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

[RoyBell]

This weekend while camping, it rained incredibly hard. Noticed we got some water in the camper near the slide.

I attributed it to user error. We were on a farm field and I didn't bother leveling side to side much since it was within half a degree.

Since I don't have a slide canopy, the water will sit on top of the slide and eventually make it's way in if you aren't pitched enough. Usually if I know it's gonna rain, I pitch it slightly to the slide side to prevent intrusion.

No big deal, just ran the box fans on the carpet to dry it out and in a couple hours it was dry.

So, slide issues but self induced 🙂 Wouldn't stop me from getting a slide in the future.

[SoundGuy]

RoyBell wrote:
I won't be losing any sleep over potential slide issues. It's a moving part/component that will eventually need servicing....just like a caliper, axle seal, water pump on a vehicle. They are all going to need service at some point, no one knows when though 😉

hbrady, you were number 5, soundguy quoted your thread.

SoundGuy wrote:
Just for you Roy 😛 ... Slide Failure #6. :W Uh Oh, this just broke your magic number of just 5 slide failures here on the forums in one year. :E

captnjack wrote:
Well that changes everything!

For some it clearly does 😉 ... yet another slide failure. The saga of failing slides continues. 😛

[captnjack]

SoundGuy wrote:

RoyBell wrote:
I won't be losing any sleep over potential slide issues. It's a moving part/component that will eventually need servicing....just like a caliper, axle seal, water pump on a vehicle. They are all going to need service at some point, no one knows when though 😉

hbrady, you were number 5, soundguy quoted your thread.

Just for you Roy 😛 ... Slide Failure #6. :W Uh Oh, this just broke your magic number of just 5 slide failures here on the forums in one year. :E

Well that changes everything!

[DustyR]

myredracer wrote:
Our very first TT was a 20 footer with no slide. We thought it was our forever TT. It only lasted one season before we realized it was just too cramped and we couldn't relax inside. We spent a couple thousand $$ doing mods and upgrades and even though we bought it at a year-end blowout price, when we sold it we lost around $5K. Selling pre-owned TTs is tough and you will never get your money back, not even close.

Now we have a 29 footer with one slide and it's just the right size to be comfortable for two. It feels so much more spacious and has a sofa, a separate bedroom with door, large kitchen counter, plenty of inside storage and much more over the old trailer. We would never ever go back to a slide-less TT. Your age can be a factor as can your camping style.

Do it right the first time. See if you can find a CG that has rental units onsite or borrow one from a friend. There are so many things that you can overlook when buying your first RV. Notwithstanding price and towing/payload capacity, I'd get a TT with a slide. Most slides are trouble free and you are FAR more likely to have other issues. Do your due diligence online, go to an RV show, rent or borrow a TT and take your time. Don't go to a dealer's lot and get swayed into something that isn't right for you. Maybe get a TT a year or two old that has been looked after.

X-2

I spend 6 to 7 months a year in a Denali TT 32' long with two slides. Could I go back to a TT without slides? Yes, if only weekend or vacation camping, we do what we need to do. I camped with a young family in a 18' Terry for several years and enjoyed every minute of it.

The article I quoted is spots on.

Enjoy the great outdoors.....

[SoundGuy]

RoyBell wrote:
I won't be losing any sleep over potential slide issues. It's a moving part/component that will eventually need servicing....just like a caliper, axle seal, water pump on a vehicle. They are all going to need service at some point, no one knows when though 😉

hbrady, you were number 5, soundguy quoted your thread.

Just for you Roy 😛 ... Slide Failure #6. :W Uh Oh, this just broke your magic number of just 5 slide failures here on the forums in one year. :E

[myredracer]

Our very first TT was a 20 footer with no slide. We thought it was our forever TT. It only lasted one season before we realized it was just too cramped and we couldn't relax inside. We spent a couple thousand $$ doing mods and upgrades and even though we bought it at a year-end blowout price, when we sold it we lost around $5K. Selling pre-owned TTs is tough and you will never get your money back, not even close.

Now we have a 29 footer with one slide and it's just the right size to be comfortable for two. It feels so much more spacious and has a sofa, a separate bedroom with door, large kitchen counter, plenty of inside storage and much more over the old trailer. We would never ever go back to a slide-less TT. Your age can be a factor as can your camping style.

