Question about slide seal

[Tinstar]

On my slides I have a wiper seal that I have a question about. The seal long lip is sometimes outside the opening like in the below picture. I think that is the way it is supposed to be when the slide is extended. Sometimes on the bedroom slide, the lip stays inside the opening all the way around the slide. I guess the best way to describe it is 'inverted'. Is it alright for it to be inverted or do I need to make sure the lip is outside?

[rgatijnet1]

Tinstar wrote:
OK, last question,,,,, maybe. How wide of tape 1" or 2"?

I used the 2" wide tape.

[Tinstar]

OK, last question,,,,, maybe. How wide of tape 1" or 2"?

[rgatijnet1]

I put the sandpaper like stair tread tape on my slides to flip the seal. I mounted it about midway on the slide so it flips the seal each way as the slide is extending or retracting. I am now approaching 90,000 miles with this coach and if the tape is causing any wear on the rubber seal, you can't tell it.
I should add that this flip seal is not the main seal for my slide. When retraced there is a bubble type seal that prevents moisture from getting in to the coach. When extended, a similar bubble type seal is used to keep out moisture. The flip type seal is sort of the first line of defense.

[Tinstar]

I used to just leave the bedroom slide inverted but have used the awning hook to pull the wiper to the outside sometimes. I thought it had to be out to seal it in the rain/wind. Glad that's not the case because it is tight getting it to the outside.

For the tread tape, is that the stuff that is rough but still slick or is it the kind that is like a heavy grit sandpaper? AND where should I put it on the slide if I decide to use it? I would think close to the end of the slide travel as opposed to when it first starts moving but it may not make any difference.

I have waxed the sides on my slides and I understand that talcum powder is what is used to treat them.

[DSDP_Don]

My Monaco use to do that quite often. In really cold weather, I would take the time to use the awning rod like others do. Hook the awning puller end under the seal, twist a little to one side and pull downward.

[fpresto]

I too used the awning hook to flip it out if I thought about it. It didn't matter in any case.

[Mile_High]

Our first 5th wheel would do that on all the slides. I would use the hook on the awning rod and get it behind the seal and gently run it down the length of the slide to flip it out.

[georgelesley]

Waxing the exposed slide out sides with car wax will also help a bit and I think anyway, make the slide seal/wiper do a better job since the wax will help the water run off.

[crasster]

Nothing wrong with that really. When the slide goes in it will "scrape" off all the junk that accumulated.

[dougrainer]

hohenwald48 wrote:
Someone suggested the "loop" half of a strip of Velcro tape instead of step tread tape. It's less abrasive and does the same job.

The Tread type tape is thinner and works better. No problem with abrasion. Also, some OEM's installed Tread tape on their sidewalls for this "problem". Doug

[hohenwald48]

Someone suggested the "loop" half of a strip of Velcro tape instead of step tread tape. It's less abrasive and does the same job.

[Old-Biscuit]

Those are 'wipers' not seals
They wipe sides/top of moisture and debris
They function as designed regardless if they 'flip' or don't

Not a concern

[Johno02]

It looks like it is right. The seal should "flip" whenever the slie is extended or retracted, but as they get older and the seal gets stiffer, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Some people recommend putting a strip of step tread material on the side of the slide to help flip the seal. I usually just don't worry about it, but if we are going to be in the same place for a while, I will usually go around and flip ours if necessary.

[dougrainer]

The wipe seal is not required to flip completely out or in. That is not the true seal when extended or retracted.
If it concerns you can install sandpaper type tape on the sidewall to rub the seal completly in and out. Doug