Imagine 2800bh slide closed no access to bedroom?

[A390GT]

I Sold my crossroads slingshot and we are now looking for a new TT.
We went to Hersey and looked at everything and at the end of the day we put money down on a Grand design imagine 2800bh
Now that we had a day to think about it, is it going to be a big deal that we can't get into the queen bed room when the slide is closed? And it's not a squeeze in, it's totally blocked by the slide.
Anyone have a camper like this that can give us their opinion
Thanks for the insite
John nj

[Anmacc2]

wing_zealot wrote:

RandACampin wrote:

Doug33 wrote:
Remember that you are not supposed to put any weight on a slide when it is in the IN position. It would be a deal breaker for me. Our 24" slide leaves plenty of room to get anywhere in the TT.

Says who? What's your reference for this?

I don't have any first hand knowledge (yes a friend of a friend said ...), but I have heard cases of the slide floor becoming damaged or broken when used with the slide in. I don't use mine. The fix it guy at the dealer told me there had been problems. Now what the exact details are he never said. So there could be a lot of variables in play.

I guess it would depend on whether the floor was supported when out, but not supported when in. That could be the difference in some models. For myself I just don't use mine when in.

My TT is fully accessible without extending the slide. All that is in the slide is our sofa and we often use it without extending the slide. If we stop for rest or a meal or even if we drive late and just stop to sleep for the night I might not extend it. Also have pulled it in and hunkered down in some bad storms. In rain it stays out, strong howling winds it comes in. It definitely depends on the model though. We've looked at models that have warnings not to use the slide area unless it is fully extended.

[bill-e]

While we havent had to use it yet (and never did with out previous slide-less camper, I can opem my slides enough for bathroom and fridge access from the cab of my truck with my remote control. Bedroom is accessable without opening any slides.

[silverfz]

I have one of those big slides. I have to extend maybe 6 inchs to access the whole setup. So unless I pulled over on a highway I am okay.

The U dinette lost me some space.

[wing_zealot]

RandACampin wrote:

Doug33 wrote:
Remember that you are not supposed to put any weight on a slide when it is in the IN position. It would be a deal breaker for me. Our 24" slide leaves plenty of room to get anywhere in the TT.

Says who? What's your reference for this?

I don't have any first hand knowledge (yes a friend of a friend said ...), but I have heard cases of the slide floor becoming damaged or broken when used with the slide in. I don't use mine. The fix it guy at the dealer told me there had been problems. Now what the exact details are he never said. So there could be a lot of variables in play.

I guess it would depend on whether the floor was supported when out, but not supported when in. That could be the difference in some models. For myself I just don't use mine when in.

[A390GT]

The bedroom is great. More than enough room there.
The problem is the slide comes right up against the L shaped Kitchen. I just don't feel good leaving it out 16 or so inches with the possibility of wind/water leaking in. Then theirs my crazy kids jumping around on a half out slide...
If the sink wasn't there I was thinking of just cutting the cabinet, countertop and wall back and make a walkway.
But, do I really don't want to go cutting up a brand new trailer.

[Big_Katuna]

Are you sure the bed didn't lift up to provide access?

Ours does. Its hinged and has gas lifts. Hinges up so you can get to closet or whatever?

[Kittykath]

We recently went from seasonal style camping with slides out all of the time to traveling. I didn't realize how important accessibility would be. Can't believe we got lucky with our new camper which is 100% accessible with the slide closed. I can access every cabinet too, and won't rip one off the hinges because nothing is in the way of the slide either.

[valhalla360]

Dennis Smith wrote:
Designed by engineers not campers

Sorry but the engineers probably fought valiantly but the marketing department said it looks so darn good at the RV show.

99% of the time it's not an issue. When there is a tree in the way or after a long day on the road, something breaks, it's a deal breaker. Overall they are quite reliable and I would be without slides, they can break.

[SoundGuy]

dodge guy wrote:
... as someone else mentioned they weren't designed to be used when in (damage may be possible if used in this manner!)

