Conditioning the slide seals

[Crambo]

My brother in law just bought a new TT and he didn't get one with a slide out. He said he didn't want to mess with conditioning the slide. He went on to say that his father in law told him not to get a slide because you have to condition it every time you use it. Am I missing something that I don't know about? I've owned 4 trailers and never conditioned a slide. I've always just made sure there was no debris on top before pulling it in. The only thing I could possibly think of is maybe the rubber seals need conditioning periodically but not every trip.

[billyray50]

tragusa3 wrote:
I am at the one year point, and willing to try the baby powder.

What happens to the baby powder when it rains? Seems like the first time it gets wet it will be gone?

I am going to try the baby powder too after reading some articles. I used baby powder last season on power chord, water hose, black and gray hose that are on ground and it kept ants from crawling up on and into camper! Oh and baby powder held up good in heavy rains too. Would touch up when needed.

[tragusa3]

I am at the one year point, and willing to try the baby powder.

What happens to the baby powder when it rains? Seems like the first time it gets wet it will be gone?

[Lynnmor]

FrankShore wrote:


You can (every now and again) put some baby powder on a clean sock and powder the seals and around where the slide seals are - do this on a clear, dry day! This will help them glide easier - that's it!

That's all I do. The rubber seals tend to stick on the painted surfaces while stored. There are two kinds of baby powder, talc and corn starch. I use the talc thinking that the corn starch is organic and may support mildew or other lower life forms.

[Chuck_thehammer]

chrome muffler bearings.
blinker fluid.
Winter air for tires, Summer air for tires.

oil changes every 3,000 miles..

and ON, and On... and on....

I will never own another trailer without a slide. Wife said so. 🙂

[IndyCamp]

I use the spray-on conditioner a few times a year. Takes me a few minutes for all three slides and runs about $10 a can, so no real loss if it doesn't do anything.

[Crazy_Ray]

Second hand bunch of ****.

[Crambo]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I think his father in law claims to know everything about everything invented and that's where he heard it.

[FrankShore]

Pure mythology!

You can (every now and again) put some baby powder on a clean sock and powder the seals and around where the slide seals are - do this on a clear, dry day! This will help them glide easier - that's it!

[2oldman]

Crambo wrote:
My brother in law just bought a new TT and he didn't get one with a slide out. He said he didn't want to mess with conditioning the slide. He went on to say that his father in law told him not to get a slide because you have to condition it every time you use it.

Ah.. good old folklore. No, that's not true. I often wonder how this stuff gets started.

They do sell a spray-on conditioner, but honestly, all that ever did was make a mess on the wall, so I quit doing it, and my 14-yo seals are in pretty good shape.

[Crambo]

rbpru wrote:
We have a 6 year old Dutchmen with a slide. I did by some seal conditioner last year but we have been too busy camping to mess with it. It is on my list for one of this summer's project.

I would not buy a TT without a slide, the only problem we have had were, a lot of leaves fell one fall and I had to stand on the tailgate and sweep them off and recently in the NM mountains we woke up to 3" of snow that had to be removed before the slide would come all the way in.

Just be careful that you can still use your TT with the slide in, a roadside stop for lunch or a potty break is really handy some times. 😉

I'm with ya. I wouldn't have one without a slide either. They bought a 22 footer for them and two children under the age of ten. I told my wife they were going to regret not getting a slide but as long as they are happy it's all good.

[rbpru]

We have a 6 year old Dutchmen with a slide. I did by some seal conditioner last year but we have been too busy camping to mess with it. It is on my list for one of this summer's project.

I would not buy a TT without a slide, the only problem we have had were, a lot of leaves fell one fall and I had to stand on the tailgate and sweep them off and recently in the NM mountains we woke up to 3" of snow that had to be removed before the slide would come all the way in.

Just be careful that you can still use your TT with the slide in, a roadside stop for lunch or a potty break is really handy some times. 😉