Slide in = no heat...

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Still puttering with our new-to-us Laredo 29RE. I was already bummed that we can't access the pantry with the slide in (the one thing you ALWAYS need to stock before a trip) - but this morning I ran the slide out, and noticed something that's also troubling: the living room heat registers are covered up when the slide is in. Somehow, in my mind, it would be warmer to use the 5er with the slide in if we were simply stopping for an overnight, on our trip to warmer temps.

We'll manage - we still like the floorplan; but I'm making mental notes of what to look for in future RVs...

[2112]

I don't open my slides while pulled off the road during a heavy rain storm and yea, I want access to everything while riding the storm out.

[elkabong]

Gee! Thanks Travelnutz.

I didn't realize I wasn't a "True RVer"

I guess the miles and years I have spent in various RVs were an anomaly. And the 5er and truck parked in my drive are just for decoration.
Come to think of it, I suppose they would make nice planters.

Ken

[travelnutz]

Atom Ant and Lantley,

You two do not understand the OP's situation but I do. They live not that far from us and have a very limited defiined time to get away in the cold part of winter for a break as they own a business. It likely will be very cold when they leave and they will want to get as far south as they can the first day and probably the second day also. Per their posts on various threads, they aren't likey to not in CG's on the way down and back.

They have sepcific needs that fit them and purchased their first 5th wheel to serve those needs. Also own their own heated narrow storage building to keep their 5th wheel in when not being used etc. The OP also owns a Class "C" with no slides but that also means tight quarters inside but however, they can get to every compartment anytime because it doesn't have the slide blocking issues.

Your RV choice may fit your needs and of course that's your own personal choice. That doesn't remotely mean it's the best choice for others or the OP as this is their thread and they make their own choices and so do we! My comment about being "dumb" was toward the designers of RV's that can't be used for even the simple needs when traveling or in normal storage in a storage lot. A bugger when traveling unless you can find a suitable area to extend the slides every time for even the simplest needs or accesses. Had nothing to do with forcing you two to tightly wind your panties into a bunch!

Hearing the constant complaints when in CG's or when traveling places with friends and their RV's having the non-use slides blocking issues speaks for itself. 3 of them have already purchased different floorplan RV's when changing units and not one of the 3's new RV has slide blocked off areas again. It's their choice! Why do you think that happened? DUH!

Neither of your acidic posts will do anything to help the OP or give them any other options or ideas for present or the future. Some people learn faster than others! They already know how frustrating it is now to have just a pantry non-accessible and 1/2 of the heat registers covered when the slide is in when both are/were avoidable. I must have missed where they said it was a good design to have these issues. Maybe you can find it for me and re-post it!

BTW, I also have a large storage building with a 14' wide door and heated when I want it to be. I could open slides on both sides and still pull it out or back it in and not touch anything. Mine building/storage area isn't narrow like the OP's as it's 32 feet wide and high enough for any of our RV's on purpose as that's what I built it for originally. Even our 36' Carriage 5th wheel with 18,000 GVWR having 3 axles and 2 slides extended fit inside with the slide out and while having our 29' Carrilite 5th wheel with 1 slide out extended and our 8'6" wide twin I/O boat on it's 3 axle trailer all at the same time. I fully understand the OP's many slideout issues but you must not!

[2hams]

Lantley -

Would you open all of your slides if you were parked on the street in front of your house? Assume you cannot put the camper in the driveway due to the slope, but you want to bring it from storage and park on the street to pack. This to me does seem like a situation where you DO need certain access, such as fridge, with the slides in.

[Lantley]

travelnutz wrote:
Deb,

You're now getting the idea why most more experienced (owned several) RV'ers with RV slideouts buy what they do and why they do. Floorplans can and usually look great until you get them home and use them for actual RV travel, needed quick bathroom break when traveling, eating a quick lunch, or loading and un-loading etc. That's when the "bad" rears it's ugly head and you get an education! The floorplan is only one part of many in selecting an RV purchase. Now you have to make due with what you have and it's not impossible, just a PIA.

Of course, There are mavericks in RV'ing that only care about when it's parked in a location for months on end but those are NOT RV'ers. They really want a second home they can maybe move seasonally or are likely full timers who stay long periods in one place. That is something you are not and probably won't be doing for maybe at least 10 years yet if at all. Then you will be able to look at the RV's usage and usability differently because your needs will be different. For now, you don't have a week to mosey and lollygag on down to Florida or to come back as like most RV'ers, you only have limited time to be away. Therefore, the true usability of the RV is a 24/7/365 factor. Your's is compounded by narrow inside storage also. You'll likely have to pack items needed for eating etc when traveling in whatever area you can get to and relocate them when you get to a location/destination.

