Slide rooms and Leveling

[devildog1971]

I was reading the manual that came with the 2002 40 foot DP. It implies to extend slides no matter how unlevel the motorhome is and after extending the slide rooms to then level the coach. I would think you would want the motorhome at least within some parameters of being level before deploying slides. It would seem if you were way out of canter it would be hard on the slide mechanisms . I have read this 3 times and it states when you arrive at your campsite take care of plugging in electric and water then deploy slides, then after slides are deployed you can then start to level your R V I guess I am really new to RV'ing at least as far as class A are concerned. With our truck campers we leveled the camper so that the refer was level what do you guys think

[J-Rooster]

rv2go wrote:
I would follow the manufactures instructions.

My Winnebago states: Level, then put slides out.

X-2, I level first then put the slides out! By doing this there is no binding whatsoever in the slides.

[DSDP_Don]

I see it this way. All manufacturers have to provide a Manual with a "Procedure" for putting your slides out. If the Manual said to use common sense when deploying slides, there would be a huge outcry by people that it was too confusing. So......manufacturers give you what works best the majority of the time. If your coach says slides first, would you extend them first while the front end was hanging off of a cliff, probably not.

When ALL of these coaches were built, the slides were installed and adjusted with the coach on level ground and aired up, the perfect situation. Generally, I tell people to follow their Manual, but there will be times where "common sense" says, you should level first and then extend, including the occasional placing of a block under one or two tires to an axle out of a large depression.

Newmar actually changed their procedure mid year a few years back. On really level sites, I level the coach and extend slides, against Newmar advice. On really unlevel sites I extend slides while aired up, air down and then level. Something anyone can do is go outside and look at your "reveals", the spacing between the slide and frame. Some are hidden by trim, but you can still look and get a feel for where the trim is. If it's really out of whack, block the coach or move it some to get it closer to square.

Again....COMMON SENSE is the way to go.

[Billinwoodland]

The manual on my Monaco Monarch says the same thing. I drive the wheels up on levelers to get it close, deploy slides, then level just as manual says.
Bill

[chuckftboy]

I've always leveled first and raised the levelers last but I really doubt it makes much difference either way.

[old_guy]

you do as your instruction manual says. it will save you some money if you do it right.

[bullydogs1]

Entegras are slides out first and in last...just as Monaco/HR ..and they even show you why...

[FIRE_UP]

devildog1971 wrote:
I was reading the manual that came with the 2002 40 foot DP. It implies to extend slides no matter how unlevel the motorhome is and after extending the slide rooms to then level the coach. I would think you would want the motorhome at least within some parameters of being level before deploying slides. It would seem if you were way out of canter it would be hard on the slide mechanisms . I have read this 3 times and it states when you arrive at your campsite take care of plugging in electric and water then deploy slides, then after slides are deployed you can then start to level your R V I guess I am really new to RV'ing at least as far as class A are concerned. With our truck campers we leveled the camper so that the refer was level what do you guys think

Devildog,
You don't say what year/make/model/chassis etc. coach that you're dealing with. But, you are thinking "logically" when you say that you think the procedure for slides first, level second, should be reversed. Because, logically, that's the way it's done for about 98% of the coaches and fifth wheels out there in RV land. And, in all reality, it makes sense to level first and then deploy slides.

I'd still like to talk, face to face with an RV engineer who says its fine to deploy slides first, especially on really unlevel ground, then level. That to me is just plain stupidity. But, I don't have to deal with that method since the way Itasca spells it out is to do it logically, level first, slides second.
Scott

[MrWizard]

Corkey05 wrote:
My 2008 Holiday Rambler (Monaco) manual specifically states to follow the same process as the OP describes. Slides out, then level - to leave, you reverse the process.

This procedure came up at several Monaco rallies during class sessions and the company always held firm. The company prefers that slides be extended BEFORE dropping air, then leveling.

That said, I find myself sometimes leveling first if the site is so unlevel I would need to "push" the slide uphill to extend.

Either way, I've never had any issues with leveling - both work.

this is crux of the situation
big DP's with air leveling
have different procedure from coaches with out 'air' suspension
and strictly hyd jacks only
my bounder says to level, then extend slide

[10forty2]

Very seldom am I camping on a site that is more than slightly uneven. With tat said, I was told to always level, stabilize and THEN deploy the slide....and then bring in the slide before letting the levelers/stabilizers down. In the end, I guess I'd advise to follow the manufacturer's recommendations....they are ones who designed the thing.....

[dougrainer]

If your RV is so out of level you are concerned that the slides may be impacted-------WHY are you camping so out of level? Level is NOT the concern. Twisting of the chassis is the concern. If all 4/6/8 tires are not in a depression or large hole, you can extend the slides. Pointing downhill or uphill or leaning to the sides will not cause a problem with the slides. They had slide rooms way before Leveling jacks became standard. They still have slide rooms on Motorhomes and Trailers that do not have a leveling system. Doug

[wildtoad]

You should follow the advice of the manufacturer. More times than not the slides will be in a better position to extend when the coach is still in “travel” mode as in not on levelers. If you are on a severe out of level condition leveling first may help OR it may contort the frame such that the slide will jam.

[rv2go]

I would follow the manufactures instructions.

My Winnebago states: Level, then put slides out.

[jorbill2or]

This depends on the manufacture and how the slides are installed. Some are , slides out then level. You wouldn’t camp hopefully in some crazy out of level place. If you are someplace the levelers are capable of leveling you you are ok. I was told that if I didn’t do it that way on mine , like yours that slides go out first, I could damage the slide outs! It doesn’t seem normal to me asl the other brands I’ve owned were reverse of that , but I was assured the slides were made to be operated while out of level and fully aired up.
Follow the manufacturer method .. whatever that is for you coach , they aren’t all the same.

[Corkey05]

My 2008 Holiday Rambler (Monaco) manual specifically states to follow the same process as the OP describes. Slides out, then level - to leave, you reverse the process.

This procedure came up at several Monaco rallies during class sessions and the company always held firm. The company prefers that slides be extended BEFORE dropping air, then leveling.

That said, I find myself sometimes leveling first if the site is so unlevel I would need to "push" the slide uphill to extend.

Either way, I've never had any issues with leveling - both work.