As a licensed bldg contractor and mechanic with 35 years experience I know a highly qualified, experienced tradesman when I see one; this guy's the real deal and his commitment to doing the maximum-quality job for his client is a rare thing in today's world. I recently bought a 2013 Takena (ChaletRV) trailer with a slide that's never been maintained, and after watching this video I'm a 1000% smarter about how it works and what it'll take to fix it should a motor, controller, or wiring fail. Darren, you're a natural born teacher---keep up the good work (and videos).
I am the owner of this RV. I was very impressed with RV Works knowledge and professionalism. I highly recommend them. Even if you are not in the Pacific Northwest, give him a call as he may be able to talk you through a diagnosis and repair.
@@explaincauseidontgetit3294 I forget the exact amount. I think I paid approximately $400 (including replacement cable). I initially thought this was too expensive, but for him to come to my house (instead of me driving three hours to the nearest dealer) and fix it the VERY next day (as opposed to a 3-week delay at the dealer), I think the cost was worth it. I also appreciated being able to watch, learn, and ask questions from such a professional/experienced/knowledgeable repair person. I will definitely call him for any future issues.
@@stevenpelayo9418 I learned every time my 2016 Thor Class C goes to the shop it's going to be at least $500.00. What makes me mad it is usually from poor craftsmanship from the manufacturer. I learn to do many of the repairs myself.
Big Thanks! I'm 70 and alone. I just fixed my slide out with your advice. All the repair shops are 2+ months out. The 2 out, 1 in works to get it in to work on it. And rocking the switch to get the motor to drop works! It was a small challenge to get it to sync up. A little in, a little out, any times. Your advice was a life saver. THANKS!!!
This is an incredibly well-executed walk-through for troubleshooting this system. As an RV owner who is currently dealing with an issue with my Schwintek system, I found this beyond helpful. As a software engineer, I loved how similar the troubleshooting steps are to the general problem solving I do daily in the software world. Well done. I wish I could give you two thumbs up.
A huge thanks for this video, and the accompanying video on the components of a Lippert In-Wall slide out. One of our slides would not retract, and with the help of these videos I was able to diagnose a wiring fault, remove the motor to find a loose/broken solder connection, and get the system repaired. This probably saved us $1000 in shop fees and parts, and more importantly, it kept us on track for our next two camping trips which would have been lost if we had to wait about a month to get it in for the next available service slot. The summers here in Alaska are short, so the time savings is a big deal. I really appreciate your detailed and informative videos, great job!
This video should be required viewing for anyone who owns a Schwintek slide system. I had mine fail on me in the out-position. The actual problem turned out to be not in the Schwintek, but rather in the frame of my trailer, shifting the lower support wheel, causing the lower gear to be about a half a millimeter too far out to engage the track. It was a nightmare and the only way to get the slide in was to use a ladder, remove the set screw (you better have a square bit in your toolkit) and pop both motors up out of the collet and then push it back in manually, which came with it's own set of challenges. All that to say: this video will give you the confidence to do what you need to do with a visualization of how the whole system is working. I loved your description of "disco mode": it removes all the system requirements for operation and just supplies whatever polarity the motors need to move the slide in. That was a real lightbulb "a-ha" moment.
Darren, I have a friend that just bought a RV with this slideout system. Everything with the slides worked great on the inspections. He got it home and one of the slides did not go out. We found the controller underneath in storage bay. Code said short in motor 1. We found the over ride control and activated. All worked fine then stopped working again. We figure the dealer knew it and did the over ride to show customer slide worked. I want to thank you so much for helping us understand they slide out system. You are really a great teacher with a real wonderful delivery for showing complex things in a very easy to understand way. You are in the perfect job for sure. Helping others!!!!
I've said this before on your videos and I'll say it again. You sir have the heart of a teacher and are an excellent one! Thorough and experienced. Ton's of common sense and I would call you any time I could to give you the money to work on my stuff no matter what you charged. God bless.
This is a fantastic video! I was a communications/electronics technician for 15 years and his troubleshooting techniques are spot on! Darren is the real deal and not some hack. Well done. On our Salem FSX the control module/slide brain is under the slide room… Thanks Forest River! Thankfully FR has moved from Schwintek to Norco cable slides on 2023 and beyond models from what I’m seeing.
Darren, I'll second three comment from Autumn Wind Associates!!! You sir, are exactly what someone seeking wisdom needs to watch. The only problem with society today is, their always wanting the answer in seconds and to have all the "fluff"left out. The problem with that thought process is, repairs like this project certainly doesn't happen working seconds! Thank you again for the EXCELLENTLY explained process on writing on the Lippert system.
