Slide Room Wouldn't Open

[PTHutch]

An interesting thing happened to me with our slide room last week-end.
It was the 1st time we had the trailer home and first time opening the slide room since we put it into winter storage last October.

The trailer was plug into shore power. When I went to open the slider, via the toggle switch, all I heard was the racket clicking sound like you get when its fully extended . I then pushed the toggle switch to IN and I got the normal straining sound of when it’s fully retracted. I then push the OUT again, same racket clicking sound.

My initial thought was Oh Sh#@ now I have to pay $$$$ to get the slide fixed .

I pulled out the manual crank, which I’ve never used before.
What I decided to do 1st was try opening the slide a little and see if it changed the response of the switch / electric motor.

I did about a ¼ - ½ turn with the crank, just enough that I heard the seals of the slide starting to release. Then I went in and tried the switch again, and it worked. I ran the slide to it’s fully open position. Then put the slide in and out a couple more times and every thing was working.

Since then I’ve had no problem with the slide.

Have any of you with slide rooms experienced this?
Any thoughts or ideas what may have caused this?

Thanks
Hutch

[264SRinPA]

My guess would be the rubber gasket was just stuck to the metal flange of the slideout

[JohnB]

Hutch

When mine was at the dealers, it did something similar but in this case did not ratchet, sort of stalled. The dealer was showing me how the slide worked and he hit the button and the bottom started moving out and the top did not.

I mean a significant amount. Like 3 to 4 inches. Well he did stop thank goodness and he retracted it and then tried again time pushing the top out by hand at the same time. Heard a big, crack, the seal let go and out she went.

Part of the deal on this camper was I did not need a big 1hr long sales explanation on how to use it but I wanted 10 minutes of there top tech that works on slides point and talk to me, so we did from under the camper.

He said the biggest issue they have is the seals. Things get stuck in them and then torn needing replacing. The one point I left with is to use 303 protectant on them often to keep then flexible and pliable. He said you can buy the spray on foam slide lube they sell, but the 303 is better and you spend less. So I have done the treatment about 2 to 3 times a year and never had the problem of the slide sticking in since.

However our slide does not stay in as long as you said yours was. Since we camp all year round the longest it has ever gone is 6 weeks maybe 2 months with out ever being extended. So I agree with Mike, most likely the seal stuck.

If this happens again, try rocking the top of the slide by hand if it will at least move some to break it free. If it never budged, well the hand crack you did is probably the best way to put some pressure on it then try and push to knock if free. After seeing the dealer do the bottom out and no top moving trick… . I would not crank a lot of inches before you tried and pushed. If the bottom is moving, the top has too soon or elese.

Which reminds me, I need to go put some 303 on the seals now. Have not yet done this year. Thanks for the reminder.

John

[PTHutch]

Thanks guys. That make sense that the seal was stuck.
I've been using that foam slide seal stuff.
But maybe this year I'll try 303 on the seals.

Hutch

[Sunline Fan]

I put my slide out last night and this morning...fortunately no issues- went out just like normal.

But this is a good reminder. I've not had a problem with it yet though.

I'm just curious, do y'all's slides seem to be angled? Mine comes in and hits on top first and then the bottom comes the rest of the way in, probably 2-3".

Jon

[PTHutch]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

I'm just curious, do y'all's slides seem to be angled? Mine comes in and hits on top first and then the bottom comes the rest of the way in, probably 2-3".

Jon,

Thanks exactly how our slide works.

Hutch

[HappyCampers]

I did ask a dealer about that same issue. They told me that is the way it is designed to work. I remember them telling me why, but I can't recall what the explanation was right now.

[sunnyseagull]

I think that they designed it that way so that you dont have to use the slide lock bars they did a way with them sometime near 2000 I think ?

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by PTHutch

Jon,

Thanks exactly how our slide works.

Hutch

Jon and all

We had a fairly good Sunline slide discussion in this post.

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/ph...er=asc&start=0

And in there is a progression of my slide closing and use mine does a healthy hit the top then the bottom by 3 to 4" closes up.

My slide still uses prop rods, it is a 2004 unit. Hutch’s is a 2005 and his does not. It also appears that my unit really gets up off the floor as compared to some Sunlines newer then mine. We believe that in the 2005 year and newer the slides changed from what I have. Why, good question, Don't know.

I see my slide getting way up off the carpet a good thing. I have no issues with dirt on the bottom of the slide or the slide itself rubbing the carpet. My slide bottom also has the same plastic covering on it like on the bottom of the TT, while many other newer Sunlines just have plywood painted black.

The tracks that the slide runs on are mounted on an angle. The slide moves in and out on an angle and my slide is made on purpose on an angle. The side windows are hung plumb when the slide is fully extended open and the outer wall is at a large angle. The inside roof is smaller then the bottom floor by a good 3" plus. That same bottom draw up is there when you let it put until the slide gets all the way out then it tightened up the top hits first and then the bottom seals up. Then my windows come plumb where during travel they are at an angle.

Not all slides by other brands are made this way. Some are flat down on top of the carpet and sliding in and out about straight. It is probably cheaper to build them that way but I see longevity issues with that concept of rubbing the carpet heavily with the slide. Sunline did us a big favor building the slide the way they did. If you look at other high end campers, the slide are on an angle too.

John