So glad you enjoyed it. Just a little regular maintenance and care can prevent a lot of unnecessary repairs in the long run. Thanks for watching and contributing to the discussion!
Really nice show, my RV doesn't have slides but my neighbor has them, I've noticed them having a fair amount of trouble with them, I'll share this show with them n
Thor uses the Schwintek system on my 20 foot full wall slide which has the refrigerator, stove, sink and the living room sofa. They probably did it to cut costs. Thinking about investing in the Vroom slide out system to replace the Schintek, which has been nothing less than a headache.
Hi Robert. Yes, as I said in the video, Schwintek systems have been misused by some manufacturers and the results have been pretty bad. But when they are used on smaller slide rooms, they work just fine. So sorry to hear that you are having trouble with yours.
We have Schwintek, two rails at each end of our 15' whole wall slide. Have had issues and looked at Vroom. Spoke to the owner. That system appears very robust. Vroom states it can be stopped anywhere in its t😂ravel. I thought I remember him saying it was tested 60K times without issues. It's an option for sure. That would eliminate my slide anxiety for sure.
@@spacecadet4876 I have not heard anything negative about the Vroom system and a ton of positives from those who have installed it (IRV2 forums). For me, it is more of a question of when and not if.
Check the top of the slide before retracting to make sure there are no tree branches, leaves or other obsticles on top of it. Who know's, little Johnny's football could be on top of it.
That's a good tip. A lot of RVers forget about checking the slide top and if there's debris up there it can also do damage to the top slide seal. Thanks for that contribution!
Hooray for Duane! Thank you for covering a topic that is mystifying & sometimes frustrating for so many. I'm currently looking at 2 different types of large truck campers, one has 2 slides & the other has three. Both have a rear slide. One would think 2 slides is less to worry about - but is 3 better _For Balance_ where a heavy truck camper is concerned? Maybe I'm overthinking it but know I can't depend on what the dealer says...
Hi Celeste. I'm glad that this video has been helpful for you. I personally don't believe that the number of slides in an RV matters as much as how well they are cared for and maintained. I hope you find the perfect truck camper for your needs!
Great video! Love the last tip about listening to your slide. Also, it should be noted that 303 spray is not a dry spray as recommended for the seals. That is a great product though and I use it on lots of UV affected areas.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I have used 303 Aerospace Protectant for years on slide seals and since they are rubber compounds, that is exactly what 303 is made for. So far, no problems for me or anyone else I know that uses it on slide seals. But everyone has to choose the products they feel most comfortable with for RV maintenance.
I try to coat my seals and other rubber and plastic RV parts on the exterior about every 3 months. Of course, if you are in a high UV area, it might be good to apply it even more often. You can find 303 at this link - amzn.to/3NdsRiY
I have a less then cooperative seal on the bed room slide. The furniture bumpers you are referring to don't let go over time? Which ones are you using. What a great idea by the way.
I installed the bumpers on my slide about 3 years ago and they have all held in there just fine. Be sure to clean the area where you want to put the bumpers and then use rubbing alcohol to prep before installing them. And here are the bumpers that I used - amzn.to/2QjqpdM I hope that helps.
😂 first I want to thank you very much for all you do you've been a great help for us. Would like to ask if I should get a half inch round self-stick cabinet bumper or three-quarter inch?
Hi Christina. I just used the 1/2 inch bumpers and they worked just fine for me. Be sure to clean the slide sidewall where they will go with alcohol before applying the stoppers. And I know I said about 18 inches apart in the video, but now that I look at mine more closely, they are more like about 12 inches apart. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare thanks so much. I am going to do this. I also have trouble reaching my hand in to lubricate both sides of the seal. Any suggestions for that.
@@christinaholligan8299 Actually the main place to lube the slide seal is on the side that faces out since that is what gets damaged by UV and weather exposure. If you can get behind your seal that's fine. But the most important part to maintain is the exterior part of the seal.
It's another type of rack and pinion system with the gears on each end of the slide. Unfortunately, it hasn't been around long enough to for me to have much to say about it Kevin. Thanks for watching
Great Video!! I see you have a Newmar product. So do I. I've asked them if I should be using a lubricant on the slide outs. They tell not to use anything. I've always thought that I should be using something. Any thoughts on why Newmar say not to use anything?