I watched this video about the Lippert slide troubleshooting a few weeks ago. I’m a retired apprenticeship graduated industrial electrician and I do nearly all of my RV maintenance on my last two motor homes. Last week after a week trip to Virginia Beach my bedroom slide did not extend as expected to enable us to unload our bedroom closet and storage drawers. Having just watched your video I was able to remove a slide motor that had bounced out of its gearbox and fortunately unplugged itself before destroying the motor and sensor wires. I was able to add taps to the two motor wires, make a 12 volt wiring harness (with a push button) to jog the motor and seat it properly in the gear box. I removed the motor and tested it and checked for any wire or connection degradation before attempting to reinstall the motor. I could barely see the motor or the wiring due to its location. But as you say in your videos (and I learned working on machinery in a steel mill) “ enjoy the suck”. 😂 Everything went well and the slide is good as new. The motor retainer screw had backed out which caused the motor to be able to bounce out of the gear box. Per your suggestion in the video I added thread-lock to the next size larger self-tapping screw. Hopefully, no more motors are going to bounce out of their gear boxes on my five month old new motorhome. Having two slides on my rig, you can bet I checked each motor retention screw for tightness and will keep an eye on those four little screws that can cause so much misery. Thanks you for your detailed videos.
I'm a new travel trailer rehab specialist for almost 1 year now. Long story short, I learned a lot from listening as much as watching, especially your continuous comments about "owning it," and "make it mine." Essentially, I tracked down the electrical issue by ruling everything else out, and by putting the slide control box "in my hands" for testing. Thanks for sharing your secrets.
As a new rv owner one of my concerns is the slide not working so but I feel a bit more at ease now that I could fix the problem after watching your video. Thank you
OK So first of all... This was such a GREAT Video! I amy eve say EXCELLENT++. Take note everyone of the fine details. Now on to Lippert issues that I have seen. One of the main issues with electronics (as pointed out) is in general, and not just limited to Lippert. Is that that these boards are soldered in a production environment. This can lead to not enough solder being deposited on the little printed circuit board (the one on top of the motor). Especially where the ribbon cable attaches to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). What happens is that over time due to Thermal Cycling (hot, cold, hot, cold) and vibrations. (yeah like there is none of that in an RV while traveling). The solder connections crack and Open up. So the diagnosis that it is a Bad Motor may not be always correct. When actually it is a broken/bad/cracked solder connection. Re-soldering the little PCB MAY fix the issue and save the price of the new motor. Also you will notice that he troubleshoots the entire path From controller To motor and beyond through the PCB. A lot of times I see technicians say well... The computer says this, but they don't troubleshoot the entire path. KUDOS for being a technicians, technician!!!!
By far the single best, most informative Swintek slide video I have ever seen. Thank you for your time and effort to make this video. I'll search your other videos for information on the effect of low voltage to a slide (faulty batteries).
Fantastic! The attention to detail and the use of quality materials shows you know exactly what you are doing. 3M electrical tape is worth every cent. And now I know how my travel trailer works. Where Grand Design hid the module is a big science experiment. Just finding the water pump for winterization was a challenge! Thank you so much for this and other videos!
Darren does an excellent job walking you through the slide out function and error code diagnostics. I was able to trace back from the controller to the motor to find the brown wire pulled loose on the motor. A simple soldering job saved me from buying a $300 replacement motor.
It is always a joy to find a person like Darren here. Excellent video! Doesn't waste your time, super informative, funny, and highly competent! I'm a fan!
I own an RV with two slideouts with the Lippert system you highlighted. I am very impressed and learned much more than I expected from a video. Now I'm going to see what else I can learn. Very Good and thank you for your work.
I am much less worried about our slide out now! Thank you so much for the video. Very first trip we went on in a Class A we bought in July, the slide out did not work. Dealer found it to be the cable. Very expensive cable for what it actually is. I believe at 14:38 you show the problem. The wires were caught on something. Thank you for the video! Respectfully, Kevin
I have had theses apart, they can be a real headache ! but after i learned the tricks it makes it a lot better. you did a great job explaining the fix! everyone needs more videos like this. good job with the video.
While very long, this video was GREAT! and my slides aren't even broken. just wanted to get a heads up in-case something does happen. and for those that want an overview (Like me) ... just speed it up to 1.5 speed.
Great vid! My 2022 thor has one side that creeps out after a while on the road....Don''t know why yet...but after watching your vid I know exactly how to find the motors, work around the trim/weatherstripping pieces, uninstall the motors if necessary, etc. I'm going in with confidence now. Awesome. Thank you.