True RV'ers actually use their RV as Recreational Vehicles, not movable apartment type dwellings that sit in one place for months. RV pull behinds and MH's are made for travel and that's why they have wheels.

Access to eveything needed inside the RV with the slide in is very important to most learned true RV'ers and we've heard it said hundreds of times over and over in our 50 years of RV'ing and we learned it well also. Been 35 years since 1988 of having a slideout on an RV, beginning with our first 1988 Carriage 35' 5th wheel with one slideout taught us so well that we made a lucky guess the first time. Way back then we constantly heard comments in CG's from campers complaining that their unit was not friendly for traveling because the slide even blocked off the bathroom and that's not cool when you gotta go or have kids along that give you about a 2 minute notice of an impending cleanup about to happen. Adults aren't immune to these sudden issues either!

Usability whether slide/slides are in or out is one of the first things we look at when we see a floorplan. For us, an RV cannot have a fixed island kitchen with a sink and water with slides that make ate RV basically unusable unless the slide or slides are out. DUMB! A movable dry island solves the issue and still give the added counterspace. Also "L" shaped countertop sinks that the opposing slide blocks off use. Even worse is not have acess to the bathroom or bedroom with the slides closed. Many times we've found that we needed to stop driving for a few hours and rest/sleep rather than get in an accident or very bad weather/roads conditions forced it. No time to call ahead or try to find a CG so a rest area, a FJ, or similar had to do. Most of thoes places do NOT allow the slideouts to be out as we know. Personally have seen several told by security guards etc to close their slides now or leave! The spaces most places are not wide enough for any slides to be out!

My fixed center island floorplan is fantastic and works well for me, I have no access issues that can't be overcome with the push of a button. I have yet to encounter or observe a place where I could not open my slides if necessary.

[Lantley]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

Lantley wrote:
The whole slide in access issue is overblown. If you need something,heat,pantry, fridge whatever just open the slide!
I have 5 slides that open up and create a huge space. That's why I chose my floorplan. Access when closed is a secondary concern.

Our 5er will live in a garage, once I'm done working on it in our heated building at work. The tradeoff for having it protected from the weather, is not being able to open the slide. So access to most of the RV with the slide in, IS a big deal to us.

I'm slowly getting my head wrapped around this whole 5er thing - it's so much more complicated than our slideless Class C....LOL!

I can see the benefits of inside storage and a luxury most RV'ers don't have. Inside storage will enable you to keep your RV in pristine conditions. I can also understand while the acess issue is more important to you than most.
However if you are not able to open your slides at all while in storage accessing the RV for general maintenance and upkeep may eventually get to be be a hassle. Not sure how many slides you have or how often you use your RV, but not being able to open slides at all while in storage would probably be a deal breaker for me.

[colliehauler]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I guess I don't understand buying a unit with a slide and not using it. Even at Wallyworld you can pull to the edge of the parking lot and put the slide out.

Yeah - but then folks on RV.net criticize you for "camping" 😉

My initial thought was keep the slides in to reduce the cubic feet needing to be heated - but we'll probably gain more heat by having the heat ducts clear, so it will be slide OUT.

I have 3 Collies so I need every bit of room I can find.:B I have only stayed at Wallyworld a couple of times and have yet to have a manager tell me not to run the slides out, and I always ask. I keep everything in my RV other then food. I pick up food once I get to where I'm going.

[travelnutz]

Deb,

You're now getting the idea why most more experienced (owned several) RV'ers with RV slideouts buy what they do and why they do. Floorplans can and usually look great until you get them home and use them for actual RV travel, needed quick bathroom break when traveling, eating a quick lunch, or loading and un-loading etc. That's when the "bad" rears it's ugly head and you get an education! The floorplan is only one part of many in selecting an RV purchase. Now you have to make due with what you have and it's not impossible, just a PIA.

