First Long Trip Damage Report

[soonernation]

Well, we just made it back from our 10 day trip to Big Bend NP and Seminole Canyon SP. 1300 miles and we made it back safely.

Damage report on the Voltage:

Must have caught the ladder on something. Ripped out all the screws on the lower supports. They were also bent.

Pulled out of an eating establishment and the exit grade made the rear of my trailer drag. Messed up some of the corner molding.

Bedroom slide would not go out or in. One corner appears to not be working. The wife had to sit on the floor and push the bottom of it with her feet. Seems like the motor isn't working at all. To get it in, I had to push on the outside. Good thing for the remote as it allowed me to go in with the slide while pushing on the corner.

The main slide did not close all the way when leaving. I had to pull on one side to "assist" it. It wasn't as bad as the bedroom slide.

I'm not sure what the deal is with these slides. I think I will check the motor operation next weekend. The bedroom slide has not been in sync the last couple of times out. I brought it in and out to "sync" the motors but it did not seem to work. Maybe a the motor was going bad.

Overall it was a good trip. Looking forward to the next one.

[grizzly660fan]

micahmiles wrote:
I've also found that keeping the slide seals lubricated and spraying a non sticky silicone spray on the slide tracks seems to help keep things moving easily.

Yes, this is GREAT advice! Also spray the silicone spray along the thick rubber sweep under each slide. Try to get the silicone spray on both the inside and outside of this sweep. Don't forget to spray the u shaped portion under each of the metal tracks where the rollers go.

[dougford]

soonernation: glad you had a good trip!! I second your formula for determing a good trip. We had no major camper issues last weekend between myself and my buddy (and his camper is over ten years old--ref was running a little warm, but after I moved the sensor thingy, it started purring like a kitten). We did however, punch a hole in the transmission of my buddy's Polaris RZR (not sure how they did it, but they did) and one Honda CRF250 died (no sparky no more). BUT--it was still a good trip!!!

[micahmiles]

I second the levelling comments. I never move the slides unless level. The large main slide, of course, is the most sensitive to a level attitude. If you get one of them off some, you can run in and out a couple times to true itself when you are level. I've also found that keeping the slide seals lubricated and spraying a non sticky silicone spray on the slide tracks seems to help keep things moving easily.

On the one that isn't moving you may have a motor that has become disconnected. I believe someone else on here has experienced that.

[SpencerRB]

I just started having a similar issue with my main slide as well. It has never sealed completely evenly when closed (small gap at the bottom) but last week, it wouldn't seal at all. Had about a 1/2-1" gap all around. I adjusted the stall force but it didn't seem to help. One thing I have found over the last year of full timing in this, is that the slides can be extremely sensitive to how level the trailer is (both front/rear and side/side).

I also dragged the rear of mine for the first time last month. Considering some weld on frame rollers to save further damage for next time. http://www.pakindustries.com/classup34.html

Keep us posted on your findings.

[dedmiston]

OpenRangePullen_Ford wrote:
If that was A good trip, I'dd hate to see what A bad trip would look like. 🙂

I'm glad to hear they had fun regardless. That's the way it's supposed to be.

[dedmiston]

MNtundraRet wrote:
There is a good chance that the two times you bottomed out the rear of the toy-hauler you may have bent the frame. That may be the reason you had problems with the slide-outs.

Time to have it checked out carefully.

I doubt it. Not unless they got some sweet air.

[soonernation]

MNtundraRet wrote:
There is a good chance that the two times you bottomed out the rear of the toy-hauler you may have bent the frame. That may be the reason you had problems with the slide-outs.

Time to have it checked out carefully.

That happened on the way home so that isn't possible. I did the troubleshooting chart on Lippert's website and it says broken motor shaft is the culprit based on my answers.

[MNtundraRet]

There is a good chance that the two times you bottomed out the rear of the toy-hauler you may have bent the frame. That may be the reason you had problems with the slide-outs.

Time to have it checked out carefully.

[soonernation]

I remember when I first started visiting this site about the time I bought my trailer. Someone posted about having tore off their A/C unit because of a low overhang at a gas station. The fear of doing that makes me ultra cautious when getting gas. Being new to pulling a camper at the time I read the post, I could see how this could happen if not careful.

[GMandJM]

Congrats on surviving your maiden voyage. Damage reports should be a permanent subject/topic/forum all it's own - this kind of stuff happens to most of us.

Glad to hear you arrived home safely.

[1L243]

I guess there could always be problems with a new rig but we should not come to expect it as normal. I have had my rig now for over two years and have yet to have something go wrong with it. Well except for the awning blowing off and that was my own stupid fault..

[soonernation]

It was a good trip because of all the other things we got to do other than deal with the issues with the trailer. Had fun, made it home on time and safe = good trip.

[texasclarks]

I echo Open Range ^

I hope you get some help under warranty for your slides!

[OpenRangePullen]

soonernation wrote:
Well, we just made it back from our 10 day trip to Big Bend NP and Seminole Canyon SP. 1300 miles and we made it back safely.

Damage report on the Voltage:

Must have caught the ladder on something. Ripped out all the screws on the lower supports. They were also bent.

Pulled out of an eating establishment and the exit grade made the rear of my trailer drag. Messed up some of the corner molding.

Bedroom slide would not go out or in. One corner appears to not be working. The wife had to sit on the floor and push the bottom of it with her feet. Seems like the motor isn't working at all. To get it in, I had to push on the outside. Good thing for the remote as it allowed me to go in with the slide while pushing on the corner.

The main slide did not close all the way when leaving. I had to pull on one side to "assist" it. It wasn't as bad as the bedroom slide.

I'm not sure what the deal is with these slides. I think I will check the motor operation next weekend. The bedroom slide has not been in sync the last couple of times out. I brought it in and out to "sync" the motors but it did not seem to work. Maybe a the motor was going bad.

Overall it was a good trip. Looking forward to the next one.

If that was A good trip, I'dd hate to see what A bad trip would look like. 🙂