Just bought a camper with this system and was worried about everything about it!! BUT NOW!!! I completely understand how it work and what to look for if issues come up! Many many thank you and keep up the great work!!!
nice step by step explanation Darren. I like the way the manufacture makes it almost impossible to find any info on most rv`s. Slowly we are going through every inch of our bumper tow just to familiarize ourselves with this coach.
Great video. I am a service manager at an RV dealership and I am constantly on the phone helping customers with various issues. Your video gave me a better understanding of exactly what's going on and how to help a customer until they can come in.
Did I see here the trick of connecting the broken black lead to the terminal on the motor housing? That saved me! My slide-out stopped working in the IN position so I couldn’t get to the set screw. I found that a few of the wires had become disconnected from the board (first gen). Unplugging the motors did nothing to allow the slide out to move so I stripped the end of the black wire and hooked it around the terminal that was facing me. Good thing the red wire was still connected. The motor worked fine and I was able to extend the slide-out enough to access the set screw and replace the motor.
I have a new (to us) Sunseeker with a Schwintech slide out. It was super informative to see physically step by step what other videos just verbally describe. Thank you for what you do!
Nicely done! The tips, tricks and light self-deprecation make Darren relatable and are much of what make this a great video. I'm not a professional, but am a DIY type RV owner. I don't currently have a problem, but wanted to better understand the mechanics and potential failure points of this particular slide system. I've figured out that the time to do a deep-dive into RV systems is when you're home, sitting on the sofa. Thanks for the time and effort. Subscribed.
"Rarely do the motors go bad" at 24:32. Hahahha! Not true. I've been through 2 motors in 4 years. Granted, my case is much different than this. I have a full-wall slide on a 35' RV. Schwintec is not the right solution for full-wall slides. I have had nothing but problems with it but after replacing the rails, gears and motor on one side I'm much more comfortable troubleshooting the system on the road. Great video. I wish you had made this a year ago.
Thank you for some fantastic information! My husband is pretty good and knows his way around RV’s and your video helped him figure out some stuff we were stuck on. Thank you! Great video!
Thank you Darren. Greetings from Port Angeles also. We upgraded to a larger trailer last year which has a slide-out and had minimal information on how the mechanism functioned. One our biggest fears is finding ourselves out camping and unable to get it to slide back in. Good information.
WOW, I am totally impressed with this guy's professionalism. I was a factory technician for 20+ years before retirement and I believe this guy is great. "Bravo", By the way, I have a new RV and am just looking in advance for a way to move the slide in case of an emergency. The Winnie dealer salesman could not help so I decided to explore on my own.
I really appreciate your vids. My slide started popping a bit, and didn't know what to do. I'm a nube, and just had an issue where I killed my battery, but I thought plugged into shore power the slide would still work, so I never thought my issue with slide was dead battery. Once I realized the battery was dead, I plugged car hitch harness into camper and the slide came in.
Awesome video. You never have to push the slides though. There is a 11mm here head at the bottom of the drive rods. You can turn those with a socket wrench to get the slide to move. Less risk to the track and pinion gears that way.
Much better that the Frailex with the Hframe flopping around, and you jumping back and forth from one thing to another, and back, making it difficult to follow. Much better video.
Another Great Video! Incredible helpful information. Wished this video was available when mine failed. I learned & fixed mine the hard way. You know your stuff & also help others learn.
Very interesting video. I like the way you explain things. Bought a new trailer back in 2015 and it came with a Schwintech slide. Traded it in a year later and now my slide is the (not sure what's its called) one with the push bar and heavy gears and track under the slide. Didn't like how slow the Schwintech was plus hated that once you start it moving you have to hold the button in until it goes completely throughout it's full range of motion. My current slide blocks access to my fridge and bathroom and being able to just extend and retract my slide just a bit without messing up the entire systems alignment is fantastic.
This is great information thank you. I haven't had problems with my slide yet but I want to know how to fix it ahead of time. This will also help with preventative maintenance.
Solder kit in my tool box. Along with meter, inductive amp and tone generator. I have an HTH room in my coach. Different beast. Kid just bought a 99 Bounder so dad is the tech. I’ve owned coaches for years. Thanks for the show
Definitely helped me understand how it's made since this is my 1st camper trailer. we already have an issue with rear side not coming in after only 3 operations since bought new. Thank you
SAVED MY BUTT IN THE MOUNTAINS! Rear slide-out would not come in after camping for a week in Eagle Nest NM. PANIC!!! ICE STORM Ah COMING!! Was always dreading "this day" from the time I bought motorhome. Your videos have tamed the mysterious monster in the walls. By following your steps, pushed it in and got home to Texas. Thank you so much!! By the way, found water got in the module and crapped out. Poor design on placement and build. Seal those babies, cause they cost almost 400 dollars!
