Slide-in access vs preferred floorplan

[jacqui583]

Hi folks. I have a question for those who travel and have units with slide-outs. I am currently comparing two floor plans; the first is my preferred floorplan but it has limited access to the living section while the slides are in. There are just the two of us travelling. I can access half the fridge and one kitchen chair and have room to set up a folding chair for seating for two (so enough to put together a quick sandwich or snack), and of course the bathroom and bedroom. Another floorplan that I don't like as much does offer access to everything with the slides in.

I'm thinking that the vast majority of time spent inside the unit it will be set up with the slides out, so I think this will only be an issue when taking a roadside break.

So my question is how much weight do you give to this issue? Do you find it necessary to be able to access the whole trailer? And if so, is it a problem to bump out the slides a little when at a rest stop or is that considered a big no-no?

[laknox]

I vote for slide-in bathroom access as #1 priority. :B I suppose, if you had a remote control for the slides, and didn't have slide-in access, you could carry the remote with you in the truck and start the slide moving out as you're stopping so she could make it more quickly. :B:B:B:B:B

Lyle

[Super_Dave]

2012Coleman wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I just don't care what access is like with the slides in. It takes only the press of a button and a few seconds to remedy the situation. As far as etiquette, no one that matters cares if your slide is out.

I've never chimed in on this issue, but agree with Scott. It's just a non issue for me. If your stopping, it's most likely someplace like a rest stop that has bathroom facilities. I'm not going to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom. We bring a soft cooler in the truck with ice for drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Besides, I don't want to sit in a hot/cold camper eating a sandwich.

However, if you desire full access, and don't want to put a slide out, then get the floorplan that allows you the access you need with all slides in.

+1 Our style of transporting the trailer as well. If I really wanted or needed to get into the trailer would the 30 seconds required to push a button kill me?

[Super_Dave]

goducks10 wrote:
How does partially opening Scwhintek type slide affect the sync part of the motors? I though those type of slides needed to open full and close fully or they get out of sync. Is that old school thought and the newer ones are immune to that?

On my unit, each slide opens fully before the other side starts. The kitchen side opens before the dinning side opens. I've had no issues only opening one side and then closing.

[rmalik1]

Bathroom and bedroom access is the most important! We can get to our fridge, bath, and bedroom and a couple of cabinets which we put things we want to have access to. If we stay at a truck stop we sometimes are able to get a curbside spot and just extend the sides on that side

[goducks10]

How does partially opening Scwhintek type slide affect the sync part of the motors? I though those type of slides needed to open full and close fully or they get out of sync. Is that old school thought and the newer ones are immune to that?

[2012Coleman]

Lantley wrote:

Check the title. This thread is about slides limiting access to your RV. My point is slides are not limiting your access. You are choosing limited usage. Which is fine, nothing at all wrong with using your RV the way you want.. However your choice limited use does not benefit the OP as it does not apply to slides or floorplan

:H

I really can't make sense about the rest of what you said.

No it's not - here is the OP's question:

OP wrote:
So my question is how much weight do you give to this issue? Do you find it necessary to be able to access the whole trailer? And if so, is it a problem to bump out the slides a little when at a rest stop or is that considered a big no-no?

The OP is seeking opinions on how much weight people give to access to kitchen/bathroom over having a floorplan that he really likes that really does not give this access.

My opinion is that I'd go for the floorplan over the access because I seek out public facilities when traveling, and I bring food and snacks in a cooler transported in the truck.

Furthermore, I don't think its a big deal to bump out a slide in a rest area. I see it all the time.

So I'm sure he assumes that I'm saying that I don't give access while traveling much weight for the reasons I stated.

[Lantley]

2012Coleman wrote:

Lantley wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I just don't care what access is like with the slides in. It takes only the press of a button and a few seconds to remedy the situation. As far as etiquette, no one that matters cares if your slide is out.

I've never chimed in on this issue, but agree with Scott. It's just a non issue for me. If your stopping, it's most likely someplace like a rest stop that has bathroom facilities. I'm not going to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom. We bring a soft cooler in the truck with ice for drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Besides, I don't want to sit in a hot/cold camper eating a sandwich.

However, if you desire full access, and don't want to put a slide out, then get the floorplan that allows you the access you need with all slides in.

Why make sandwiches and bring a cooler when you are towing a fridge full of food behind you? Why seek/use public facilities when you have your own? My camper has heat or A/C at the push of a button.
Why pay for a fully equipped camper and not use it fully?
Slides in limits the access and use of your RV. However based on your usage you don't need the slides to limit usage you are already limiting your usage without factoring in the slides.

