Slide moves while traveling

[ddschuman]

we recently took our new FW in for a few warranty repairs. While there, we asked that they check out the slide retraction as it seemed one slide did not pull in tight enough. Well, we got it back...all appeared fine until driving home and the slide we got them to look at now partially opens (about 2-3") while traveling. We stopped twice while coming home to check it and retract it. It didn't open while traveling before. Has anyone ever had this happen? If so, what should we look for to fix it. I really don't want to take it back to dealer and we leave tomorrow afternoon for a lake trip. Thanks in advance.

[rrbowman717]

Before you go to a lot of trouble, if they are hydraulic then run your slides all the way out and all the way in 4 to 6 times. There may be air in the lines and doing this should bleed the air out. I have experienced this on my 5er when someone has only partially opened the slides and then closed them.

[Michelle_S]

Question: Do you have manual valves that you can close? On our previous Montana we had manual valves that could be closed to limit which slide opened. Had an issue where our Bedroom slide went out a couple of inches while traveling. Opened and closed the Bedroom slide manual valve and tighened the jam nut and never had a problem after.

[RustyJC]

Personally, I'd rather take my chances wedging it closed rather than just letting it drift open. How do you know how far open it's going to go? You'd spend the whole trip just watching your mirrors to keep from peeling it off on a guardrail, bridge abutment, etc.

Rusty

[ddschuman]

Thank your for the replies. My next question is, will it hurt anything if the slide partially opens during travel? We are only going 1.5 hours from home. I don't want to damage anything if I'm unable to get this fixed today but do not want to have to cancel our lake trip with family.

[RustyJC]

As I said, slideout bars were standard equipment on our Jayco Designer 5th wheels, and we used them with no problems. The manufacturer called for their use. We've also had to use 2"x4"s to wedge a slide in on a previous 5th wheel that broke a gear in the electric slideout gearbox in order to get home on a holiday weekend - no problem at all. Maybe it depends on the quality of the facing and its attachment to the slide!

Rusty

[fj12ryder]

Gsport wrote:
From my own personal experience DONT put something to hold the slide in. I tried that and it pushed the facing right off the slide..

This would happen if I tried it on the big slide in my toyhauler. YMMV.

[Itching2go]

We had that happen on our fiver. Was an electric slide. Turned out that the brake mechanism that attaches to the end of the slide motor was not engaging. The fix required a new motor and brake as they were built as essentially a single unit. No opinion as to the temporary use of a slide bar of some sort, but I'd be concerned about damage to the facia inside the rig.

[thomas201]

His problem may be much easier to fix if hydraulic. I just had some air in my system. Try purging. Run out, hold the button down for a five count, then run in and hold the button for a five count. Repeat. This got the air out for me, and the slide stay closed for the past year.

[Gsport]

From my own personal experience DONT put something to hold the slide in. I tried that and it pushed the facing right off the slide..

[RustyJC]

rhagfo wrote:


You should NOT need 2x4's or closet poles, slides are designed to stay in while traveling. Fix the root cause anything else is a Band-Aid!!

No, you shouldn't, but did you miss the part where the OP wants to leave on a trip tomorrow afternoon? Chances are the root cause of the problem isn't going to be corrected by then if a hydraulic cylinder or solenoid valve has to be rebuilt or replaced. What we recommended was a work-around to enable them to continue on their trip. As far as slideout locking bars, all the Jayco Designer 5th wheels we owned came with spring-loaded cam-type slideout locking bars even though they had electric gear-driven slideouts.

Rusty

[Old-Biscuit]

rhagfo wrote:


You should NOT need 2x4's or closet poles, slides are designed to stay in while traveling. Fix the root cause anything else is a Band-Aid!!

True Statement.......

But in the mean time Band Aids sometimes have to be applied.

[rhagfo]

RustyJC wrote:
Hydraulic or electric gear-driven slide? If it's a hydraulic slide, then it could be a leaking seal in the slideout cylinder or a leaking solenoid valve controlling that particular slideout. If it were a hydraulic hose leak, you should see hydraulic fluid.

You can cut a 2"x4" to length allowing for some padding (carpet, for instance) on the ends to wedge between both ends of the slideouts and the interior wall to hold the slideout in during travel. Just remember to put a tag on the slideout control switch reminding you to pull the 2"x4"s out before extending the slideout.

Rusty

Old-Biscuit wrote:
IF hydraulic.....
Fluid is leaking back to reservoir thru solenoid valve OR leaking past piston seal from close side to open side of cylinder

If electric......
Motor brake/clutch is slipping.

A 1" wooden closet pole cut to length with rubber protectors on each end can be used as 'slide out' locks

Or purchase commercial ones

You should NOT need 2x4's or closet poles, slides are designed to stay in while traveling. Fix the root cause anything else is a Band-Aid!!

[Old-Biscuit]

IF hydraulic.....
Fluid is leaking back to reservoir thru solenoid valve OR leaking past piston seal from close side to open side of cylinder

If electric......
Motor brake/clutch is slipping.

A 1" wooden closet pole cut to length with rubber protectors on each end can be used as 'slide out' locks

Or purchase commercial ones

[RustyJC]

Hydraulic or electric gear-driven slide? If it's a hydraulic slide, then it could be a leaking seal in the slideout cylinder or a leaking solenoid valve controlling that particular slideout. If it were a hydraulic hose leak, you should see hydraulic fluid.

You can cut a 2"x4" to length allowing for some padding (carpet, for instance) on the ends to wedge between both ends of the slideouts and the interior wall to hold the slideout in during travel. Just remember to put a tag on the slideout control switch reminding you to pull the 2"x4"s out before extending the slideout.

Rusty