This is really helpful, mine does something very similar where it does not extend completely on one side unless I do the little retract then back out again to fully extend. The challenge I am having with trying to resynch the slide is when I retract the slide it comes in like 6 inches and stops, then I have to extend again a inch or two and then retract again.
Well worth the time to watch the entire video as well as the follow up one. I learned a ton about my slide system from this and feel a lot more comfortable now that I would be able to at least get home if my slide failed for some reason while camping. Thanks!!
Great, Great! Thank you so much! I’ve been RVing since 1999 and I’ve owned 4 RVs. Had problems some small and others big. Folks like you help us make the right decision which way to go for help or repairs. Thanks so much keep it up and yes, I did subscribed! Will be watching!!
Great video, we just bought a brand new Catalina Summit, I believe I have the same slide set up. I'm going to check my motor retainer screws to make sure they are tight. I'm an aircraft mechanic so the maintenance doesn't scare me.
Very nice video - so informative - very well explained - fault diagnosis was great with well explained reasoning - loved the will go one way but not the other - tips and tricks throughout.
I have an open range 2020 LT 275 RLS. Trying to leave on a camping trip in May 2022 the Schwintek slide refused to come in more than an inch before it would go in overload. It had a hall effect error. I put it in manual override and was able to get the slide in and out multiple times during our trip. I watch your troubleshooting video and followed all of the steps, however, was unable to find a simple short, but was able to see corrosion from water on the PC board where the wires are soldered. I plugged both motors in and ran them while not in the wall, to verify they were rotating freely, and the hall effect sensor was rotating as well. I noticed one motor would rapidly stop after turning for a few seconds. A little bit of work with some contact cleaner and addition of dielectric grease on the corroded solder. I plugged both motors in and they both ran freely while not in the slide. I added some waterproof tape on the cap in and reinstalled. Everything is working fine. We’ll see on New Year’s when we take it camping next. Thank you for your videos. I am always telling people on the open range Facebook page to go to your site to figure out what’s wrong with their poorly built camper.
could also switch the motor connectors, test the system, and see if the fault follows the connectors. Faster/easier way to test the control box vs the motors/wiring.
Almost complete information... After work has been completed, you need to run the Schwintec in all the way and continue to hold the button for 3-5 seconds. This allows for the "zero" point to be reset. Due to this being a dual motor slide system, this system counts the revolutions at each side to know if it's all the way in or out. It's good to re zero a Schwintec every so repetitions by re setting the zero point. Customer should be aware not to stop mid way through (unless an emergency) a slide out or in process. This can and will throw one out of sync. Keep on the button all the way in and all the way out with a proper running slide. And every so often, re zero by staying on the button after it has come all the way in and made its final noise for 3-5 seconds... Thank you for the great vid!
Hi Joe, I'm not sure what repair you are doing (and hopefully you've gotten it fixed!), but we did just put out this video and part 2 will be coming out on Friday: th-cam.com/video/QH9ODDjQ-js/w-d-xo.html
Great video! My slide will only go out after I push the override button like you showed... it works for sending them out as well. My awning broke the same day my slide messed up. I was trying to bring it in and something broke because it shot out violently and slammed all the way open. I live in Tacoma if you want to make a video on how to repair an awning. It's a 2020 Salem cruise light. I manually rolled it up by hand but I'd love to have it fixed. Not for free of course..
Thank you for having intelligence on troubleshooting. So many call themselves techs. All they really are is part swapper with a shotgun approach. Replace enough parts and you might fix it.
What if your controller has no lights binning even after trying to rest? We have a 2013 Hampton crossroads and 1 slider won’t go out but the other 2 went out fine .. Great videos very well explained!! .
Thank you so much for this I know just enough to be dangerous this helped me greatly.. I bought a small small Rpod wannabe trailer.. it's actually the Starcraft Comet Mini with the small slide out and hesitated to do it because I didn't understand how it worked, now I'm confident that I believe I could do it and I think I'll buy a spare motor and just haul it with me. I'm assuming mine would be the black cap since I have a very small slide?.. I will be going out and peeling that rubber back and looking... again thanks so much for this
Thanks for all the info! You're very verbose..just like I'd be if making this video! Lol! But you mention everything! I'm converting my Rear, Newmar Bedroom Slide on my 2008 All Star for commercial use. Removing Newmar mechanism and putting Schwintek for more space.. huge job! This helps..alot!