Do it right the first time. See if you can find a CG that has rental units onsite or borrow one from a friend. There are so many things that you can overlook when buying your first RV. Notwithstanding price and towing/payload capacity, I'd get a TT with a slide. Most slides are trouble free and you are FAR more likely to have other issues. Do your due diligence online, go to an RV show, rent or borrow a TT and take your time. Don't go to a dealer's lot and get swayed into something that isn't right for you. Maybe get a TT a year or two old that has been looked after.

[RoyBell]

I won't be losing any sleep over potential slide issues. It's a moving part/component that will eventually need servicing....just like a caliper, axle seal, water pump on a vehicle. They are all going to need service at some point, no one knows when though 😉

hbrady, you were number 5, soundguy quoted your thread.

[hbrady]

make that... 6 :B

Slide Issue

We actually looked at a smaller (brand new) Freedom Express with no slide and went with a used unit with a slide. Even though I'm having an issue, I still don't regret our decision, love the extra room (especially with a dog).

[SoundGuy]

RoyBell wrote:
Considering there are maybe 5 posts in the last year about slide issues, I wouldn't call that a huge sample of issues.

Ha, over the course of a year there would be a LOT more than just 5 reported slide issues here on the forums, a random number you no doubt have pulled out of your hat for convenience. :R Regardless, no matter what that number might be the fact is that forum participation represents just a very tiny fraction (0.00001% ? ) of those millions owning recreational vehicles, most of which these days have a slide or slides. Considering that, the factor by which one would multiply slide failures reported here to the number actually out there in the real world every year would result in numbers of actual slide failures in the thousands if not tens of thousands. Just think Roy, one day you may be one of them :M ... then you can report with accuracy how the potential for slide failure is just not a concern! :W

[RoyBell]

SoundGuy wrote:
Ha Ha! Maybe RoyBell is right after all - maybe slide issues are an epidemic! 🙂

Here's yet another slide failure that's just been posted here on the forums. Way to go, Roy! :W

:R

So on a forum specified to issues with trailers you have found a couple posts related to slide issues? Sorry, that doesn't prove anything. That logic is equivalent to going to a dealer and seeing the lifts full of that brand vehicles and assuming that brand sucks since so many are in for repair.

Out of all the trailers on the road and the thousands of members here, you pick out a couple posts and lay your hat on that? Really? There are more posts about flat tires, fridges not working, issues with generators, WDH, roof leaks, toilet issues, etc than slides. Get over it. There will be issues with every component on every trailer ever made. People come here to look for solutions. Considering there are maybe 5 posts in the last year about slide issues, I wouldn't call that a huge sample of issues.

[SoundGuy]

Ha Ha! Maybe RoyBell is right after all - maybe slide issues are an epidemic! 🙂

Here's yet another slide failure that's just been posted here on the forums. Way to go, Roy! :W

[SoundGuy]

RoyBell wrote:
I've had fresh water issues on both my campers.

Guess I should just take all the plumbing out of my camper now.

SoundGuy wrote:
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 wrote:
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.

And just when did I say the issue of slide failure is an "epidemic"? :h

What I did say is that while all our previous trailers were non-slide we've now got a slide in our current trailer, do enjoy the extra interior space it offers, but I'm not naive enough to believe I'll never have problems with it. It's hardly debatable as slide issues are not all that uncommon. :S

[colliehauler]

RoyBell wrote:

colliehauler wrote:

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.

Hows it tow the longer camper? I looked for a while for one but eventually gave up. all used ones are $30K for one with under 200K miles. You could get one with the 6.0 for mid teens-low 20s. I didn't like the idea of potential blowing my engine while towing though.

It's marginal with a big camper. On flat ground it will stay in overdrive but even a highway overpass can make it downshift. The 6.0 is a stronger motor but you are already aware of its shortcomings.

That said I will never get rid of it. I have had it gone through and only have 150k miles on it. Just think before long I can get a antique tag for it. :B

The little Dodge 3.0 Diesel has about the same amount of power as the old 7.3 with a lot better transmission. The new Ford 3.0 Diesel should be promising as well

[RoyBell]

colliehauler wrote:

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.

Hows it tow the longer camper? I looked for a while for one but eventually gave up. all used ones are $30K for one with under 200K miles. You could get one with the 6.0 for mid teens-low 20s. I didn't like the idea of potential blowing my engine while towing though.