Newbie travel trailer buyer question - to slide out or not

[Sanjeev]

Hi all:

I am a newbie in the world of camper trailers, trying to buy my first camper trailer to get started. I am in my late 40s, married with wife and two kids - a 20 year old college going daughter (home only occasionally) and a 10 year old son. Mentioned this to give some idea on what we would need in a camper.

For towing the trailer, I bought a 2017 Ram 1500 ecodiesel with a 3.92 Rear Axle Ratio. Specs show a "Max Trailer Weight Rating" of 7540 lbs. for this truck.

In our local market, I spotted two trailers (on craigslist) that I want to investigate further:

1. A 2016 Forest River Shasta Oasis 25RS. The owner mentions "excellent condition" at a listed price that sounds reasonable. I have googled the model and watched some youtube videos and so far, wife and myself like the floor plan. We have not gone to physically take a look yet, will probably do that in the coming week.
2. A 2016 Coachmen Catalina 261 BH SBX. This one we went to take a look yesterday, and through our newbie eyes, it did look like in excellent condition. We liked the floor plan on this one also.

The floor plans are mostly similar, with one main difference being the slide out in the Shasta. My engineering experience tells me that a slide out means more moving parts, and more possibilities for developing a leak. But wife prefers the space the slide out offers. FYI - the slide out is for the sofa and refrigerator.

One last point - the asking price for both the trailers is similar. The Catalina does come with some kind of a transferable warranty through mid 2023.

Being a complete newbie, I would like advice from trailer owners and experts on what they like and not in a slide out, quality of construction of the two brands etc. of these particular models to help me further decide.

Thanks in advance for all the comments!

[Huntindog]

SoundGuy wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
FYI

For those that are advocating being able to use the TT with the slides in.....
You are NOT supposed to use the slides when they are retracted.
the slides are mostly unsupported and at their weakest then. Most all manufacturers warn against doing this.
I am unaware of ANY that say it's OK.

FYI

Declaring this doesn't make it so. :R

I just went through all 48 pages of my "Coachmen Travel Trailer / Fifth Wheel Owner's Manual" and nowhere does it make any mention of any kind saying the slide(s) can't be used when retracted. My own 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express has now been through 5 camping seasons and I use it with the slide retracted much more often than I do with it deployed, especially here at the house where I'm in it pretty well every day. I've had no issues with this slide to date and because this is our first slide trailer I question whether the day will come when it won't behave as it should but I have no reason to believe it would have anything to do with using the slide in the retracted position. If anything, any failure would be the result of misalignment or excessive wear caused by repeated use. Coachmen doesn't caution against using the slide in the retracted position and without documented proof to the contrary nor should you without a link to documentation that indicates otherwise.

Does it state anywhere in that 40 page manual that it is OK to use the slides when retracted?

If so, then YOU should provide a link... Just stating it doesn't make it so.

Manufacturers are often silent on things that they prefer to be quiet on. They like to be as they know that people may want to use their product in a way that is detrimental... They will then deny a warranty claim when damage occurs.
Only if they specifically state it is OK, will they stand behind it 100%.
Lifted trucks are a great example of this unspoken policy.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a slide when retracted is just floating above the floor unsupported..... HAS to be weaker than when it is deployed and fully supported.

As I stated before, some maunfacturers DO warn against this. And some are silent. I am unaware of ANY that state it is OK.

[TomG2]

Huntindog wrote:


FYI

For those that are advocating being able to use the TT with the slides in.....

I think most people simply want to use the bathroom, get something out of the refrigerator, or take a quick nap without extending the slides. Some slides are designed so that ANY use is prohibited. I, like many people, want to be able to use the bathroom or get a sandwich out of the refrigerator without having to extend the slides. I would not want any unit that said ALL use is prohibited as you suggest.

[SoundGuy]

Huntindog wrote:
FYI

For those that are advocating being able to use the TT with the slides in.....
You are NOT supposed to use the slides when they are retracted.
the slides are mostly unsupported and at their weakest then. Most all manufacturers warn against doing this.
I am unaware of ANY that say it's OK.

