Forum Discussion

Air_Boss's avatar
Air_Boss
Explorer
May 13, 2014

5th Wheel Slide Problem?

We have a 33 foot long, 2008 Challenger 5th wheel trailer, with 3 slides which are moved by a Lippert hydraulic system. The slides are not controlled individually but all on the same line. They move out in sequence, 1 (bedroom), 2 (opposing living room), 3 (large living room slide), and retract in the same sequence, 1, 2, 3. After sitting in storage for a few months, and getting ready for a weekend trip, I attempted to open the slides which worked in sequence until #3. It only moved about a foot of its 3 foot travel when it stopped. I retracted all of them and let sit for a couple of minutes and then opened them again. They all extended as they should.
The next day we arrived at our weekend destination and attempted to open the slides. Slides 1 and 2 deployed except slowly and #3 started out, slowly, but stopped about 8 inches from full out. We retracted them and tried again. Same result. We retracted them for another try. Again it stopped about 8” from full out. I then manually pushed it out to full extension while my wife pressed the “slide out” button.
The day of departure they retracted normally. We returned home and opened the slides to clean the unit. All of them worked normally without the slow or sluggish movement as a few days before and fully extended as they should. I’m scratching my head as to what may be the problem if there is one.
The fluid reservoir is full and I haven’t noticed any fluid leak. We live in Tucson, AZ and traveled to Flagstaff, AZ where the air temperature was about 30 degrees cooler than Tucson that day. I can’t imagine the temperature would affect the operation unless it was below freezing which it wasn’t. The only thing I can zero in on is the pump.
We are planning a summer trip in 4 weeks and I would like to resolve this issue before that. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thank you.
  • Air_Boss's avatar
    Air_Boss
    Explorer
    May 16, 2014
    Thank you all for your responses. I'll check out all your sugesstions. Thanks again.
  • MrVan's avatar
    MrVan
    Explorer
    May 15, 2014
    These great(NOT) generic RV manuals listing the wrong fluid is consistent with the rest of the manual.
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    May 15, 2014
    greatwhitenorth69 wrote:
    motorcycle jack wrote:
    Troubleshooting your hydraulic problem with out testing some functionality of components is next to impossible but I will give you some ideas to check. First, since your unit is a 2008, if you haven't changed the fluid do it. The fluid is a DOT III ATF fluid at any auto store. As the fluid is open to the atmosphere via the chambers fill port it is hydrostatic (absorbs water) which can cause compression in the fluid and pump low pressure. Second there is probably debris in the fluid which can keep valves open allowing leak back. So when it is drained out take a flashlight and look for debris in the bottom. When you've finished refilling and cleaning the debris out, cycle the slides three or four times to remove any air that may be in the system.


    DOT 3 is brake fluid not ATF. OP do not fill your system with brake fluid, check with manufacturer on what to use.



    Correct some use hydraulic fluid ,some use ATF. My manual said ATF, but it came from the factory with hydraulic fluid, was pretty obvious it was not ATF .
  • greatwhitenort1's avatar
    greatwhitenort1
    Explorer
    May 15, 2014
    motorcycle jack wrote:
    Troubleshooting your hydraulic problem with out testing some functionality of components is next to impossible but I will give you some ideas to check. First, since your unit is a 2008, if you haven't changed the fluid do it. The fluid is a DOT III ATF fluid at any auto store. As the fluid is open to the atmosphere via the chambers fill port it is hydrostatic (absorbs water) which can cause compression in the fluid and pump low pressure. Second there is probably debris in the fluid which can keep valves open allowing leak back. So when it is drained out take a flashlight and look for debris in the bottom. When you've finished refilling and cleaning the debris out, cycle the slides three or four times to remove any air that may be in the system.


    DOT 3 is brake fluid not ATF. OP do not fill your system with brake fluid, check with manufacturer on what to use.
  • motorcycle_jack's avatar
    motorcycle_jack
    Explorer II
    May 14, 2014
    Troubleshooting your hydraulic problem with out testing some functionality of components is next to impossible but I will give you some ideas to check. First, since your unit is a 2008, if you haven't changed the fluid do it. The fluid is a DOT III ATF fluid at any auto store. As the fluid is open to the atmosphere via the chambers fill port it is hydrostatic (absorbs water) which can cause compression in the fluid and pump low pressure. Second there is probably debris in the fluid which can keep valves open allowing leak back. So when it is drained out take a flashlight and look for debris in the bottom. When you've finished refilling and cleaning the debris out, cycle the slides three or four times to remove any air that may be in the system.
  • GASMAN6674's avatar
    GASMAN6674
    Explorer
    May 14, 2014
    Lube the slide rams with silicone spray and fully charge your battery. then see if it repeats.
  • golf_bears's avatar
    golf_bears
    Explorer
    May 13, 2014
    Even if you are connected to shore power, I believe the slide system still gets it power from the batteries. So I think Old-Biscut is correct with the low battery theory.
  • filrupmark's avatar
    filrupmark
    Explorer
    May 13, 2014
    I would start by lubricating slide #3 . Then I would check with the factory for proper pump pressure and test the pressure. It may be a little low.
  • Air_Boss's avatar
    Air_Boss
    Explorer
    May 13, 2014
    Interesting, Old-Biscuit. However, I recall I was plugged in to AC power at the time. But you never know. I'll look into that. Thanks.

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