slide question

[tdgator]

Looking for our first TT and am curious about slides. For those who have had with and without, are the slides more hassle than they are worth? Are they just another thing to worry about that can go wrong? We have been looking at a few KZ TTs with slides. Thanks in advance for the info.

[lanerd]

On my main slide, I typically put powder on my seals once a year and I put dry lube on the rack teeth twice a year. On my bedroom slide and since it is a cable drive unit, I check the tautness of the cables quite often. If I find one that is a little slack, I'll tighten it up.

Other than that, I don't do much of anything else except to make sure there's no debris under the awnings before I close the slides. I do have a problem at home with a sparrow who insists on building her nest in the awning cover. I'll pull it out and the next week it's right back there again. I won't have that problem any longer as last winter I built an rv garage.

Ron

[Aadkins101]

Would someone please explain the required maintenance, and frequency of it, to properly maintain a slide?

[robsouth]

I have had campers with slides. I have had campers without slides. Current camper has no slides. Since we tend to use the camper as a bedroom and potty and spend the majority of our time outside enjoying what we went camping for in the first place, I see no reason for slides anymore. With just me and the DW we don't need a lot of room. If you have need of more room then get a camper with slides. Just a matter of preference for your situation.

[trsky]

I've had 2 TTs with slides and no problems. My current TT is a KZ with a rear king bed slide and a dinette slide and they work great and keep my overall length down. Just keep them clean and debris free when you close them up.

[2112]

There are personal variables to consider: Can your TV handle the extra weight, how many will be in it, will a larger floorplan without the extra weight (slide) work better for you, etc...
My first REAL TT was a 26' KZ Sportsmen without slides. At the time it was DW & I with one small DD. Worked fine for us and my 4.6L F-150 had no problem with it. Over the years the family grew and it became too small. Since then I upgraded the TT and we have had two more, larger, heavier units with slides. I have had no problems with a slide and, even now that we are empty nesters, I doubt I will have another one without at least one slide.

I went back to a KZ FW and really like the KZ brand. The first one we had for eight trouble free years and I hope to get at least the same with this one.

[eb145]

Put me in the "big deep slide is better" category.

DH won't consider anything without a slide. We like to have our grown children visit and we need the room inside to cook, eat and play in - especially when it rains. Our current trailer is a Wildwood 26TBSS that has a very big slide. Note that slides come in different sizes (both width and depth).

We had one trailer with no slide, it was like living in a hallway. You can't get to the bathroom if someone is cooking as they blocked the way.

If you have 2 or more people, slides become more important.

You do need to consider how functional the trailer is without the slides out. For example, can you load the fridge with the slide in? Can you get to the bathroom with the slide in?

I can use my fridge with the slide in which is great for stopping for groceries on way to campsite. But I can't use the bathroom with the slide in - so I open the slide if I need to use the bathroom.

Ed

[gcloss]

Have had both, no slide and now a slide. I would never buy another trailer without a slide. Our Jayco Eagle and a very large slide which gives you the feeling of almost doubling the side of the trailer.

Never had any problems with the slide.

[tdgator]

Wow. Thank you all for the replies so far.

[PA12DRVR]

I've had 1 trailer with no slide and 2 trailers with slides: 5 slides in all.

The "extra" maintenance is pretty straightforward and the alleged nuisances of slides are more alleged then real. The extra room, IMNSHO, more than outweighs the downsides.

1 of the trailers with slide(s) was a big KZ 5th wheel....no problems whatsoever with those 3 slides.

[Campfire_Time]

I can't vouch for problems with slides because we've only had ours for less than a month. I can tell you that our slide is only the sofa, and only moves out about a foot, but wow what a difference in floor space and "openness". I'm willing to put up with what ever extra maintenance I have to do to keep it working nicely. and ours blocks nothing when closed, but I have seen those that block inside access.

[lanerd]

I think you'll find more "for" than "against". And for the statement: "Just look at this site how many have problems." That's just because people don't post about their slides unless they "do" have a problem. How many hundreds (maybe thousands) don't have a problem? We'll never know because it isn't posted.

As for me, I've had two rv's with slides and two without (only because they didn't have slides back then). I have two slides now, and yes I have had a problem with one, but once I found out how to adjust it, I haven't had any further problems. A little annual maintenance on the seals, awning, and tracks will go a long ways in preventing problems.

I'll go on record as saying I'll never have another rv without them...in fact, our next rv will have twice as many as we have now!

Ron

[VolFamily]

I wouldn't get any rv without a slide. I've owned both with and without. The amount of space they give you is worth any perceived con. There is extra weight to consider if you are close to your towing maximum. For the record, we've had two different rvs with a slide for 10+ years and have had no leaks, critters, mechanical issues of ANY kind.

[Jayco23FB]

I would go without. A few of my friends have slides and everyone has had problems. Everything from minor water and dirt(from roads)leaks, damage to the floor where the slide moves, to the slide not going in or out. Seems like at least once or twice a year I am helping either a friend or a fellow camper trying to get the slide out or more often getting it to go back in so they can leave. Aside from mechanical problems and adjustments make sure you check and see if you can access what you need in the trailer with the slide(s) in. Some trailers you can not get to the bathroom very easy with the slides in while you are on the road. I think the idea is great but personally it isn't worth the hasle for me. Just look at this site how many have problems.

[Drum]

I see benefits for with and without, and I'd like one of each type. Since I can't have both, though, I prefer one with slides. For our family, the pros of slides definitely outweigh the cons. I say this after having to spend a couple grand to fix one of my slides and rebuild its floor after undetected water intrusion. They're still worth it to me.

One more thing:
Definitely equip your slides with good topper awnings. I believe they will save you much more than they cost. I'll never go without them again.