Of course, There are mavericks in RV'ing that only care about when it's parked in a location for months on end but those are NOT RV'ers. They really want a second home they can maybe move seasonally or are likely full timers who stay long periods in one place. That is something you are not and probably won't be doing for maybe at least 10 years yet if at all. Then you will be able to look at the RV's usage and usability differently because your needs will be different. For now, you don't have a week to mosey and lollygag on down to Florida or to come back as like most RV'ers, you only have limited time to be away. Therefore, the true usability of the RV is a 24/7/365 factor. Your's is compounded by narrow inside storage also. You'll likely have to pack items needed for eating etc when traveling in whatever area you can get to and relocate them when you get to a location/destination.

True RV'ers actually use their RV as Recreational Vehicles, not movable apartment type dwellings that sit in one place for months. RV pull behinds and MH's are made for travel and that's why they have wheels.

Access to eveything needed inside the RV with the slide in is very important to most learned true RV'ers and we've heard it said hundreds of times over and over in our 50 years of RV'ing and we learned it well also. Been 35 years since 1988 of having a slideout on an RV, beginning with our first 1988 Carriage 35' 5th wheel with one slideout taught us so well that we made a lucky guess the first time. Way back then we constantly heard comments in CG's from campers complaining that their unit was not friendly for traveling because the slide even blocked off the bathroom and that's not cool when you gotta go or have kids along that give you about a 2 minute notice of an impending cleanup about to happen. Adults aren't immune to these sudden issues either!

Usability whether slide/slides are in or out is one of the first things we look at when we see a floorplan. For us, an RV cannot have a fixed island kitchen with a sink and water with slides that make ate RV basically unusable unless the slide or slides are out. DUMB! A movable dry island solves the issue and still give the added counterspace. Also "L" shaped countertop sinks that the opposing slide blocks off use. Even worse is not have acess to the bathroom or bedroom with the slides closed. Many times we've found that we needed to stop driving for a few hours and rest/sleep rather than get in an accident or very bad weather/roads conditions forced it. No time to call ahead or try to find a CG so a rest area, a FJ, or similar had to do. Most of thoes places do NOT allow the slideouts to be out as we know. Personally have seen several told by security guards etc to close their slides now or leave! The spaces most places are not wide enough for any slides to be out!

[Atom_Ant]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

Lantley wrote:
The whole slide in access issue is overblown. If you need something,heat,pantry, fridge whatever just open the slide!
I have 5 slides that open up and create a huge space. That's why I chose my floorplan. Access when closed is a secondary concern.

Our 5er will live in a garage, once I'm done working on it in our heated building at work. The tradeoff for having it protected from the weather, is not being able to open the slide. So access to most of the RV with the slide in, IS a big deal to us.

I'm slowly getting my head wrapped around this whole 5er thing - it's so much more complicated than our slideless Class C....LOL!

I don't know if your slides will open independently, but I can't open mine all the way in the garage either, but I can open each partially, about 60% which gives me access throughout. As long as it is indoors, no worries about the seals not seating.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Lantley wrote:
The whole slide in access issue is overblown. If you need something,heat,pantry, fridge whatever just open the slide!
I have 5 slides that open up and create a huge space. That's why I chose my floorplan. Access when closed is a secondary concern.

Our 5er will live in a garage, once I'm done working on it in our heated building at work. The tradeoff for having it protected from the weather, is not being able to open the slide. So access to most of the RV with the slide in, IS a big deal to us.

I'm slowly getting my head wrapped around this whole 5er thing - it's so much more complicated than our slideless Class C....LOL!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

colliehauler wrote:
I guess I don't understand buying a unit with a slide and not using it. Even at Wallyworld you can pull to the edge of the parking lot and put the slide out.

Yeah - but then folks on RV.net criticize you for "camping" 😉

My initial thought was keep the slides in to reduce the cubic feet needing to be heated - but we'll probably gain more heat by having the heat ducts clear, so it will be slide OUT.

[Lantley]

The whole slide in access issue is overblown. If you need something,heat,pantry, fridge whatever just open the slide!
I have 5 slides that open up and create a huge space. That's why I chose my floorplan. Access when closed is a secondary concern.

[Shepherd]

Mine are not covered with the slides in.:C

[Jim_and_Barb]

I guess I may be one of the lucky one`s. There was some for thought to my floor plan all of mine are clear. Never really thought about it. Never had a problem the propane works fine with the slides in however the Ele. Fireplace heater is covered and not useable.

[Atom_Ant]

You will be pleased how fast the furnaces heat up. They may run a lot because the RVs don't hold heat well, but the LP kicks out some heat. I don't think you will find any advantage to leaving the slide it, in fact I think you will just find it harder to heat that space because the vents are covered.