Full length slides

[MetalGator]

The wife and I have been causally looking at Class A motor homes for a year or so. We currently have a 29' TT with a small slide.

The one motor home that we both really like is the Newmar Baystar 3401. My concern is with the full length slide. I have read on many forums that people seem to be having issues with retracting these large slides. I understand that people usually only post when there are issues but I was curious how many people here have full length slides and if you have any issues with them.

Burch

[2gypsies1]

If you do some Googling you find that Newmar is a pioneer in slides before others started using them. They were originators of the rack and pinon drive method which is a very simple operation.

We had no problems with our Newmar slides in 8 years of full-timing.

[azdryheat]

What ever you do, stay far away from Schwintek slides - nothing but trouble (my Voltage has Schwintek and I wish it didn't).

[luvlabs]

There are reasons not to use a FWS - mostly it has to do with structural integrity. The companies that use them have problems with them (probably Newmar's number one slide problem comes from FWS units. Newmar has changed their instructions from jacks down and level to slide out first and then level because of structural flexing.)

Tiffin will not build FWS units because they can't guaranty the wall structure so they install 4 slides. My front slides are 3ft deep and 16 ft long in my 36 ft motorhome and add much more square footage than a FWS. These huge slides are moved by HWH hydraulics which are more than up to the task.

[htowners]

If you look at Newmar's slide system, they are almost medieval looking in design and simplicity of operation. No hydraulics, no small zig zag tracks like the swintek, just a track with round holes and a wheel with pegs that engage it. Truly a KISS solution.
My Tiffin has a large slide using a Lippert system and everything it retracts I hold my breath as it has to lift the slide first, then pull it in. It's quite a site, compared to those in most trailers.

[Ductape]

No issues with our FWS. I don't expect you'll hear too many complaints about this brand. Mostly other makes of slides that I have heard with problems.

[dubdub07]

We have a full wall and I think a little logic is what I employ on this one. First off, I am surprised (knock on wood) at how nice the thing goes in and out. Never an issue, quick, and I can see the length of the coach and can see if something is in the way.

I think if the spot is fairly level, then I will put the slide out and then level. If it is quite unlevel, especially leaning toward the slide side, then I will level first and then put the slide out.

I like the room that the full wall gives to the coach. It is cavernous.

WW

[msturtz]

Two Jayhawks wrote:

msturtz wrote:
We have a coach with a full wall slide. The biggest problem is stuff getting in the way and the coach must be level. Too many dealers are lazy and put the slides our without the leveling jacks down. This is very hard on the system and will cause the system to fail eventually. The slide rooms provide a lot of usable space when parked. They are very nice to have.

Believe it or not Newmar says put out the FWS before leveling but with air springs full with my coach. Most important is to go outside and check the reveal (seams around the slide) and if all are perfect deploy slide. If not then level and deploy. Yea...a little unusual.

Yes some manufacturers do the opposite and expect the slide rooms to be out before leveling. It really depends on how the coach was constructed. If the slide system is set up with the coach on the wheels especially on an air ride coach then it may be set up for slide deployment with the jacks up. Where it can be a problem is if the coach is so far off level that the air suspension can't compensate. I always do exactly what the manufacturer specifies. In my last three units they had to be leveled prior to deploying the slide room.

[Two_Jayhawks]

msturtz wrote:
We have a coach with a full wall slide. The biggest problem is stuff getting in the way and the coach must be level. Too many dealers are lazy and put the slides our without the leveling jacks down. This is very hard on the system and will cause the system to fail eventually. The slide rooms provide a lot of usable space when parked. They are very nice to have.

Believe it or not Newmar says put out the FWS before leveling but with air springs full with my coach. Most important is to go outside and check the reveal (seams around the slide) and if all are perfect deploy slide. If not then level and deploy. Yea...a little unusual.

[WyoTraveler]

We have a full length slide. Hydraulic. We have had ours 2 years and no problems. That said, and you will certainly hear lots of disagreements, but just consider the following. Have you ever seen a flat bed semi rolling down the interstate while empty? Notice the huge upward bow in the center. The same flat bed loaded is totally flat. Now I don't claim to be an expert but seems like common sense that there is flexing in long spans. Now think about these long MH slides. There has to be some flexing. A friend has a Tiffin 40' MH and although he doesn't have a full slide he pointed out to me where on and off the jacks part of his paint pattern changes. Obvious flexing. I have been told on this forum that Monaco is one of the only MHs that specifically indicates when you should operate your slides. Monaco state in their manual "NEVER OPERATE YOUR SLIDES WHILE ON JACKS. To do so could cause major damage. Open your slides first, then use your leveling jacks". I can accept that concept. Possibly there is enough flexing to damage a full slide. If a sturdy built semi flat bed flexes obviously a cheaper lighter weight MH frame must have some flexing. I follow the directions in the Monaco manual. BTW our slide runs from behind the driver seat to the rear mounted cupboards in the bedroom. So far we really like the open feeling with the large slide. JMHO.

[Effy]

I think most full wall slide issues are using the shwintek mechanism . I think newmar uses their own brand.

[msturtz]

We have a coach with a full wall slide. The biggest problem is stuff getting in the way and the coach must be level. Too many dealers are lazy and put the slides our without the leveling jacks down. This is very hard on the system and will cause the system to fail eventually. The slide rooms provide a lot of usable space when parked. They are very nice to have.