I get different responses from different knowledgeable people on that subject. I personally have decided to lubricate my slides, just on the rack and pinion area where metal meets metal. And I use a lubricant that won't attract dirt. But if you are not comfortable with that, you can choose to not lubricate them instead.
I have been manually "flipping" my slide seals for years. I keep them lubricated with 3in1 Rubber Conditioner and they are in excellent shape. However there are places that continually not flipped. I like the furniture bumper solution and wonder if anyone else has tried this resolution to the "seals not flipping" issue?
Good work on keeping those seals flipped over the years. And 3-in-1 conditioner works great on them too. Thanks for sharing your experience with us here!
Always follow the directions you are given by your manufacturer. There may be a reason why they advise operating slides in that manner that I am not aware of.
Do not reverse the order. I’ve talked to Newmar about this and read extensively about it. The manufacturer determines the best process based on all their experience with the coach. They decided to change their instructions to do slides out first then jacks based on what they learned over time and across coaches. Then jacks up before pulling slides back in. So basically we just say to ourselves “never move the slides with the jacks down.” I know there’s lots of debate on this topic. But the winning decision goes to the side that aligns to the manufacturer’s instructions. Plus if anything goes wrong you want to be able to tell Newmar you followed their instructions.
Question, I have a hydraulic slide on my 2011 keystone Montana. The bedroom slide just won’t extend all the way when we set it up. Goes out 8 inches and stops dead. It has plenty of hydraulic fluid, new batteries and power. Any suggestions why it might do this?
Honestly Linda, it's very hard to diagnose slide problems without being able to operate it personally as there are a number of things that could be causing that problem. I recommend that you do a little research to find a local service tech that knows their way around RV slides, and have them take a look at it.
One of the purposes of a slide topper is to protect the top slide seal from debris that could damage it. So in most cases you will just need to inspect the side seals of those slides.
agree, but what I've found is both my top and side seals are twisted, and need to be "fixed" so they lay flat. Although not the best tool, I've been using a hockey stick to reach the upper part of the side and across the top, under the topper. @@RVInspectionAndCare
I really doubt that a manufacturer ignored the engineering advice of Lippert on the Schwintek system for long slides. As an engineer, I suspect Lippert was contacted and gave the green light. Does this application tax the slide system, yes, no doubt. Might it cause premature failure, yes, it might.
That was not my intent. This video is for those who own RVs, or are considering RVs, with slides. It will help them make sure that they get the best service from the slides they have.
Slide-outs are among the top 5 breakdowns we see on repair claims. Thank you for sharing this info!
So glad you enjoyed it. Just a little regular maintenance and care can prevent a lot of unnecessary repairs in the long run. Thanks for watching and contributing to the discussion!
What are the other 4 in the top 5 most common breakdowns you see?
Loved the video. I don’t see anyone else talking about slides which can cause so much trouble. Very useful!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video Randall. Thanks for leaving some positive feedback!
Thank you! Now I know what to check on slides of a potential purchase!
Glad it was helpful Margie. Safe and happy RV travels to you!
Thank you I will follow your recommendations. We appreciate you Duane. 🙏🙏🙏
So glad to hear that Reuben. Thanks for leaving such a nice comment!
Thanks for the video! New to motorhome and slides. Was curious about maintenance. This helps!!
I'm glad to hear that the video is helpful for you. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a nice comment!
Enjoyed the video. Good tips and advice. Thanks. Stay Safe and keep the videos coning. Keep Traveling and making memories
Thanks so much for watching and for the positive feedback too!
You are really providing valuable content. Much appreciated!
I'm glad the video was helpful for you Ivan. And thanks for leaving such a positive comment about this channel's content!
Really nice show, my RV doesn't have slides but my neighbor has them, I've noticed them having a fair amount of trouble with them, I'll share this show with them n
I'm glad that you enjoyed the video Carl. Thanks for watching and for spreading the word!
Great information, I use CRC Power Lube on all my moveable parts. Thanks Don
That's a great dry lube to use Don. Good suggestion!
Thor uses the Schwintek system on my 20 foot full wall slide which has the refrigerator, stove, sink and the living room sofa. They probably did it to cut costs. Thinking about investing in the Vroom slide out system to replace the Schintek, which has been nothing less than a headache.
