Slideouts: Benefits and drawbacks

retiredtoo wrote:
All our use of our TC is between april and October, so we are spending almost all out time out of the camper. Also, the non-slide is much lighter. 300 lb's is a lot of extra weight. I've yet to be in a campground for more than a few days when I haven't seen someone with jacks and tools trying to get their slide in or out. We spend much of our time on the road and doing quick overnights. So we access our camper every couple hours for peeing or lunch while on the road. Having no slide in the way is really nice. And there are only two of us most of the time. If friends and kids come along, we tell them to bring their tents and sleeping bags. Simplicity, cost, light weight, and quick and easy access while on the road to the amenities in the TC drove us to leave mechanicals like slides for those who use their RV's for indoor entertainment. Now, if I was using my TC in all weather a lot, then the indoor space becomes more of an issue.

While I agree with most said here, I would offer the following observations:
1) Where you live (Dry country or wet country) and when you camp (summer/winter) will directly affect your choice.
2) How you camp will also greatly affect your decision. Do you spend most of the time outside? Or inside?
3) Do you move often? Do you camp often?
4) How many of you are in the camping party?

My wife and I own a 30ft TT with a 14ft slide, but it is down in WA state on my dads farm, while we live in Kodiak, Alaska. We have 4 kids, one of which just joined the Marine Corps. We have made our 10 ft non slide 1966 camper work for our family outings here in Kodiak, and all around Alaska since buying the TC in 2011. It is all about your state of mind. If you want to make something work, you will make it work. If you get it in your head that it won't work, based on others notions, etc, you will not be happy. I too have seen people have problems with slides, and have had a few issues with my own slide. The room is nice, but even with our non-slide TC, it rains so hard in Alaska, that we have fought water infiltration...

If we lived back in San Diego, where my wife comes from, slide outs and leaks would not even be a thought in my mind. but after living in Western Washington, and Kodiak, Alaska, I take leaks seriously, and any way of minimizing the possibility of a leak is high on my priority level.

Just my 2 cents...

Good Luck!
Garry