Slide do's and Don'ts

[Fordlover]

So after 11 years with our Sunset Trail, and growing our family by two kids and one dog, we decided it was time to upsize and upgrade.

I've been pleased with the Layton Javelin included features and floor plan of the 285BH. So despite Evergreen shutting down, I was able to find a leftover 285BH and made a screaming deal on it. And that leads me to my question.

I've not had a camper with a slide, so what is the proper treatment of a slide?

Should I sit on the couch or table with the slide in, walk on the slide floor? We will be unable to extend the slide at our home, so it was important we get a floor plan that we could fully navigate with the slide in. Anything else I need to know about the care and feeding of the slide?

[Fordlover]

DutchmenSport wrote:


I understand the OP for wanting the slides. After being cramped ourselves, like I said, this IS a welcome change. We spend so much time in our camper now (for the last 5 years), we barely know what the inside of our house looks like any more.

OP! Enjoy your new purchase! And have many happy camping experiences in your future!

Thanks Dutchmen. We are so excited with the new rig and the soon to arrive truck. Can't wait to get out on our first trip with the new camper!

[tomman58]

We have had slides for years with out any problems to speak of. We sometimes leave a campground in the very early morning 4:00 am. We will just leave out our bedroom slide or maybe the slide with the dinette depending on the weather if it is cold and want to heat the trailer.
We often remove everything except the chocks and hookup is we disconnected. In the am we just make coffee and bring in the bedroom slide.... on the road in 20 minutes max.
Our unit is a 3 slide unit and I overnight without even leveling.
These trailers are in the most part developed enough to do most anything without problems just don't try to drive down the road with them out, LOL

[DutchmenSport]

ktmrfs wrote:
...
Our trailer has near 30K miles on it, has seen close to 3month/year use for 8 years now, slides have likely been in and out at least several hundred times, we camp in the rain, and the slides have never leaked, never had any issues with alignment, never any issues with them not operating as expected.

Pay attention, use reasonable care, and you should be pretty trouble free.

ktmrfs, I always appreciate your posts and your updates on the performance of your camper. Your's is about 2 years ahead of mine (2011 vs 2013 model of basically the same camper). Whenever you post, I always pay attention! It gives me great confidence mine will be JUST FINE for the next 2 years anyway! Thanks for the occasional updates!

[ktmrfs]

mosseater wrote:
Make sure before you open it there are no cabinet doors that got jarred open and are in the path of the slide.

Make sure the top is clear before bringing it in. Leaves, sticks, acorns, etc. can damage the rubber roofing on top.

And don't move it unless you JUST checked it or have a spotter. Our is hard on ladders. Always be ready to let off the button when moving. Pay attention!

x2 on making sure nothing on the OUTSIDE is in the way when closing or opening the slide!!!

I lube the track each spring and fall, keep the slide seals lubed, and have slide toppers on them to keep the leaves and pine needles out of the way.

AND:

We use our dinette at rest stops with the slides in.

Our trailer has near 30K miles on it, has seen close to 3month/year use for 8 years now, slides have likely been in and out at least several hundred times, we camp in the rain, and the slides have never leaked, never had any issues with alignment, never any issues with them not operating as expected.

Pay attention, use reasonable care, and you should be pretty trouble free.

[campigloo]

PS
Slides can be really handy when you are leveling side to side. I have used mine frequently as counter balance.

[campigloo]

Don’t be afraid of your slide. They are not the delicate little things that some people imagine they are. If you ever spend any substantial amount of time at a dealership you’ll see them moving trailers around on tractors and forklifts with the slides in various stages of extension. They’re not going to fall apart if your a centimeter out of level. Do make sure you don’t close them with trash on the roof. Toppers are a huge help with this. After nine years and probably 70,000 towing miles I have yet to sweep the roof or treat the seals. Come Thursday I’m putting another 20,000 or so miles on it and the slides seal nicely. My owners guide for my Outback recommends no lube on the rack and pinion so I have diligently followed that recommendation and so far no problems. Enjoy the extra space, it’s so worth it.

[DutchmenSport]

Fordlover wrote:
...
For those that indicated that no slide would be best, while I don't disagree (and myself went that way for the last 11 years) ...

We deliberately choose our first two travel trailers with no slides for all the reasons above, plus more. Reports back then were to prevalent, slide failure, never wanted to risk it and some how, "prided" myself in not having a slide.

Then came the day we realized how cramped we were in camper number 2 and it was a 31 foot long one too. Our dealer pointed us to (our current one) with 3 slides. I was hesitant and still tried to rationalize all the negatives I'd heard, especially slide failure. Maybe that's why I was so meticulous with my salesman to explain absolutely everything needed and everything NOT needed for good slide health. I've followed the many "rules" I posted above and have not had a single problem with them yet (going on five years now).

Maybe I'm still a bit paranoid over the slides, but the difference between not having them and having them is world apart. It was a VERY easy adjustment going from no slides to 3 slides. Do they require a bit of attention? Absolutely yes! But the space they provide inside more than makes up for the inconvenience of having to diligently baby-sit them.

In the end, it all boils down to each one of our own "comfort levels" and how much energy and expense we (each) want to put into our own efforts for our own comforts.

Slides still trouble me, and every time I push the button to open or close them, I wonder (Is this the day?). But they've proven successful so far.

I understand the OP for wanting the slides. After being cramped ourselves, like I said, this IS a welcome change. We spend so much time in our camper now (for the last 5 years), we barely know what the inside of our house looks like any more.

OP! Enjoy your new purchase! And have many happy camping experiences in your future!

[rbpru]

I have a long slide, about 14 foot long. It is more than half the length of the 23 ft. TT box.

It is only 17 inches deep but it contains the kitchen sink, stove, oven, silverware/under sink storage cabinets, overhead storage, microwave and couch/bed. It is in rack and pinion slide.

It gets no special treatment and is used in or out. It does not block anything when retracted, keeping the TT fully functional.

I would not own a TT without a slide or with a slide that had to be extended before the TT was fully functional.

So as you can see all slides are not created equal.

Safe Travels.

[hussbuss]

Stevemorris . Those clamps keep the slide from coming out on the road. Most older trailers do not have brakes on the slides like newer ones do. Had a friend of mine years ago that didn't use his. Went around an on ramp and the slide went all the way out. If you have them, they are there for a reason. They go on top of the slide.

[Fordlover]

Thank you all for the very helpful tips. Slide conditioner is on its way, and I will treat right away.

For those that indicated that no slide would be best, while I don't disagree (and myself went that way for the last 11 years) at this point it is most unhelpful, as of course we now have a slide to care for.

[pennysmom09]

Keep it simple, slides are indispensible for most: Keep the slide paths clear, inside and out, check top so they are clean and dry when in. Lubricate rubber seals periodically. You can walk or sit on the slides whether in or out. Today's slide mechanisms work very well.

[Atlee]

Agree with you and MidnightSadie. No slide is a good thing.

Now, I understand how a slide makes a lot of difference in interior space, and if I had needed that space, a slide would have been a great thing to have.

Fortunately, our current Jayco 23RB provides the two of us with enough space so we didn't have to look for a model that had a slide.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Whew,,, After reading the above post, I'm so glad I don't have one either.

[PuppyDogMom]

This is great information for taking care of a slide. Thank you!

[stevemorris]

we just gor our first tt with a slide, love the extra space
it came with two "clamps" to insert between the slide and tt wall, up high supposedly. does everybody use them? looks lke a good way to support the slide securely while travelling