Thanks so much for this video. It allowed me to remove and replace my slide motor with ease. I even used your tip about turning the motor using 12 volts. It worked fantastic!!👍
Thank you so much for the video, had a little tug on the end of my connection cables and this video really helped figure out what was wrong! No parts to replace, just had to get tension off of a cable and slide is working perfect again!
Great videos!! Thx for posting videos. Ours is working prefectly but good to know how to use manual mode in case something doesnt work. Also on how to lube the rails in the other video. My buddy has an older trailer and his same system is off not side to side but somehow off top and bottom. Cannot figure out how to get it back even. The bottom was out about 6 inches, after a dealer looked at it, got it to about 2.5 inches out from bottom when closed. Said it would be 2k to take it all apart and try to reset everything. Maybe I should have him call your now online services to see if we can fix it without haveing to take it all apart.
I have the Slimrack system. You mentioned that you were going to show how to adjust the slide out in the forward and aft position. I didn't see where you did that in this nor the follow-up video. Have a 2018 Winnebago Vista 29VE, and the slide out shifted forward and putting pressure against front motor and wires. Fortunately, slide out is still even at both ends and isn't cocked. Literally, the slide out has shifted forward, and I need to push it toward rear of the motorhome. As it stands now, slide out still functions, but needs attention before any damage is done and or burn up a motor. Thanks.
What is the size of that 1 screw that holds the motor in place? (mentioned at 15:54) Where can I get one, because they've had my RV for 10 weeks saying they didn't send with the motor!
Darren, thank you for explaining how these slide systems work. We were told by the seller that we should hold the close toggle switch for at least 5 seconds after the slide mades contact with the trailer frame. He said it allowed the system to ‘synchronize’. Do you agree? Thanks again, Rick Burkhalter
I heard this advice when I purchased this RV. I can promise you that we always held the switch for 5 seconds after full retraction/extension. I think that is a good practice to help the system maintain synchronization. However, if you also look at the troubleshooting guide on the LCI website, it says "Synchronizing The Slide-Out Motors 1. Fully extend the slide room using the slide-out switch. Keep the switch engaged until the motors shut down on their own. 2. Retract the room 1-2 inches. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until both motors shut down at the same time. In many cases, only two or three repetitions are necessary to synchronize the system. 4. Fully extend and retract the room. Always let the motors shut down on their own before releasing the switch." Here is the link to the troubleshooting manuals: support.lci1.com/in-wall-slide-out
Love your videos, watching this clip I was able to troubleshoot and repair my slide. Turned out to be an easy fix the connection at the motor came off. Simply plug it in and tape it to keep it from coming out again. Can you provide a part number and where to purchase to 6 pin connector. I would like to make a test wire like you have.
82.8K subscribers 199,914 views • FROM • Oct 31, 2020 I just seen @t I`m going to keep up with reviews on these . I`m older and have had a life of repairing House`s Technology all that goes with a Large Family ...lot`s of Kids. Thank God for People LIKE My RV Works,Inc if I`m up that way I would call HIM For SUre!
Excellent video and really appreciate it. You are an excellent teacher! My question is this...I understand that the schwentek motor failure is common. If that is true, once you have everything torn apart, and spent the diagnosis time, why not install a new motor anyway? Next time, when the motor goes out, it will be a service call plus the motor removal, installation, etc. all over again. Does the cost of the motor make this not a good idea? Or, do the motors last for many years and my information of a short motor life span is wrong? Thank you...
As a licensed bldg contractor and mechanic with 35 years experience I know a highly qualified, experienced tradesman when I see one; this guy's the real deal and his commitment to doing the maximum-quality job for his client is a rare thing in today's world. I recently bought a 2013 Takena (ChaletRV) trailer with a slide that's never been maintained, and after watching this video I'm a 1000% smarter about how it works and what it'll take to fix it should a motor, controller, or wiring fail. Darren, you're a natural born teacher---keep up the good work (and videos).
I agree!
Those systems can be a pain in the ass for anyone that's knows what they are doing. As for anyone that don't good luck
I see some dork standing on the side walk doing video wearing knee protection. What a wanker.
Yeah but how did he pull that motor out of thin air...amazing !!
I Agree 100%, outstanding!!
I am the owner of this RV. I was very impressed with RV Works knowledge and professionalism. I highly recommend them. Even if you are not in the Pacific Northwest, give him a call as he may be able to talk you through a diagnosis and repair.
Great advertisement! And you have a beautiful camper. Can you give the cost of a service call like this?
