Slideouts: Benefits and drawbacks

d3500ram wrote:
I do not nor have I owned a TC with a slide... so my assumptions might be false, but I would think that a gaping hole on the side of the body structure does not allow for only but the mildest of off-roading. I can only assume that there would be some racking of that opening.


You may get a little twisting of the slide opening but I don't think it's all that much. The camper sits in the bed and while the bed and cab may flex somewhat independently the bed by itself and thus the floor and structure of the camper isn't twisting much if any by itself. It moves as a whole together as the suspension absorbs most of the un-evenness. The camper wall and slide stays straight.









Am I wrong in assuming that the camper must be almost perfect level for the slide to work properly? Leveling the camper for the night is one thing, but how operable is it when a quick snack or toilet break requires one to open the slide in not-the-best of conditions? Can it be reasonable done if not almost spot-on level?

I never had a problem opening my slide anytime anywhere although I never tried in the pictures above. I still don't think I would have had trouble opening it with the front tire in the air. Maybe I should have tried as the weight transfer may have set the front tire back down on the ground.

Again, not owning one I am basing my opinions on assumptions with a little of physics tossed in. But I feel I can safely say that a non slide TC is more off-road capable and can go more places than a TC with a slide out.

Here are my biggest drawbacks of off-roading with a TC in order of most concern:

First is camper length. Too low of departure angle limits the type of terrain you can safely navigate w/o possibly causing major damage by ripping out a rear jack or tearing off the bumper.

Tie for second is height & weight. Not being able to get under branches without tearing a hole in the rubber roof while also not having to spend all day doing major logging operations. And a heavy camper with a high center of gravity also limits the travel into terrain that leans the truck to the side too much. The dually helps but there is a point that if you lean too much it's all over.

After that is how much you mind the bushy-willows adding pin-striping to the sides of the camper because if it's width.

Because a slide-out style camper will usually be at least taller and heavier compared to a non-slide I would generally have to agree with your statement. However because I feel length is more of a concern having a short slide-out like an AF 811 would be preferred off-road to a longer 11'-12' non-slide in my opinion. I know I will be more offroad capable in my shorter lighter NL than I was in my longer, taller, heavier AF though.

That's not to say it's completely the slide-out that limits off-road ability. The type of truck you have along with driver skill and determination to get where you want to go is a bigger factor in off-roading than having a slide-out. I know there are people with non-slides that wouldn't have followed me into places I went with my big slide.

Not to hijack the topic, but I would not mind input. Is there a slide TC made that is off-road capable?

Yep, but you have to know and understand your limitations. Off-roading with a slide-out clicky

There is a lot more to account for the off-road ability of a TC than whether or not it has a slide. Just because you have a slide doesn't limit you to the pavement and the "good" roads or prevent you from getting off-road.