Storing with slide out?

[Cdaddy]

I don't get the logic behind the idea of storing with your slides outs. Seems to be 50/50 neer me in pa. Any thoughts on it

[justafordguy]

No snow here so we leave our slides out all year, and use our camper all year.

[Campfire_Time]

srt20 wrote:
So here is a question for you all, and our campground is in northern WI.

What are thoughts on slides out,

We frequent a private CG in Door County. Pretty much all the seasonals there leave their slides out year round. And they are closed from mid-Oct to mid-May.

[Bumpyroad]

I've had to bring my slides in on occasion when the wind came up and they were flapping like crazy. wouldn't want to leave them out unattended. and with a heavy snow load???
but one important thing has been mentioned here, when you are looking at a RV to buy, check it out with the slides in to see how liveable/accessible things are.
bumpy

[Redterpos3]

I'm one of those who leaves slide out in weather. Was told (by old-timer dealer) that a better seal is made by having the slide out. I don't know if that's true or not. I do have a slide topper that collects the snow. So far no problems. I'm storing at a storage lot for first time this year. Also, maybe it makes it harder to steal:)

[Terryallan]

SoundGuy wrote:

srt20 wrote:
What are thoughts on slides out, all winter long outside?

Many, if not most, who own trailers with slides have no choice but to extend them out anytime the trailer is actually being used, regardless of the season because if not the interior of the trailer is severely restricted. I'm one (probably of few) who intentionally chose a trailer with a slide that doesn't impede interior access in any way so I can use it at any time, in any season, whether the slide is extended or not. Here in Ontario several parks offer winter camping programs, one being MacGregor Point Provincial Park ... their season begins Nov 1 so campers will be up there right now building all sorts of contraptions over their trailers to protect them from heavy snow fall, some even build a complete rafter roof! WAY too much work for me. :R

I am with you. We also bought a TT that is just as usable with the slide in as out. Don't know why any one would want it any other way. Every drawer, every bed, every cabinet is easily accessible with the slide in.
so for us it is a no brainer. It is stored with the slide in.. Safer that way.

[SoundGuy]

srt20 wrote:
What are thoughts on slides out, all winter long outside?

Many, if not most, who own trailers with slides have no choice but to extend them out anytime the trailer is actually being used, regardless of the season because if not the interior of the trailer is severely restricted. I'm one (probably of few) who intentionally chose a trailer with a slide that doesn't impede interior access in any way so I can use it at any time, in any season, whether the slide is extended or not. Here in Ontario several parks offer winter camping programs, one being MacGregor Point Provincial Park ... their season begins Nov 1 so campers will be up there right now building all sorts of contraptions over their trailers to protect them from heavy snow fall, some even build a complete rafter roof! WAY too much work for me. :R

[srt20]

So here is a question for you all, and our campground is in northern WI.

What are thoughts on slides out, all winter long outside? My neighbors at our seasonal campground will be using their 5er all winter, weekend warriors. He is leaving the slides out.
We have another neighbor that put some "hard toppers" on his slides for winter. Wood framed with plastic corrugated sheets screwed to the wood. Angled so when snow melts it will run off instead of staying on slide. His is a park/destination model type.

For ours, I was planning on putting slides out when we arrive and putting slides in when we go home. I don't really want the snow weight on the slide roofs when Im not there. I am not worried about the total weight with the slides out, because when I sit on the couch, Im putting my 250lbs right on the slide. Just more worried about the slide roof.
The neighbor with the slides out and no toppers, said if it snows while you are at camper, then you have to clean slide roofs off very clean, or the snow, ice, water comes inside when you pull slide in.

I have 3 slides, my camper is a TT/destination type model.

What say you guys?

[wildtoad]

I "store" mine in my driveway under a carport. Most of the time the slides are in to help keep critters out. Have had birds build nests in slide mechanisms. Don't see any rational for storing with slides out, especially if off premises.

[DutchmenSport]

I think it's just a matter of convenience; namely, how accessible do you need the inside over the winter, or how often do you use your camper over the winter. Does it snow where you are at, and if it does snow, is there a chance you'll need to tow the trailer?

As far as, does it make any difference, affect the trailer, do any damage? The answer is "no".

For me: if the camper is not actively being used, then slides in. It only takes a push of a button to bring the slides in, so why not?

[Bumpyroad]

I always left my slides in when stored. if you need into a closet/drawer and slide blocks it, move it out momentarily.
bumpy

[SoundGuy]

lanerd wrote:
We have our own rv garage, so we store our mh with jacks down and slides out. If it was out in the weather, I would definitely store with jacks up and slides in.

4aSong wrote:
X2
We store ours trailer indoors in an enclosed garage so we leave the slide out and the stabilizer jacks down. If it were stored outdoors we wound store with the slide in and stabilizer jacks down.

Unless you expect to be in and out of your rig on a regular basis while it's being stored there's little point to leaving the slide(s) out or the stabs deployed. For the first time in years this year I'll be winter storing our trailer inside and because I won't be seeing it for the next 5 months both the slide and stabs will be in the stored (travel) position. Seems obvious to me. :W

[BizmarksMom]

My rv garage is too narrow to move around the outside of the trailer if the slide is out. (There's space to extend the slide, but not enough space to comfortably walk past the extended slide.)
So, the slide is in unless I'm working inside of the trailer.

[4aSong]

lanerd wrote:
We have our own rv garage, so we store our mh with jacks down and slides out. If it was out in the weather, I would definitely store with jacks up and slides in.

Ron

X2
We store ours trailer indoors in an enclosed garage so we leave the slide out and the stabilizer jacks down. If it were stored outdoors we would store with the slide in and stabilizer jacks down.

[lanerd]

We have our own rv garage, so we store our mh with jacks down and slides out. If it was out in the weather, I would definitely store with jacks up and slides in.

Ron