@@explaincauseidontgetit3294 I forget the exact amount. I think I paid approximately $400 (including replacement cable). I initially thought this was too expensive, but for him to come to my house (instead of me driving three hours to the nearest dealer) and fix it the VERY next day (as opposed to a 3-week delay at the dealer), I think the cost was worth it. I also appreciated being able to watch, learn, and ask questions from such a professional/experienced/knowledgeable repair person. I will definitely call him for any future issues.
@@stevenpelayo9418 I think you got a screaming deal. I love Darren.
@@stevenpelayo9418 Yes, it sounds like the time you saved was significant and clearly he did a great job, well worth it!
@@stevenpelayo9418 I learned every time my 2016 Thor Class C goes to the shop it's going to be at least $500.00. What makes me mad it is usually from poor craftsmanship from the manufacturer. I learn to do many of the repairs myself.
Big Thanks! I'm 70 and alone. I just fixed my slide out with your advice. All the repair shops are 2+ months out. The 2 out, 1 in works to get it in to work on it. And rocking the switch to get the motor to drop works! It was a small challenge to get it to sync up. A little in, a little out, any times. Your advice was a life saver. THANKS!!!
This is an incredibly well-executed walk-through for troubleshooting this system. As an RV owner who is currently dealing with an issue with my Schwintek system, I found this beyond helpful. As a software engineer, I loved how similar the troubleshooting steps are to the general problem solving I do daily in the software world. Well done. I wish I could give you two thumbs up.
A huge thanks for this video, and the accompanying video on the components of a Lippert In-Wall slide out. One of our slides would not retract, and with the help of these videos I was able to diagnose a wiring fault, remove the motor to find a loose/broken solder connection, and get the system repaired. This probably saved us $1000 in shop fees and parts, and more importantly, it kept us on track for our next two camping trips which would have been lost if we had to wait about a month to get it in for the next available service slot. The summers here in Alaska are short, so the time savings is a big deal. I really appreciate your detailed and informative videos, great job!
This video should be required viewing for anyone who owns a Schwintek slide system. I had mine fail on me in the out-position. The actual problem turned out to be not in the Schwintek, but rather in the frame of my trailer, shifting the lower support wheel, causing the lower gear to be about a half a millimeter too far out to engage the track. It was a nightmare and the only way to get the slide in was to use a ladder, remove the set screw (you better have a square bit in your toolkit) and pop both motors up out of the collet and then push it back in manually, which came with it's own set of challenges. All that to say: this video will give you the confidence to do what you need to do with a visualization of how the whole system is working. I loved your description of "disco mode": it removes all the system requirements for operation and just supplies whatever polarity the motors need to move the slide in. That was a real lightbulb "a-ha" moment.
Darren, I have a friend that just bought a RV with this slideout system. Everything with the slides worked great on the inspections. He got it home and one of the slides did not go out. We found the controller underneath in storage bay. Code said short in motor 1. We found the over ride control and activated. All worked fine then stopped working again. We figure the dealer knew it and did the over ride to show customer slide worked. I want to thank you so much for helping us understand they slide out system. You are really a great teacher with a real wonderful delivery for showing complex things in a very easy to understand way. You are in the perfect job for sure. Helping others!!!!
I've said this before on your videos and I'll say it again. You sir have the heart of a teacher and are an excellent one! Thorough and experienced. Ton's of common sense and I would call you any time I could to give you the money to work on my stuff no matter what you charged. God bless.
This is a fantastic video! I was a communications/electronics technician for 15 years and his troubleshooting techniques are spot on! Darren is the real deal and not some hack. Well done.
On our Salem FSX the control module/slide brain is under the slide room… Thanks Forest River!
Thankfully FR has moved from Schwintek to Norco cable slides on 2023 and beyond models from what I’m seeing.
This guy darren is a utube rv repairmen rock star....now i understand the shwentek system...
Darren, I'll second three comment from Autumn Wind Associates!!!
You sir, are exactly what someone seeking wisdom needs to watch. The only problem with society today is, their always wanting the answer in seconds and to have all the "fluff"left out. The problem with that thought process is, repairs like this project certainly doesn't happen working seconds!
Thank you again for the EXCELLENTLY explained process on writing on the Lippert system.
I am a woman with no electrical experience but you make me feel like I could do this. Thanks for the video.
I watched this video about the Lippert slide troubleshooting a few weeks ago. I’m a retired apprenticeship graduated industrial electrician and I do nearly all of my RV maintenance on my last two motor homes.