I've never seen any mention of this in any owner's manual, including my own, so unless someone can provide a link that supports this argument I'll continue to regard it as an old wives' tale. :R The only caution I'm aware of warning against using a slide in the travel position was with the early version rear glide trailers in which the rear bed glide could extend out as much as 5', with much of the weight supported by ceiling tracks when in the travel position. KZ in fact later offered optional bed supports that would sit under the bed frame when in the travel position so it could be used without being deployed. Other than when we're actually camping our FE's slide is kept in the travel mode and since I park the rig here at the house during the season it sees almost daily use, no issues whatsoever. I'm with those who wouldn't own any trailer in which slide(s) prevented full access to the interior and I further wouldn't own any trailer in which I couldn't use all the camper's facilities whether the slide(s) are deployed or not. As another already posted, if that were the only choice then I'd rather own a trailer with no slide(s) at all. 😉

[Lantley]

2112 wrote:
Not having access to everything was always a deal breaker to me until we decided to buy our current FW. This floorplan does not allow access to the fridge with the main slide in. I have realized it's no big deal at all.

I have deployed the slide many times in many locations and situations and it has not been an issue at all. I was concerned about stopping for a fridge raid or lunch time but it turns out nobody cares if my slide is out and we enjoy the extra room. I have even deployed it in the rain and everything survived.

I have a similar floor plan that requires opening the small kitchen slide to access the fridge as well. I agree it has not been an issue.
Although I do make it a point to park where slide can be deployed
All things considered equal if I found a floorplan that I liked just as well that had full access including fridge I would prefer full access vs. needing to open any slides.
Slide access is not a deal breaker for everyone but it is a issue that should be given some thought vs. being an afterthought after the purchase has been made

[2112]

Not having access to everything was always a deal breaker to me until we decided to buy our current FW. This floorplan does not allow access to the fridge with the main slide in. I have realized it's no big deal at all.

I have deployed the slide many times in many locations and situations and it has not been an issue at all. I was concerned about stopping for a fridge raid or lunch time but it turns out nobody cares if my slide is out and we enjoy the extra room. I have even deployed it in the rain and everything survived.

[A390GT]

we usually are 80% wallmart / trucks to campgrounds.
So, we can't use the slide in the in position? I thought the newer slides were ok to use while in the stowed position? It's the 4 track schwintek
Maybe I need to do more slide research....

[RandACampin]

Doug33 wrote:
Remember that you are not supposed to put any weight on a slide when it is in the IN position. It would be a deal breaker for me. Our 24" slide leaves plenty of room to get anywhere in the TT.

Says who? What's your reference for this?

[Lantley]

RavensFan24 wrote:
I'll admit I love the ideal layout that we have with access to the bedroom, bathroom and fridge/pantry area. Our old trailer had a door straight to the bedroom, so that was never an issue, but we have 3 dogs so we always put the slide out so they had room at night. In the end, it's the matter of a push of a button for about 10 seconds to remedy the situation. I've never heard of it not being permissible to put slides out when over nighting at a Walmart or Cracker Barrel. Is anyone else utilizing the extra foot or two next to my RV where that's going to be an issue? I doubt it and if they did, I wouldn't park there. If you want to stop and nap at various times on a trip it may get a bit tedious after a while, but if the trailer works for the rest of your purposes, I don't see this being a big issue at all. The odds of sleeping on a mid trip without being able to put the slides out are minimal and your other option is 10 seconds of inconvenience holding a button down. In the end, this isn't ideal, but if the rest of the trailer works for you than you're fine.

Its not that there is a rule concerning putting out slides It's a matter of there being room next to you to put out a slide.
If that slide extends into traffic it including the adjoining parking space it puts you in a precarious situation.
I have stopped where the slide is not an issue at all and I have stopped where putting out the slide created complications.
Bottom line is Limited slide use is always better when stopping along the roadside

[B_O__Plenty]

We looked at one that had to have the slide out to use the bedroom or bathroom. To make matters worse it has a Schwintek slide which is reputedly not the most reliable...End of the road for that deal for us. We always use our own bathroom at rest stops. We know who used it last and cleaned it.

B.O.