Slide out or no

[Cdaddy]

Looking at a gulf stream conquest 255 with slide out and a 25lx heartland prowler no slide out. Rest of the features are about the same. Price the same. It's me my wife 2 girls 7 & 10. Plus two big dogs. I've read were slide outs are the number 1 problem spot on modern campers. And I'm terrified of spending 16k for something more prone to problems. But also worry about comfort and space. So just wondering if everyone thinks slide outs are worth the risk? Thanks

[colliehauler]

dodge guy wrote:
People have more issues with their awnings, leaks, tires, windows, etc, etc, etc than a slide out!

I have no idea what percentage of problems people have with various components.

By the way the the trailer that wicked water from the bottom of the slide is a 06 Cherokee 30F, 2 slides 12' in front and a small slide in bedroom. Same design used in your tt different floor plan.

I also have a 2000 Excursion with the 7.3 Diesel. Not relevant but interesting.

[dodge_guy]

People have more issues with their awnings, leaks, tires, windows, etc, etc, etc than a slide out!

[colliehauler]

RoyBell wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

RoyBell wrote:
I've had fresh water issues on both my campers. One, the lines froze and cracked over winter and I didn't realize it until the camper started fill up with water. The second one, the hose connection was lose on my outdoor kitchen. Filled the bunk area with water as well. Guess I should just take all the plumbing out of my camper now.

For you - yeah, probably a great idea! :W

In all the years we've owned a variety of campers I've likewise not once had a water leak. What does that prove? ... that it won't ever happen? :S

Fact is, slides can / do leak and fail ... you just haven't had your turn yet. :W

It proves that stuff goes wrong on everyones camper. Some people have blown several sets of ST tires, meanwhile I have never blown any ST tires. Some people have slide issues, some don't. I have had silly water supply issues while you haven't. Just because a couple people have had slide issues doesn't mean it's an epidemic.

That's the whole point. They are not always trouble free like some people make them out to be. While I will never be without a slide in my seasonal. I can understand why people who don't want a slide, one less thing to go wrong.

[RoyBell]

SoundGuy wrote:

RoyBell wrote:
I've had fresh water issues on both my campers. One, the lines froze and cracked over winter and I didn't realize it until the camper started fill up with water. The second one, the hose connection was lose on my outdoor kitchen. Filled the bunk area with water as well. Guess I should just take all the plumbing out of my camper now.

For you - yeah, probably a great idea! :W

In all the years we've owned a variety of campers I've likewise not once had a water leak. What does that prove? ... that it won't ever happen? :S

Fact is, slides can / do leak and fail ... you just haven't had your turn yet. :W

It proves that stuff goes wrong on everyones camper. Some people have blown several sets of ST tires, meanwhile I have never blown any ST tires. Some people have slide issues, some don't. I have had silly water supply issues while you haven't. Just because a couple people have had slide issues doesn't mean it's an epidemic.

[SoundGuy]

RoyBell wrote:
I've had fresh water issues on both my campers. One, the lines froze and cracked over winter and I didn't realize it until the camper started fill up with water. The second one, the hose connection was lose on my outdoor kitchen. Filled the bunk area with water as well. Guess I should just take all the plumbing out of my camper now.

For you - yeah, probably a great idea! :W

In all the years we've owned a variety of campers I've likewise not once had a water leak. What does that prove? ... that it won't ever happen? :S

Fact is, slides can / do leak and fail ... you just haven't had your turn yet. :W

[RoyBell]

I've had fresh water issues on both my campers. One, the lines froze and cracked over winter and I didn't realize it until the camper started fill up with water. The second one, the hose connection was lose on my outdoor kitchen. Filled the bunk area with water as well. Guess I should just take all the plumbing out of my camper now.

[poppin_fresh]

After moving from a non-slide camper to one with a nice big slide, I will never go back. I'm totally addicted to the extra space during those sub-optimal camping days even if it means a little more maintenance.

I realize stuff can always happen, but in my three years of camping around hundreds of slide outs, in various configurations, from trailers of various vintages, I have never seen anyone dealing with a major slide issue. I feel like I have assisted someone with almost every other component with a trailer at one point or another.

To me it seems like they are actually a pretty reliable component compared to some other items on trailers.

[colliehauler]

RoyBell wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
One problem is water damage from poor design. The shop I will use (hwy 33 rv repair) does several floor replacements a year. The problem is it does not show up until it's to late. If you don't keep your RV very long the problem most likly will never show up. They replace a lot of rubber roof's as well, most from tree branch damage.

I guess it comes down to maintenance and making sure everything is tip-top. I notice my top rubber seal on my slide tends to move a bit and I just push it back over when I See this. I get up on the roof and inspect. I store indoors over winter to keep the snow & freeze/thaw off the roof which destroy them. I wax and wash and inspect stuff. I lubed the slides and stabilizer jacks this spring.

These are rolling houses and just like your house or any vehicle, they need to be maintained. I am not saying that's the main cause for failures, but I imagine a large part of it.

Mine has nothing to do with the seals. It was wicking water from the bottom and the cotoplast would not let the water drain out. Rotten floor but my seals are fine. On the 2ND trailer the Wildwood the seals were the problem from the previous owner failing to catch a bad seal.

[SoundGuy]

SoundGuy wrote:
Although quite a few believe slide issues aren't all that common here's yet another slide issue recently posted here on the forums. I guess this debate over slides is not unlike a car accident ... you're not really convinced it will ever happen to you ... until it does. :W

So this slide issue story gets even worse for the OP. :E

Page 2 of the Discussion

You paying attention Cdaddy? :W

[Hannibal]

Our brand new Jayco 28RLS's slide sounds like it skips a tooth or three at full out position instead of just stopping at the end of travel like our previous slides have done. All of our slides have been rack and pinion for simplicity and reliability. I hope this isn't a sign of trouble.

[2012Coleman]

Hey all you roosters - I think your hens are calling you back to the hen house to do your chores... :w

[tatest]

Question that raises a lot of emotional heat. I have two slideouts, never had a problem with them, more than ten years. Together the space they add is equivalent to two feet of additional length.

But for the way I want to use the RV, I find them inconvenient. I need to be able to just stop and park, not take up any extra space or look like I am "camping." If I replace this RV, the next one will be smaller and not have slideouts. This one was for my wife's needs, not mine.

[SoundGuy]

CKNSLS wrote:
That unit is several years old. If he didn't have a slide on a unit that old he wouldn't be having problems.....

Old or new he wouldn't be having issues if it didn't have a slide. :W

[CKNSLS]

That unit is several years old. If he didn't have a slide on a unit that old he wouldn't be having problems.....

[SoundGuy]

Although quite a few believe slide issues aren't all that common here's yet another slide issue recently posted here on the forums. I guess this debate over slides is not unlike a car accident ... you're not really convinced it will ever happen to you ... until it does. :W