Last week after a week trip to Virginia Beach my bedroom slide did not extend as expected to enable us to unload our bedroom closet and storage drawers. Having just watched your video I was able to remove a slide motor that had bounced out of its gearbox and fortunately unplugged itself before destroying the motor and sensor wires.
I was able to add taps to the two motor wires, make a 12 volt wiring harness (with a push button) to jog the motor and seat it properly in the gear box. I removed the motor and tested it and checked for any wire or connection degradation before attempting to reinstall the motor. I could barely see the motor or the wiring due to its location. But as you say in your videos (and I learned working on machinery in a steel mill) “ enjoy the suck”. 😂
Everything went well and the slide is good as new. The motor retainer screw had backed out which caused the motor to be able to bounce out of the gear box. Per your suggestion in the video I added thread-lock to the next size larger self-tapping screw. Hopefully, no more motors are going to bounce out of their gear boxes on my five month old new motorhome.
Having two slides on my rig, you can bet I checked each motor retention screw for tightness and will keep an eye on those four little screws that can cause so much misery.
Thanks you for your detailed videos.
I'm a new travel trailer rehab specialist for almost 1 year now. Long story short, I learned a lot from listening as much as watching, especially your continuous comments about "owning it," and "make it mine." Essentially, I tracked down the electrical issue by ruling everything else out, and by putting the slide control box "in my hands" for testing. Thanks for sharing your secrets.
As a new rv owner one of my concerns is the slide not working so but I feel a bit more at ease now that I could fix the problem after watching your video. Thank you
OK So first of all... This was such a GREAT Video! I amy eve say EXCELLENT++. Take note everyone of the fine details. Now on to Lippert issues that I have seen. One of the main issues with electronics (as pointed out) is in general, and not just limited to Lippert. Is that that these boards are soldered in a production environment. This can lead to not enough solder being deposited on the little printed circuit board (the one on top of the motor). Especially where the ribbon cable attaches to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). What happens is that over time due to Thermal Cycling (hot, cold, hot, cold) and vibrations. (yeah like there is none of that in an RV while traveling). The solder connections crack and Open up. So the diagnosis that it is a Bad Motor may not be always correct. When actually it is a broken/bad/cracked solder connection. Re-soldering the little PCB MAY fix the issue and save the price of the new motor. Also you will notice that he troubleshoots the entire path From controller To motor and beyond through the PCB. A lot of times I see technicians say well... The computer says this, but they don't troubleshoot the entire path. KUDOS for being a technicians, technician!!!!
By far the single best, most informative Swintek slide video I have ever seen. Thank you for your time and effort to make this video. I'll search your other videos for information on the effect of low voltage to a slide (faulty batteries).
Fantastic! The attention to detail and the use of quality materials shows you know exactly what you are doing. 3M electrical tape is worth every cent. And now I know how my travel trailer works. Where Grand Design hid the module is a big science experiment. Just finding the water pump for winterization was a challenge! Thank you so much for this and other videos!
Darren does an excellent job walking you through the slide out function and error code diagnostics. I was able to trace back from the controller to the motor to find the brown wire pulled loose on the motor. A simple soldering job saved me from buying a $300 replacement motor.
Thank you for taking the extra time to educate us while on a service call. This practical, real-example tutorial was excellent.
It is always a joy to find a person like Darren here. Excellent video! Doesn't waste your time, super informative, funny, and highly competent! I'm a fan!
I own an RV with two slideouts with the Lippert system you highlighted. I am very impressed and learned much more than I expected from a video. Now I'm going to see what else I can learn. Very Good and thank you for your work.
I am much less worried about our slide out now! Thank you so much for the video. Very first trip we went on in a Class A we bought in July, the slide out did not work. Dealer found it to be the cable. Very expensive cable for what it actually is. I believe at 14:38 you show the problem. The wires were caught on something.
Thank you for the video! Respectfully, Kevin
Thanks very much for clearing up how to repair/service these units. Hands down the best RV Video out there !!
I have had theses apart, they can be a real headache ! but after i learned the tricks it makes it a lot better. you did a great job explaining the fix! everyone needs more videos like this. good job with the video.
Excellent. How you engage such frustrating work in such a positive manner!
While very long, this video was GREAT! and my slides aren't even broken. just wanted to get a heads up in-case something does happen.
and for those that want an overview (Like me) ... just speed it up to 1.5 speed.
Great vid! My 2022 thor has one side that creeps out after a while on the road....Don''t know why yet...but after watching your vid I know exactly how to find the motors, work around the trim/weatherstripping pieces, uninstall the motors if necessary, etc. I'm going in with confidence now. Awesome. Thank you.
