Slide Question

[Deane]

Today I looked at a Motorhome a 2011 Thor. The dealer started it up, turned on the generator and put the slide out. My question is: The slide made a very loud noise as if it was rubbing on something. This seemed odd to me, a real newbie, and I wanted to find out if properly operating slides make a lot of noise when moving in or out.

Thanks,
Deane

[Hank_MI]

Were the hydraulic levelers down? The manual for our MH says the levelers should always be down before extending slides. The chassis can twist some and cause the slide to bind. The levelers should keep the chassis straight and level.

[Deane]

Thanks folks - very good information and advice

Deane

[Traveler_II]

All the RV's we had over the years we had the slides makes some noise but not bad. Suggest you go to another location and try the slides on another rig to compare. We've had to have our slides in the past adjusted, it's not a big deal if that's all it is.
The trailer we have now has 3 slides and we use it a lot and I guess we're use to it, but the noise is not much. And so far we've not even had to get them adjusted.

[Allworth]

Our two geared slides (the third is cable drive) make a quiet growling motor noise while in motion. Sometimes a rubber wiper squeaks a little.

When the slide hits the stop (in or out) the clutch will make a clunk-clunk-clunk (or it you prefer: thump-thump-thump) noise as it slips. That is the signal to let go of the switch.

A

[Dutch_12078]

We can hear the electric gearmotor as our slide goes in and out, but it's not loud, just a hum. Sometimes the rubber wipers squeal some as they slide over the side walls and roof though.

[2_Retired]

Yes, slide outs make noise. However, a BANG in the process isn't always nothing. We've had to have pins replaced in our slides 4 times because they kept sheering off - to the sound of a loud BANG each time. Cause has finally been fixed and since then, no problems. Seems its a 'design flaw' on our 2006 Georgie Boy Pursuit that one RV repair shop down here in MB was aware of, but not the other 2 we went to first. Easy fix, but really frustrating! AGree that hearing others before buying to compare is a very good idea. If you have a friend who knows anything about the mechanics of how the slides work, I would bring him along and then buy him a beer!!

[DutchmenSport]

You should hear the motor running, you can hear the sides sliding against the rubber, you hear the floor rubbing as the slide is moving, you may even hear some minor popping and cracking sounds, flexing of everything. Once it's completely in or completely out, it may go "bang, bang, bang, bang". That says it's done and normal operation.

I suppose "noisey" is a matter of opinion.

What you could do is have the RV salesman demonstrate opening and closing slides on another unit, including a trailer and a 5er, and another motor home. Then you'll be able to tell immediately if the unit you are interested in is normal or abnormal. That's what I'd do.