Forum Discussion

kcgaz's avatar
kcgaz
Explorer
Oct 30, 2016

Slides and Jacks

I am new to slides and hydraulic leveling jacks coming from an older Class C that had neither. I store my rig in my yard and am in and out of it for various reasons almost daily. Is there any downside to storing it with the slides out and jacks down? As always, appreciate all of the great advice.
  • I theory no, but there are a few potential long term problems.

    Slides seal much better in than out. Think going down the road at 65 MPH in the driving rain. I run mine in and out quite often having the coach parked in the driveway but they are in more than out. The potential for rain water ingress is a bit higher for an extended slide than one that is closed.

    With jacks there is the potential for pitting of the exposed hydraulic cylinder but my feeling it's a pretty low potential. Certainly doesn't hurt to run them up and down from time to time. If you jacks are spring retract you also risk the possibility of stretching the springs when extended for long periods. Could make a full retraction a problem.

    My thoughts, if you're not sleeping in the coach close it up and put it to bed at the end of the day.
  • With spring retract jacks, I agree with the possibility of stretch, but with our pressure up and down, I leave them down. Slides, depends on weather. Ours is at our house, so we are in and out on occasion, just checking everything occasionally.
  • No problem with the slides out and stabilizers down. Us full timers do it constantly. Be sure to coat the stabilizers with some tranny fluid periodically. Put some on a rag and run it up and down the shaft a few times and you're good to go....Dennis
  • There is a difference to STORING a RV with slides out than LIVING with the slides out. You are supposed to exercise both the jacks and the slides a few times a month. Storing with the slides OUT, what happens if the slide system FAILS? How do you then get it to a RV service center for repair? I get this type call a few times a year from customers that left their slides OPEN and now for whatever reason they cannot retract them and they want to know HOW to get it in for repair-----Store retracted and then exercise a few times a month. Jacks? Either way will be OK, but you still need to exercise them each month. Doug
  • We use are RV year around and are always moving it around. I normally have the slides out except during the winter, when it's colder especially when the temps get below 35* I retract them. I keep my jacks down all the time except when I know I'm going somewhere. The reason for keeping my jacks down is it takes weight off the tires, which prolongs my tire wear. During the winters, I'm not in the SW, are RV is are winter storm HQ's.