FYI

Declaring this doesn't make it so. :R

I just went through all 48 pages of my "Coachmen Travel Trailer / Fifth Wheel Owner's Manual" and nowhere does it make any mention of any kind saying the slide(s) can't be used when retracted. My own 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express has now been through 5 camping seasons and I use it with the slide retracted much more often than I do with it deployed, especially here at the house where I'm in it pretty well every day. I've had no issues with this slide to date and because this is our first slide trailer I question whether the day will come when it won't behave as it should but I have no reason to believe it would have anything to do with using the slide in the retracted position. If anything, any failure would be the result of misalignment or excessive wear caused by repeated use. Coachmen doesn't caution against using the slide in the retracted position and without documented proof to the contrary nor should you without a link to documentation that indicates otherwise.

[Huntindog]

FYI

For those that are advocating being able to use the TT with the slides in.....
You are NOT supposed to use the slides when they are retracted.
the slides are mostly unsupported and at their weakest then. Most all manufacturers warn against doing this.
I am unaware of ANY that say it's OK.

[lgarcia]

No slides for us. Took out the dinette table and now using a narrower width table which accommodates our physiques. Added cushions to the dinette benches to lounge on to read, surf etc. Results in a fast setup. I use the trailer year round when not camping, so don't have to worry about anything.

[colliehauler]

I have owned 8 RV's 4 without slides 4 with slide-outs, I had slideout issues with two of them. Like I said earlier I plan on purchasing a new camper with four slides. I live in my seasonal for long periods of time and the room it adds is worth the risk.

That said it boils down to personal preference.

Same can be said about construction, some prefer stick and tin others prefer fiberglass. I've owned both and prefer fiberglass.

[SoundGuy]

mountainkowboy wrote:
that's his middle name

Surely you can come up with something more imaginative than that! :S

Too funny. :W

[mountainkowboy]

Huntindog wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:
Here's a pic I took in my dealer's shop as techs were working on a slide problem.



Obviously not all slide issues require this extent of repair but to suggest slide failures are infrequent just because you yourself have not experienced one is simply incorrect. Slides do fail for one reason or another, some are relatively easy to deal with by just disconnecting the slide motor mechanism and pushing the slide back in so you can at least get to a dealer for service. Others like that illustrated in this pic you sure couldn't deal with in any campground.

Stop with the drama already. There are many problems that dealers fix.. But you only post a pic of one that backs the position you have taken in this thread.

You would have some credibility if you followed your own advice.
Your present TT has a slide. Obviously you are not as scared of them as you are loudly proclaiming

that's his middle name

[temccarthy1]

Slides are more common than not now. We have an 11 ft super slide in our Bullet and it makes such a difference in the inside feel of spaciousness! With 1 slide, we are still not too heavy and only 5500 lbs for a 30 ft Ultralite! Have had zero problems with the operation of the slide! I would strongly advise you to get one! What you do not want to do is get one without, and then wish you had and sell the TT after a couple years and get slammed with 50% depreciation which you will! Get one now that you know you will love and keep it for the next 10-15 years!

[SoundGuy]

Great post, bobndot. 🙂

I'd forgotten about the carpet issue as I too learned over the course of owning several travel trailers that carpet doesn't work too well in a camper. Dinette slides seem to come in two versions, depending on the type of slide mechanism used - elevated and floor flush. However, even though there is some carpet I still personally much prefer the latter as sitting at the table on an elevated platform makes me feel like a mannequin in a store window. 😞

[bobndot]

Slide or no slide is a "personal choice". Both work .
I've owned 3 slideout models and 8 non slide models. I never had any slide issues except for cold air leaking in, but I'm just one owner. MAKE SURE you level the RV before you deploy a slide, otherwise you can crack the siding and rack the framework.
What I found:
When using the heat , propane usage was much less in the non slide RV's and they were warmer, easier to heat . Another reason to have a slide that functions while "IN" , you can close it at night to be warmer with less volume to heat and it seems to seal better.
I would make sure you can use the floorplan with the slide in, just in case it fails and you can't get a repair appt. right away .
( FYI: RV mfg's normally offer a lesser hourly rate to dealers trying to make a repair under warranty. While on the road, finding a shop to accept the terms might be a challenge. This might take more time and you'll need to use the TT in the meantime.)

IMO, it matters where the slide is located and how large it is.
A smaller sofa or dinette slide can be pushed back in by one person if it malfunctions.