You'd feel better if you stopped trying to impose your lifestyle type onto others. There are lots of alternatives to your why statements - I doubt you can see anyone else's point of view, so it's worthless to mention them. Just because something is not in your particular wheelhouse doesn't mean it's wrong.

Check the title. This thread is about slides limiting access to your RV. My point is slides are not limiting your access. You are choosing limited usage. Which is fine, nothing at all wrong with using your RV the way you want.. However your choice limited use does not benefit the OP as it does not apply to slides or floorplan

[ldwslw]

When traveling we plan on staying at a campground about every other night. The night between we usually stay at a Walmart or Cabelas. We want access to kitchen, bathroom and bedroom without putting slides out. Depends on how you want to travel on longer trips.

[2012Coleman]

Lantley wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I just don't care what access is like with the slides in. It takes only the press of a button and a few seconds to remedy the situation. As far as etiquette, no one that matters cares if your slide is out.

I've never chimed in on this issue, but agree with Scott. It's just a non issue for me. If your stopping, it's most likely someplace like a rest stop that has bathroom facilities. I'm not going to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom. We bring a soft cooler in the truck with ice for drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Besides, I don't want to sit in a hot/cold camper eating a sandwich.

However, if you desire full access, and don't want to put a slide out, then get the floorplan that allows you the access you need with all slides in.

Why make sandwiches and bring a cooler when you are towing a fridge full of food behind you? Why seek/use public facilities when you have your own? My camper has heat or A/C at the push of a button.
Why pay for a fully equipped camper and not use it fully?
Slides in limits the access and use of your RV. However based on your usage you don't need the slides to limit usage you are already limiting your usage without factoring in the slides.

You'd feel better if you stopped trying to impose your lifestyle type onto others. There are lots of alternatives to your why statements - I doubt you can see anyone else's point of view, so it's worthless to mention them. Just because something is not in your particular wheelhouse doesn't mean it's wrong.

[4x4ord]

Although accessing the fridge with the slides in was a very much appreciated attribute of our previous unit I would not trade the current floor plan for the old one. It's not a huge deal to push a button for 5 seconds before opening the fridge while traveling.

[alexleblanc]

I will say that I love having that outside door to the rear washroom in my unit, super handy for pit stops on the road.

Our layout works well for quick lunch stops too as I don't need to pull any of the slides out to access the fridge or any of the kitchen and we can even use the dinette without the slide going out.

My previous unit needed at least the kitchen slide out and that was a little of a pain but not a deal breaker.

[Lantley]

2012Coleman wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I just don't care what access is like with the slides in. It takes only the press of a button and a few seconds to remedy the situation. As far as etiquette, no one that matters cares if your slide is out.

I've never chimed in on this issue, but agree with Scott. It's just a non issue for me. If your stopping, it's most likely someplace like a rest stop that has bathroom facilities. I'm not going to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom. We bring a soft cooler in the truck with ice for drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Besides, I don't want to sit in a hot/cold camper eating a sandwich.

However, if you desire full access, and don't want to put a slide out, then get the floorplan that allows you the access you need with all slides in.

Why make sandwiches and bring a cooler when you are towing a fridge full of food behind you? Why seek/use public facilities when you have your own? My camper has heat or A/C at the push of a button.
Why pay for a fully equipped camper and not use it fully?
Slides in limits the access and use of your RV. However based on your usage you don't need the slides to limit usage you are already limiting your usage without factoring in the slides.

[2012Coleman]

Lantley wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I just don't care what access is like with the slides in. It takes only the press of a button and a few seconds to remedy the situation. As far as etiquette, no one that matters cares if your slide is out.

I've never chimed in on this issue, but agree with Scott. It's just a non issue for me. If your stopping, it's most likely someplace like a rest stop that has bathroom facilities. I'm not going to pull over on the side of the road to use the bathroom. We bring a soft cooler in the truck with ice for drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Besides, I don't want to sit in a hot/cold camper eating a sandwich.

However, if you desire full access, and don't want to put a slide out, then get the floorplan that allows you the access you need with all slides in.

Having access give you lots of options. You can use bathroom at a fuel stop. Or just along an exit ramp. Or most any place.

Yea - I think I figured that out - but as I stated, I don't care about those options. Besides, if I wanted to use the bathroom in transit, Id have to carry fresh water to flush - which is something else I have no interest in doing.

[sgfrye]

we have a TT but for what its worth.

1. we have access to bathroom with slides in. most important
2. fridge can be opened with kithen slide partially opened at rest or fuel stops, works for us for quick lunches
3. no bedroom slide so thats not a situation either.