply click angrily at you instead of moving.

    I'm betting you'd have to fill the storage compartments with lead to get enough weight to stop the slide mechanism. Unless you make your living as a traveling leadsmith, anything you could feasibly put in the compartments will be fine.
  • my slide houses a 4 person dinette so at 200 pounds per person it should easily support 800 pounds. only 2 of us ever sit in the dinette so if there were space (there isn't) I could stuff 400 pounds in and not worry about it. Don't over think stuff
  • I’m gonna guess you’re asking a question that no one actually has the answer to, however a reasonable deduction would be, be reasonable with it.
    I packed our slide out storage compartment full of fishing gear and misc camping stuff. 50lbs? Never gave it a second thought.
    Plus the drawer/compartment on the inside was full of kitchen/bath stuff. And I’m sure the kids rode the slide in and out a few times, sitting at the table.

    However it does seem like a silly place to store ones extra large pet rock collection, and putting batteries there just doesn’t make a ton of sense although it’s doable.
    So to answer your question with a question, what are you considering putting in there?