SLIDES - Open or close

[Duane4238]

I have a 2011 Keystone Springdale 311 that I purchased in the fall of 2013. It is set up on my land at my hunting camp and won't be moved at all. In the fall, before the snow, I winterized it and closed the 2 slides. It's been like that all winter and now I'd like to open it up to enjoy the upcoming spring weather that I'm hoping we'll have. The question I have is can I leave the slides open for the season, or should I close them up until the threat of more snow is gone? I don't really know if some snow will hurt them. What recommendations do you have? Thanks in advance.
Duane

[Bird_Freak]

I don't see much difference. There are 2 seals on each slide on mine. One inside for when its out and one outside for closed. The flaps are just sweepers to help wipe the slide off as it comes in and is not meant to be a seal.

[Redterpos3]

JBarca wrote:

Hi Redterpos3
Is that a typo? Or did your dealer maybe have a mix up in his wording?
Your Nash is a good camper. It is hard to understand how the slide being "out" creates a better seal over being brought full in??

Sorry for the length between posts. No not a typo, this is what the dealer said. Hopefully there is a good seal either way, as long as it is fully in or out. I brought the slide back in yesterday when weather was a bit better, just to "exercise" the mechanism. No problems I noticed inside or out.

[JBarca]

Redterpos3 wrote:
My dealer said to leave the slide out that this was the best way to get a good seal, and keep critters out. Didn't say anything about water intrusion.

Hi Redterpos3

Is that a typo? Or did your dealer maybe have a mix up in his wording?

Your Nash is a good camper. It is hard to understand how the slide being "out" creates a better seal over being brought full in??

In most all slide setups, the outer metal flange of the slide covers the seals to the side of the camper when the slide is retracted in. This creates a mechanical barrier between the outside world trying to get in, critters, wind, rain etc better then when the slide it out.

Granted there is also an inside metal flange for the slide being out, however the entire slide opening is “generally” more covered up when the slide is retracted in. Towing down the road in the rain with a driving rain can be hard on a slide seal system. The flange system when the slide is retracted in, helps create that better seal.

Was your dealer maybe talking about a slide being partly open? If that was the context of his message, then yes, there is no seal partly open or partly closed. The slide seals when full out or full in and anything in between has very little seal.

John

[the_happiestcam]

Read your manual - mine says to leave them in when not using the camper. It also says that if you are in the camper for an extended period, to pull the slide in and out at least once a month.

[Redterpos3]

My dealer said to leave the slide out that this was the best way to get a good seal, and keep critters out. Didn't say anything about water intrusion. This like a lot of other threads on here really depend on circumstances, and leaves me wondering and unsure.:h
I've kept mine out this winter so far. My first winter with camper, though it did sit on dealer lot this way one winter also. Maybe I should switch it up next year.

[JBarca]

The opinions on this topic each time it comes up fall in 1 or 2 general answers.

1. We leave the slide open all the time. Never had a problem, they are made to do this.

2. We close the slide every time we leave camp. It takes 30 seconds. By leaving the slide open, your risk is greatly increased for damage and accelerated deterioration to the slide system.

I do no. 2 when the campout is over. Why?

If you have ever lived through slide floor rot, deteriorated seals or rusted solid slide racks you will know why. Slide Floor Water Damage (Long with lots of pics) We bought our camper 2.5 years old. We mostly weekend camp, not on a permanent site. The TT sat on the dealers lot almost 1 year of that time with the slide open for display.

Water off the slide roof runs down the side of the slide, wicks under the slide, then breaks the capillary action free and falls to the ground. Any hole or exposed protrusion to the waterproof membrane or the ends of a coated slide floor system allows water to get in. Once in it cannot get out. A year or more later the rot just keeps growing.

If you have a slide topper this helps divert some of the water off the slide, however they too become totally sun baked brittle being open all the time.

The slide seals are affected by the sun. Over time they break down after so much exposure. If you are only using the camper 20% of the season, then 80% of the season the seals are degrading with the slide left open and you are not even using the camper.

If your camper has a rack and pinion slide drive system, rust is the enemy of those systems. Many owners manuals say to open and close the slide every month etc. This is often needed so the rust patterns gets disturbed and the system not freeze up from corrosion.

Everyone's situation is a little different. If you want the longest life from your slide system, close it when you not using the camper. While they are built in most cases to give long life and good service, they are not as resilient as the rest of the main camper.

If you are parked in an area of trees, pine cones, falling twigs etc, and no slide topper, it is best to sweep off or at least look at the slide roof before retracting all the debris into the slide seals.

Hope this helps and good luck.

John

[Duane4238]

Wow! Thanks for all the input. Once I go out to my camp and put in the battery, I'm going to start retracting the slides whenever I leave to come home. Just sounds like it would be safer in the long run and avoid any problems. Also would be good for the mechanisms to keep them moving and lubed from time to time. Again, thanks for all the input. I knew I could count on you folks.
Duane

[rjf7g]

I am in a seasonal campground with over 100 other campers - all slides go out April 1 and in November 1 and there are very few problems...one lady had a leak around her slide and a branch pierced the slide roof on another camper. I walk my roof 3-4 times a season. I seal gaps that I may see as we pull the slides out with the heavy duty A/C insulation.

[donn0128]

Another vote for closing when not in use. Small critters can sneak in through a quarter sized hole, so why give them opportunity to get in a giant hole covered by a rubber flap.

[fla-gypsy]

Close them when not in use

[jaycocreek]

I believe if you read your manual, Keystone/Springdale recommends running the slides once a month, not that I do,but my 2010 manual recommends it.

[Taz_23]

We have our trailer on a seasonal site and once the threat of snow is gone the slides stay open for the season. All of the campers at our campgrounds do the same.

[Old-Biscuit]

Only takes a few minutes to close up........

[mobilefleet]

korbe is correct. Plus you don't want snow weight piling on top of it putting pressure on it, or animals scurrying around on top pf slides building nests, and just general wear and tear