I would prefer a hard floor opposed to a carpet under a slide . In the past, I have seen many RV's come into the shop with carpet issues. Today , it looks like the mfg's are getting away from the carpet under the slide where it can rub and tear (sometimes).

Watch your payload using the 1500 truck. My 6000# TT has a 900 plus TW., expect to have more TW than you posted.
A TT that's shorter with a small slide might work better using a 1500 truck or a non slide unit.
Atlee (see his post) and I use the 23RB non slide floorplan that offers the sofa facing the rear large full width bathroom. You don't get that 'closed in feeling' as you would in a side facing sofa or a smaller side bathroom. You also get an island queen bed which is the preferred . If you choose a non slide unit, this floorplan might work for you too. The floorplan is avl., in a few brands and works very well using the 1500 . As already stated , you have to try the floorplan to feel it.

just food for thought: ( i don't see where if this was addressed or not)
How do you plan to use this TT ? at a CG hooked up or boondocking with no hookups.

Reason being , If the floorplan has a fridge in the slide, then the fridge will be vented through the slide wall and NOT the roof. This could mean having a 12v exhaust cooling fan to overcome the bends in the exhaust sidewall vent tube . That 12v fan will run off the battery using your stored battery power if you are not hooked up to an electrical pedestal. You can also hear the fan running. Will that apply to you ?

Slide models prohibits the movement of towing it 'IF' it should fail and get stuck in the deployed position.
Common sense tells me to learn the mechanics of the slide involved. Just in case you do have a problem, you won't be stuck somewhere with a slide deployed and not knowing how to retract it in order to tow it.
Know the location of Fuses/breakers and how to align it if it should become loose from travel and bind , then you would not be able to do a manual override with a hand-crank and maybe not be able to force it back in.

[SoundGuy]

To the OP, another slide consideration ...

Probably most who buy a trailer with a slide (or slides) will also ante up the extra cost for a slide topper, one for each slide, so if you too choose to go this route you'll want to factor in this extra cost. In my particular case I have a shallow sofa slide and chose to not ante up for a topper but it does mean carrying a 3-step ladder so I can reach the top of the slide and clear it of debris before retracting it.



Obviously if the trailer has no slide(s) then this entire issue is moot and is yet another reason some prefer the simplicity of a non-slide trailer. 🙂

[SoundGuy]

BizmarksMom wrote:
Just... realize that Murphy's Law is a real thing. When my slide did break, it was really nice to have no issues using the bed, bathroom, furnace, and making a sandwich for dinner while on the way home. Make sure the trailer is useable - even though it's cramped - with with slide in.

x100! :B

Mr Murphy aside, the one thing I absolutely insisted on when considering the purchase of our first ever trailer with a slide was that slide had to not limit access to the interior of the camper in any way. Our current Freedom Express 192RBS met that requirement ...



During the camping season I keep our 192RBS here at the house parked on the driveway and because I use it pretty well every day having full interior access with the slide in was mandatory. Often when solo camping I don't even bother deploying the slide as there's plenty of room for just myself and the dog. When traveling we often stop midway to our destination for lunch, for retrieving snacks from the cupboards and fridge, for bathroom breaks. Sometimes after checking out of our campsite we'll head to the beach for the remainder of the day then before leaving for home even shower or eat supper, all of which necessitate having full interior access with the slide in, just as would any trailer that doesn't have any slides. Pick the right slide floorplan and it can work quite well. :B

[babock]

When we started looking at trailers. my fiance was the no slide person and I wanted the slide. We eventually bought a coachmen with 2 slides! We wanted a trailer less than 25' to fit in more campgrounds. Last week we stayed in a 25' spot with our 24'11" Coachmen.

I am very handy and can fix anything. I made sure I know how to operate the slides manually if the occasion ever arises.

The drawback of our trailer is that it is heavy but in order to get the same floor space with the slides out, we would have had to buy a longer trailer which would have had similar total weight.

[BizmarksMom]

I liked the slide on my previous camper. I traded it out for my current one only because it wasn't a good fit for the camping I like to do. I happened to fall in love with a camper with no slide this time around.

Just... realize that Murphy's Law is a real thing. When my slide did break, it was really nice to have no issues using the bed, bathroom, furnace, and making a sandwich for dinner while on the way home. Make sure the trailer is useable - even though it's cramped - with with slide in. There are lots of floor plans that work.