Leave slide out?

[chast]

Hi all—just bought a 2010 Bighorn with three slides, that will be parked on a leased lot and lived in for six months of the year in Florida. The question is can it be left parked with the slides out permanently or do I have to bring the slides in when we are not here. There are no slide toppers. What say you??

[laknox]

DutchmenSport wrote:
I think it really is a matter of your own personal preference and comfort level what you do. I don't think leaving the slides in, or leaving them out makes any difference.

As stated above, birds, wind, UV damage, falling debris from trees, acid rain, excessive weather conditions, sand blowing in the wind if you are in a sandy area, of course, all of these things are good reasons to pull the slides in, especially if you are not physically not with the camper for an extended period of time.

Personally, when actually using the camper, the slides are out. When not actually using the camper, the slides are in.

I finished my "winterizing" on my 5er just this morning. The water lines and refrigerator were all done Saturday. This morning I removed all the food items and everything that was wet.

We still use the camper through out winter at home. We will continue to sleep in it every night for quite a while. But not tonight.

This morning, after getting all the liquids out of the camper, I pulled the slides in. Why? Because we expecting snow to start in just a few hours and run till after midnight tonight. Why the slides?

Well, I don't want an inch or a foot of snow on top of the open slides, eventually turning into ice. In the event I need to pull the slides in, like... bug out in a hurry, I know the slides are clean, ready to go.

Once the snow passes, I'll extend them again, and will be sleeping in it again.

And an fyi, last winter was the first winter we had with our new 5er. Ours has the Lippert 6 point leveling system. Last winter we were preparing for our winter Christmas trek to South Carolina and the jacks were so frozen, they all went into "error" and I could never get them out. In the Spring, I took the 5er back to my dealership and they had to physically, with a wrench, retract 2 of the jacks that errored because they were jammed up with ice earlier and screwed up. So, while the snow and ice are falling, my 5er jacks are all retracted. yea, it looks funny with the nose all the way down, but it will just be over night and then leveled again.

In Florida you may not have these kinds of issues, but only you know the weather conditions and environmental threats that may cause unwanted damage if the slides are left out. It takes only a few minutes to clear the path the slides take to retract, and takes only a few seconds to push the button. I don't see why you wouldn't retract them and have peace of mind everything is buttoned up while you are not there.

Go to Harbor Freight and get yourself either a rubber mallet or a dead-blow hammer (plastic coated hammer with a hollow head filled with shot). Bang on your jacks if you think they're filled with ice.

Lyle

[2012Coleman]

Your not there - pull the slides in. The camper is better sealed with them in than out.

[DutchmenSport]

I think it really is a matter of your own personal preference and comfort level what you do. I don't think leaving the slides in, or leaving them out makes any difference.

As stated above, birds, wind, UV damage, falling debris from trees, acid rain, excessive weather conditions, sand blowing in the wind if you are in a sandy area, of course, all of these things are good reasons to pull the slides in, especially if you are not physically not with the camper for an extended period of time.

Personally, when actually using the camper, the slides are out. When not actually using the camper, the slides are in.

I finished my "winterizing" on my 5er just this morning. The water lines and refrigerator were all done Saturday. This morning I removed all the food items and everything that was wet.

We still use the camper through out winter at home. We will continue to sleep in it every night for quite a while. But not tonight.

This morning, after getting all the liquids out of the camper, I pulled the slides in. Why? Because we expecting snow to start in just a few hours and run till after midnight tonight. Why the slides?

Well, I don't want an inch or a foot of snow on top of the open slides, eventually turning into ice. In the event I need to pull the slides in, like... bug out in a hurry, I know the slides are clean, ready to go.

Once the snow passes, I'll extend them again, and will be sleeping in it again.

And an fyi, last winter was the first winter we had with our new 5er. Ours has the Lippert 6 point leveling system. Last winter we were preparing for our winter Christmas trek to South Carolina and the jacks were so frozen, they all went into "error" and I could never get them out. In the Spring, I took the 5er back to my dealership and they had to physically, with a wrench, retract 2 of the jacks that errored because they were jammed up with ice earlier and screwed up. So, while the snow and ice are falling, my 5er jacks are all retracted. yea, it looks funny with the nose all the way down, but it will just be over night and then leveled again.

In Florida you may not have these kinds of issues, but only you know the weather conditions and environmental threats that may cause unwanted damage if the slides are left out. It takes only a few minutes to clear the path the slides take to retract, and takes only a few seconds to push the button. I don't see why you wouldn't retract them and have peace of mind everything is buttoned up while you are not there.

[Cummins12V98]

I winter in SoCal, there are several year round RV's that people only stay in 1/2 the year. EVERY one leave their slides out.

[ReneeG]

Well, I have to add to the above. If it were me, when not there, I'd put the slides in. For a couple of reasons. You'll keep debri off the slide roofs and not have to worry about what's up there when bringing them back in. If you have slide awnings, you don't have to worry about a bad windstorm coming up and damaging them. We keep ours parked at out house and may leave the slides out for a couple of weeks because we're going in and out, but since we're there, we bring the slides in if a bad rainstorm or windstorm is expected.
As with any mechanical part, using it is important to ensure it works correctly.

[wildtoad]

You may not have this problem but I normally pull mine in when parked at my house due the flying critters called birds. They like to nest in the space under the slides. Also pull them in for for reasons stated above, less chance of storm related issues. No reason to keep them open.

[valhalla360]

Dick_B wrote:
Just my $.03 but I say leave them out. I am in the process of replacing the gear motor of my only slide which will probably run around $1K. The more one uses the slide mechanisms the more likely they are to fail.

I find lack of use harder on mechanical devices than moderate use.

To the original question: There is no definitive answer. If we are going to be gone for more than a week or two, we usually pull them in.

[pcm1959]

I live in FL and have my rig at the house and I keep mine in.
While not in use, due to the varying weather conditions as well as the sun/uv damage that occurs in FL, I'd keep the slide closed while away for extended periods.
Keeping them closed will protect all the seals from uv damage. The slide will be less prone to a water leak should one develop when its closed.

[scbwr]

There's no definitive answer so do what makes you comfortable. Personally, I'd put the slides in when not there based on the idea that if bad storms hit, it's less likely to have a problem with any water intrusion.

[azdryheat]

Look at all the RV's that are lived in full-time.

[12th_Man_Fan]

I would pull them in. You need to exercise the motors and bearings ocasionally and you would unnecessarily be exposing the seals ans wipes to UV rays.

Also if the slides are out I feel it is mor vunerable in a storm.

[USAFBILL]

If it is going to be in Florida I would pull my slides in..Weather conditions, fires etc may cause it have to be moved in a hurry and if the slides are in then it could be quickly moved..Just my opinion and that would make me sleep better at night.

[Dick_B]

Just my $.03 but I say leave them out. I am in the process of replacing the gear motor of my only slide which will probably run around $1K. The more one uses the slide mechanisms the more likely they are to fail.
After reading the other posts am I allowed to change my answer?
Somehow I had in mind that the poster would be moving the slides every week which prompted the original response.

[wrgrs50s]

Some they do,some they dont,and some they just dont care. That;s probably a short summary of the answers you will get...

Actually, I always leave mine out, but it's because it's parked at my house and I go in and out fairly frequent. If I were leaving it elsewhere, I would leave them in.