To slide (out) or not to slide out??

I have had both and now prefer not to have the complications and problems that come with slides. This was reinforced last weekend when I helped a buddy with a 2005 Prevost try to get his slides to quit leaking. We may have fixed it, maybe not.

No slide. Just the 2 of us. Plenty of room. No problem getting past each other, but then we don't have any issues with contact.
We also spend more time outside than in, unless the weather Is too uncomfortable.
Personal preference will prevail and help you choose.

Take it from someone who owned their first travel trailer for 9 months.... Buy a unit with a slide. I had gotten some information from older RVers that slides leak and motors and frames fail. They were speaking of old technology. Once I started camping and felt alone with a slide-less travel trailer. I started talking to people in campgrounds whom owned newer "2005+" travel trailers and none had problems with slides. I went and traded my non-slide for a unit with a slide. I have had no problems with my slide with over 4 years of use. Don't make the same mistake I did. Buy a unit with a slide. You will be way more satisfied with a unit with a slide.

Our first trailer doesn't have a slide. It was great for the bride and I. A little tight inside... but we didn't spend much time inside. Once we had our daughter, that small space and tight walkways became really tight. We found ourselves inside more often because of our daughter. We still made it work, but it wasn't ideal. We do a couple of longer trips a year and can't avoid bad weather. Rainy days with a 2 year old and 2 adults and a small trailer was rather cumbersome. Before, we could just go sit out under the awning or go out to a museum or some other inside attraction. Much harder to control a 2 year old in the rain...

Now that we have a little baby boy added into the mix, we are buying a new trailer. We decided we wanted a slide so that we have a larger open floor space for the kiddo's to play. We want to be able to comfortably move around inside with 4 people. For us... that meant having a slide.

You DO NOT NEED a slide. It's far cheaper to just buy these......

Steel toe shoes

Firehawvvk wrote:
WOW, thanks for the responses. I really do appreciate the help. The trailer is for 2 people and my truck is equipped to handle mx trlr weight of 9500# and a GCWR of 15000#. The only thing I am really concerned about is the tongue weight of only 600# w/o getting a weight distributing hitch.

Again, thanks for the help!

You ain't getting anything over a #6000 TT without needing a WD hitch with a 1500 series truck... I use one for a #5000 TT..

Oh, and that #9500 "tow rating" does not necessary mean a tongue heavy RV either.. ;)

As far as slide out or not.. Totally personal choice.. I've only got a 22' trailer and don't have a slide and it's just fine for 2 of us.

Do I like the rigs with slides in them? Sure, they are great! But, I've got the rig I've got and it's paid for! :)

I'm outside under the awning, even when it's raining out. I come in when it's windy and cold out, but I've also wrapped the sides of the awning with tarps to keep with wind and rain at bay and my Mr Heater going to stay under the awning! ;)

Good luck!

Mitch

We wouldn't own one without multiple slides, and the more the better.

WOW, thanks for the responses. I really do appreciate the help. The trailer is for 2 people and my truck is equipped to handle mx trlr weight of 9500# and a GCWR of 15000#. The only thing I am really concerned about is the tongue weight of only 600# w/o getting a weight distributing hitch.

Again, thanks for the help!

Had a non-slide TT for 10 years for our family of 5. Loved it. It was within the weights I needed, and I was concerned about the additional weight of slides. As the kids grew into teens, it got harder to get by each other (especially if anyone was cooking). We would have to squeeze by with both people rubbing the walls or cabinets.

A year ago we upgraded to a TT with 3 slides (2 opposing each other in the rear living area). Now that it is just the DW and I it seems a bit much, but we love it. I don't think I'll have another TT without slides. Since I have the rear living area, and there are windows in the slides, I can see down both sides of the TT. I never had that capability in the other TT.

I also made sure we could access the bathroom and the fridge with the slides in. That would have been a deal breaker for me. I love the extra room with the slides, and I only have 1 more check to make sure I can put them out before I decide the exact spot to leave the TT in my site.

I haven't had any issues with my slides, but I wouldn't expect any in the first year. Hopefully things will continue along that way.

That is really a personal question. If had been tent camping for decades before you got your TT you would be happy with the room you had in a TT without slides. If you have more than two people staying in your TT and it's a rainy day you might wish you had four slides let alone one. We went from 20 yrs of tent camping to our 30 ft TT with two slides. With just the wife, dog, and me it is great. If I was full timing it I would probably want a bigger floor plan if I could afford it.

A very personal question. Slides are not inexpensive and do need to be adjusted occasionally. If you don't have the skills and you don't have the money you will eventually have a problem.

I hope you are enjoying the journey you are on and find what you are looking for.