The Daily Pulse.

Your source for accurate, unbiased news and insightful analysis

politics

Do you need to know slide out mechanism for RV?

By Ava Hall |

Do you need to know slide out mechanism for RV?

We don’t recommend buying or avoiding an RV because of the slide-out mechanism. Buy the RV that works for you and spend some time learning how the slide-out works. You don’t need to be an authority to understand the gist of the system; just know enough to perform visual inspections and a little light maintenance.

Why is my passenger side slide not retracting?

My trip to Baton Rouge for LSU football this past weekend went to heck when my passenger side slide would not retract (we stayed Thursday night in Lake Charles, LA to visit my son’s family). After calling a couple of Lake Charles RV repair shops, the initial thought was the slide motor had quit working.

What happens when your slide out won’t slide out?

A stubborn slide-out, though, can turn your trip in to a disaster. Either you spend your days climbing over furniture in an attempt to live in an RV with the walls pushed in or you can’t depart for home with a slide-out that refuses to retract for road travel.

Can a single pump be used to retract slide outs?

In either instance you will probably find yourself at the mercy of an RV repairman, who may or may not have the parts needed for a quick repair on hand. Also, due to the inherent power of hydraulics, a single pump/motor is often used to extend/retract all slide-outs. When it works, you’re golden.

What happens when you push the slide out button on an RV?

If your RV or motorhome doesn’t have the juice, your slide outs aren’t going to budge! If you push your slide-out button and nothing happens, double check to make sure that the path of the slide out is unobstructed.

My trip to Baton Rouge for LSU football this past weekend went to heck when my passenger side slide would not retract (we stayed Thursday night in Lake Charles, LA to visit my son’s family). After calling a couple of Lake Charles RV repair shops, the initial thought was the slide motor had quit working.

What to do when slide outs don’t move?

Make sure the house batteries are charged completely, or if at all possible, plug your RV into shore power. This will indicate whether the problem may be the batteries or not. If you push the button for the slide outs and can hear the motor running but the slides don’t move, check the motor’s shear pins.

Is there a manual override on Lippert slide out?

All Lippert electric slide-out units come with a manual override system. Please watch this video in its entirety before you attempt to manually operate your slide-out system.

Why is my slide out not working in my camper?

If you don’t have enough power coming in, you could start overworking your slideout’s motor until it overheats. This is how you will end up being stuck with an open slideout. Now, let’s get into details! So, you found a perfect parking space for your camper and ready to pull your slide out.

What to do if your RV slide out is crooked?

Replacing the seals is an option or you can use a self leveling sealant to make sure the problem goes away and does not return. In addition to that, you may just need to go to your RV repair shop and have them replace the seal and apply the right sealant to fix the problem.

What to do if a RV slide out stops working?

Check to see that you have enough power to run the slide outs . If everything else is working and one of your slide outs is stuck – unless you’re very mechanically-inclined, get a pro to fix your slide out system. If the slide out is open, try to push it in gently so you can drive to the RV shop to get it fixed. Never go on the road with an open slide out.

How does RV slide work?

There two basic types of RV slide out systems, hydraulic and mechanical. Hydraulic RV slide out mechanisms use a motor-driven hydraulic pump to actuate a hydraulic ram which pushes out or pulls in the slide out. The direction is controlled by a combination of valves.

What are RV slide outs?

A slide-out or slideout is a system that uses a small motor to slide a small portion of an RV in and out of the main frame. When the slide out is tucked inside, the RV looks like a uniform box from the outside.

What to do if your slide out gets stuck?

If your slide out gets stuck and has problems extending or retracting, there are some straightforward ways to determine the problem. First make sure the slide out isn’t locked in position, then determine if there is a power supply problem.

Why is my slide out on my camper not working?

Also, if your chassis is bent, that will cause your camper slide out to bind. On top of that, check the openings your slide out is going through. There may be a problem there. Check to see if you have a manual over ride option you can use just in case. It may seem odd but some slide outs are designed to slide on the factory installed carpet.

Are there any problems with the slide out?

Most slide out problems are not that difficult to trace and then solve. There will be those that require the help of a professional technician to repair. The key would be to get to know your system and learn when the task is beyond your abilities to handle .

We don’t recommend buying or avoiding an RV because of the slide-out mechanism. Buy the RV that works for you and spend some time learning how the slide-out works. You don’t need to be an authority to understand the gist of the system; just know enough to perform visual inspections and a little light maintenance.

If your slide out gets stuck and has problems extending or retracting, there are some straightforward ways to determine the problem. First make sure the slide out isn’t locked in position, then determine if there is a power supply problem.

What causes a slide out on an RV to get stuck?

Excessive friction and UV damage can both lead to your seals drying out and becoming ineffective. If your slide out gets stuck and has problems extending or retracting, there are some straightforward ways to determine the problem.

What causes a slide out not to work?

It may even turn out that the problem was caused by faulty wiring or a weak battery, rather than with the slide out itself. Slide outs are typically electric or hydraulic, with each type having their own pros and cons. Electric motor powered slide outs are most often found on smaller slides.