Using Slides in Freezing Weather

Make sure its not frozen to the side of the trailer. I had a squirrel issue last winter and went to open the slide to check. It started to slide but a portion was froze to the side and broke a few bolts off where the arm attaches to the rail. I closed it back up and turned the heat on to defrost it.

Actually extending and retracting.

Is the OP's issue using the TT with the slide out during freezing temps, or actually moving the slide in and out during freezing temps?

I had trouble with mine once when the temperature was in the teens. One side would begin to extend but the other side didn't budge. I ran my fingers around the seals and they were free. I finally turned the furnace on and 30 minutes later both sides started working. I never figured out what the problem was.

I've had it freeze up and snow build up over night with the slide out.

Brushed off the loose stuff and moved the slide in. Didn't want to fool with the stuck-on frozen stuff 'cause of the rubber roof of the slide.

The interior warmth eventually loosened the remaining ice on top, and I could clean it up easily from inside.

The top wiper seals don't appear to be damaged by moving it in with the ice on top, probably because the roof of the slide is tilted, it drops lower as the slide is brought in putting more distance between the roof ice and the wipers. Another good reason for an angled slide roof I guess.

I am not sure how using it in cold weather could do any damage to it.

Been in very cold freezing weather/temps on several occasions with snow and ice on slide roofs.

Always have brushed snow off and when it was ice I poured water over it until ice broke loose.
I wouldn't even think about closing slides without doing so.

Seals stuck to cold metal would be like trying to pull my tongue loose from a metal pole.

If you live in a place with harsh winters, you’ve no doubt experienced the frustration of trying to force a frozen door open. Thankfully, there’s a simple solution that uses the magic of chemistry. Using ordinary cooking spray, coat all of the rubber gaskets on the inside of your door and then gently wipe with a paper towel. Doors freeze close because water settles in these gaskets and then hardens, so a quick coating of lipids will make their seal tighter and prevent any moisture from getting in. Guess this might apply to RV Slides also

I think the biggest issue most have is snow, ice, leaves, etc. on the top of the slide that can damage the rubber gasket when moving the slide in. There is a second issue in very cold weather in that making the coach slightly smaller by leaving the slide in uses less heat (a smaller space to heat albiet not much smaller and it might not make that much of a difference) if that is an issue with you.

I use the slide often in freezing temps and have learned that checking outside around the slide for ice is very important. I run heat in prior too running the slide, but ice sometimes builds up around the slide and seal from the pitched roof draining over the frozen drain rail.

I like to run my slide out about once a month.