Hi Robert. Yes, as I said in the video, Schwintek systems have been misused by some manufacturers and the results have been pretty bad. But when they are used on smaller slide rooms, they work just fine. So sorry to hear that you are having trouble with yours.
We got rid of our Thor Aria because of the slides -Shocking that they use Schwintek on that big wall slide 🤷♀️
We have Schwintek, two rails at each end of our 15' whole wall slide. Have had issues and looked at Vroom. Spoke to the owner. That system appears very robust. Vroom states it can be stopped anywhere in its t😂ravel. I thought I remember him saying it was tested 60K times without issues. It's an option for sure. That would eliminate my slide anxiety for sure.
@@spacecadet4876 I have not heard anything negative about the Vroom system and a ton of positives from those who have installed it (IRV2 forums). For me, it is more of a question of when and not if.
Check the top of the slide before retracting to make sure there
are no tree branches, leaves or other obsticles on top of it. Who know's,
little Johnny's football could be on top of it.
That's a good tip. A lot of RVers forget about checking the slide top and if there's debris up there it can also do damage to the top slide seal. Thanks for that contribution!
My slideouts have the awning that cover the top of them.
🙏 thanks, our 1st slider
I'm glad this video was helpful Luke. Thanks for watching!
I understand. I'm glad that the video was helpful!
Hooray for Duane! Thank you for covering a topic that is mystifying & sometimes frustrating for so many. I'm currently looking at 2 different types of large truck campers, one has 2 slides & the other has three. Both have a rear slide. One would think 2 slides is less to worry about - but is 3 better _For Balance_ where a heavy truck camper is concerned? Maybe I'm overthinking it but know I can't depend on what the dealer says...
Hi Celeste. I'm glad that this video has been helpful for you. I personally don't believe that the number of slides in an RV matters as much as how well they are cared for and maintained. I hope you find the perfect truck camper for your needs!
Thank you for another great tips video!
You're welcome Bob. I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
Thank you for another fantastic video.🙂
So glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for leaving such positive feedback!
Great video! Love the last tip about listening to your slide. Also, it should be noted that 303 spray is not a dry spray as recommended for the seals. That is a great product though and I use it on lots of UV affected areas.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I have used 303 Aerospace Protectant for years on slide seals and since they are rubber compounds, that is exactly what 303 is made for. So far, no problems for me or anyone else I know that uses it on slide seals. But everyone has to choose the products they feel most comfortable with for RV maintenance.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Oops! You said dry lube for metal parts not seals! My mistake.. 😎
@@MrRMB1 No problem. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Good information!
Prefer non slide, great advice video. 👍
I'm glad the video was helpful Timothy. And thanks for sharing your opinions here!
Goood video!!!!
Do you use the 303 on the bulb gasket that seals the slide upon closing also?
Hi Mike. Pretty much anything on the RV that is made of either rubber or plastic can benefit from an application of 303 to make it last longer.
@@RVInspectionAndCareThank you!!
👍😃🍻
Great video
I'm glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!
Thank you 🙏🏾
You are very welcome Patrick. Thanks for watching!
Love your videos!! How often do you need to apply 303 to seals?
Where do I find 303?
I try to coat my seals and other rubber and plastic RV parts on the exterior about every 3 months. Of course, if you are in a high UV area, it might be good to apply it even more often. You can find 303 at this link - amzn.to/3NdsRiY
I have a less then cooperative seal on the bed room slide. The furniture bumpers you are referring to don't let go over time? Which ones are you using. What a great idea by the way.
I installed the bumpers on my slide about 3 years ago and they have all held in there just fine. Be sure to clean the area where you want to put the bumpers and then use rubbing alcohol to prep before installing them. And here are the bumpers that I used - amzn.to/2QjqpdM I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare thanks for the tips. What a simple concept.
😂 first I want to thank you very much for all you do you've been a great help for us. Would like to ask if I should get a half inch round self-stick cabinet bumper or three-quarter inch?
Hi Christina. I just used the 1/2 inch bumpers and they worked just fine for me. Be sure to clean the slide sidewall where they will go with alcohol before applying the stoppers. And I know I said about 18 inches apart in the video, but now that I look at mine more closely, they are more like about 12 inches apart. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare thanks so much. I am going to do this.
