Retracting Slide in Winter Wonderland

[phishheadmi]

So, I have my TT winterized, but have the slide extended and we got the great surprise of about 28" of snow in the last few days. I broomed all the snow off the top of the slideout, but there's a good layer of ice remaining on the top of the slide. I'm concerned that if I retract the slide as-is I may risk damaging my seals AND that when the ice does melt off all that water will wind up inside the TT. Any suggestions on how to proceed? I ran the heat all day yesterday hoping to melt off the ice to no avail...we're expecting another 8-10" today and there's only one day above freezing in the 10 day forecast.

This is ridiculous, I know better...this early snow dump just caught me with my pants down...this AND, my tractor/snowblower is in the shop!

[dadmomh]

A slide awning is a fix for most problems like this. Worth its weight in gold. So in the meantime, suggest a ladder and hair dryer or heat gun and some time. If you get lucky enough to have some sun, you may be able to just shove the whole thing off. Good luck.

[owenssailor]

We were leaving Monday ( yesterday) to head South. The slide was out and covered with snow and a layer of ice. I brushed off what I could then used a kettle to pout hot water onto the slide. The ice melted, I then used a window squeege to wipe the water off. Slide closed n problem. No water mess inside. Easy to do. Can also be done when not at home.

[camperforlife]

If you aren't going to move it I would just wait until the weather clears, sweep it and let it melt. Dealers leave the slides out in the snow all winter long. If you need to move it, artificial heat, don't retract with any ice on it.

[time2roll]

Flair-it garden hose adapter

You will need a hose cap when not in use.

[BulldawgFan]

tomousecap wrote:
Been there done that: Just got out a hose and hooked up to hot water low point. Hosed the ice and snow off and closed the slide.... 🙂

That is seriously brilliant! I am assuming you had to get some sort of adapter/converter to go from low point drain to a hose, yes? Trying to envision what would be needed. We are traveling to Illinois for thanksgiving and this has brought up the point of being prepared for anything. About 4 years ago we left on the morning of a surprise snow storm, we weren't in the rv that time...

[bguy]

A garden hose will do the trick. Cold water will work just fine and you will be surprised how fast it works.

[oughtsix]

Would one of those roll up slide covers have prevented this? Just curious.

[time2roll]

Use a hose connected to your water heater to melt the ice.
Dry with an old towel and bring the slide in.

[tomousecap]

Been there done that: Just got out a hose and hooked up to hot water low point. Hosed the ice and snow off and closed the slide.... 🙂

[coolbreeze01]

I'd start melting ice with a heat gun or your wife's hair drier. Good luck.

[ScottG]

I would leave it out rather than pull all that ice through the seals and into the trailer.

[Cool_Canuck]

I trust you are not in a hurry to move the RV. I would try to cover the slide with a tarp of some sort. Pick a decent day and put heat under the tarp. Don't catch the thing on fire.

[old_idaho_guy]

Same thing happened to us over the weekend and we were 80 miles away from home. I used heat inside, a broom to get all the loose snow off, a hair dryer and the sun to melt, and a plastic scraper to clear it off. Becareful if you are on the snow covered roof. It is slippery and you can't see the skylights or vents. A tall ladder is best, but of course I didn't have one with me!

[aftermath]

I had a trailer with a slide and got caught in the snow during a fishing trip. The snow melted during the day and then froze into a good sized chunk of ice at night. When we were going to leave I couldn't get the slide in AND couldn't get to a place where I could remove it. It was a mess. By the time we finagled a fix, the slide came in and during the trip home the snow/ice melted and made a real mess inside. Also had other trips during heavy rain storms that created similar messes inside along with issues trying to get the slide out on a couple of other trips. Needless to say, I don't have a slide anymore.

If there is a chance of warmer weather coming you can heat the inside of the trailer and wait until the snow melts. By the look of the forecasts that might not happen anytime soon. I would get up with a ladder and remove as much as I could. When retracted the snow will melt off but if you are ready with towels it shouldn't be a big thing.

Good luck.