I also have trouble reaching my hand in to lubricate both sides of the seal. Any suggestions for that.
@@christinaholligan8299 Actually the main place to lube the slide seal is on the side that faces out since that is what gets damaged by UV and weather exposure. If you can get behind your seal that's fine. But the most important part to maintain is the exterior part of the seal.
@@RVInspectionAndCare oh ok. Thank you!!!
Any thoughts on Slim Rack slide system
It's another type of rack and pinion system with the gears on each end of the slide. Unfortunately, it hasn't been around long enough to for me to have much to say about it Kevin. Thanks for watching
Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Gary. Thanks for watching!
Where do you buy furniture bumps to flip slider seals. TY
Hi Tim. You can order them online here - amzn.to/3eQJMWN
Great Video!! I see you have a Newmar product. So do I. I've asked them if I should be using a lubricant on the slide outs. They tell not to use anything. I've always thought that I should be using something. Any thoughts on why Newmar say not to use anything?
I get different responses from different knowledgeable people on that subject. I personally have decided to lubricate my slides, just on the rack and pinion area where metal meets metal. And I use a lubricant that won't attract dirt. But if you are not comfortable with that, you can choose to not lubricate them instead.
I have been manually "flipping" my slide seals for years. I keep them lubricated with 3in1 Rubber Conditioner and they are in excellent shape. However there are places that continually not flipped. I like the furniture bumper solution and wonder if anyone else has tried this resolution to the "seals not flipping" issue?
Good work on keeping those seals flipped over the years. And 3-in-1 conditioner works great on them too. Thanks for sharing your experience with us here!
Do slide seal covers exist?
I am not aware of any cover made for slide seals. Thanks for watching.
I have a 2023 Dutch Star. My Newmar directions say slides out first then jacks down for leveling. Should I reverse those steps?
Always follow the directions you are given by your manufacturer. There may be a reason why they advise operating slides in that manner that I am not aware of.
Do not reverse the order. I’ve talked to Newmar about this and read extensively about it. The manufacturer determines the best process based on all their experience with the coach. They decided to change their instructions to do slides out first then jacks based on what they learned over time and across coaches. Then jacks up before pulling slides back in. So basically we just say to ourselves “never move the slides with the jacks down.” I know there’s lots of debate on this topic. But the winning decision goes to the side that aligns to the manufacturer’s instructions. Plus if anything goes wrong you want to be able to tell Newmar you followed their instructions.
Question, I have a hydraulic slide on my 2011 keystone Montana. The bedroom slide just won’t extend all the way when we set it up. Goes out 8 inches and stops dead. It has plenty of hydraulic fluid, new batteries and power. Any suggestions why it might do this?
Honestly Linda, it's very hard to diagnose slide problems without being able to operate it personally as there are a number of things that could be causing that problem. I recommend that you do a little research to find a local service tech that knows their way around RV slides, and have them take a look at it.
slide toppers inhibit verifying top seals
One of the purposes of a slide topper is to protect the top slide seal from debris that could damage it. So in most cases you will just need to inspect the side seals of those slides.
agree, but what I've found is both my top and side seals are twisted, and need to be "fixed" so they lay flat. Although not the best tool, I've been using a hockey stick to reach the upper part of the side and across the top, under the topper. @@RVInspectionAndCare
@@denniskissinger7937 That sounds like a workable solution to me as long as the stick doesn't scratch the RV. Thanks for that suggestion, Dennis!
I really doubt that a manufacturer ignored the engineering advice of Lippert on the Schwintek system for long slides. As an engineer, I suspect Lippert was contacted and gave the green light. Does this application tax the slide system, yes, no doubt. Might it cause premature failure, yes, it might.
Regardless of who made the call on using Schwintek on long slides, there's plenty of failure out there that proves it's not a good idea.
yup and now as a mechanic i have tp fix engineer mistakes......🤦♂️
If you were trying to convince me that slides are wonderful and reliable, you didn't succeed. Nice try though.
That was not my intent. This video is for those who own RVs, or are considering RVs, with slides. It will help them make sure that they get the best service from the slides they have.
Thank you!
I'm glad the video was helpful for you. Thanks for watching!