Just bought a camper with this system and was worried about everything about it!! BUT NOW!!! I completely understand how it work and what to look for if issues come up! Many many thank you and keep up the great work!!!
nice step by step explanation Darren. I like the way the manufacture makes it almost impossible to find any info on most rv`s. Slowly we are going through every inch of our bumper tow just to familiarize ourselves with this coach.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. I am a service manager at an RV dealership and I am constantly on the phone helping customers with various issues. Your video gave me a better understanding of exactly what's going on and how to help a customer until they can come in.
Did I see here the trick of connecting the broken black lead to the terminal on the motor housing? That saved me! My slide-out stopped working in the IN position so I couldn’t get to the set screw. I found that a few of the wires had become disconnected from the board (first gen). Unplugging the motors did nothing to allow the slide out to move so I stripped the end of the black wire and hooked it around the terminal that was facing me. Good thing the red wire was still connected. The motor worked fine and I was able to extend the slide-out enough to access the set screw and replace the motor.
I have a new (to us) Sunseeker with a Schwintech slide out. It was super informative to see physically step by step what other videos just verbally describe. Thank you for what you do!
Nicely done! The tips, tricks and light self-deprecation make Darren relatable and are much of what make this a great video. I'm not a professional, but am a DIY type RV owner. I don't currently have a problem, but wanted to better understand the mechanics and potential failure points of this particular slide system. I've figured out that the time to do a deep-dive into RV systems is when you're home, sitting on the sofa. Thanks for the time and effort. Subscribed.
"Rarely do the motors go bad" at 24:32. Hahahha! Not true. I've been through 2 motors in 4 years. Granted, my case is much different than this. I have a full-wall slide on a 35' RV. Schwintec is not the right solution for full-wall slides. I have had nothing but problems with it but after replacing the rails, gears and motor on one side I'm much more comfortable troubleshooting the system on the road. Great video. I wish you had made this a year ago.
And this is why you bring and pay for an expert to fix your RV. Thank you for your expertise.
Thank you for some fantastic information! My husband is pretty good and knows his way around RV’s and your video helped him figure out some stuff we were stuck on. Thank you! Great video!
Thank you Darren. Greetings from Port Angeles also. We upgraded to a larger trailer last year which has a slide-out and had minimal information on how the mechanism functioned. One our biggest fears is finding ourselves out camping and unable to get it to slide back in. Good information.
WOW, I am totally impressed with this guy's professionalism. I was a factory technician for 20+ years before retirement and I believe this guy is great. "Bravo", By the way, I have a new RV and am just looking in advance for a way to move the slide in case of an emergency. The Winnie dealer salesman could not help so I decided to explore on my own.
I really appreciate your vids. My slide started popping a bit, and didn't know what to do. I'm a nube, and just had an issue where I killed my battery, but I thought plugged into shore power the slide would still work, so I never thought my issue with slide was dead battery. Once I realized the battery was dead, I plugged car hitch harness into camper and the slide came in.
Watched the second and understood the first one more better
Loved tidbit on how to get the slide in under emergency conditions
Thanks for sharing
Always bench test the parts before purchasing.
Never want to charge someone for a part that isn't needed
Awesome video. You never have to push the slides though. There is a 11mm here head at the bottom of the drive rods. You can turn those with a socket wrench to get the slide to move. Less risk to the track and pinion gears that way.
Much better that the Frailex with the Hframe flopping around, and you jumping back and forth from one thing to another, and back, making it difficult to follow. Much better video.
Another Great Video! Incredible helpful information. Wished this video was available when mine failed. I learned & fixed mine the hard way. You know your stuff & also help others learn.
I can't agree more! I had to learn Schwintec from the school of hard knocks real fast.
Very interesting video. I like the way you explain things. Bought a new trailer back in 2015 and it came with a Schwintech slide. Traded it in a year later and now my slide is the (not sure what's its called) one with the push bar and heavy gears and track under the slide. Didn't like how slow the Schwintech was plus hated that once you start it moving you have to hold the button in until it goes completely throughout it's full range of motion. My current slide blocks access to my fridge and bathroom and being able to just extend and retract my slide just a bit without messing up the entire systems alignment is fantastic.
This is great information thank you. I haven't had problems with my slide yet but I want to know how to fix it ahead of time. This will also help with preventative maintenance.
Solder kit in my tool box. Along with meter, inductive amp and tone generator. I have an HTH room in my coach. Different beast. Kid just bought a 99 Bounder so dad is the tech. I’ve owned coaches for years. Thanks for the show
Thanks for the introduction to the system. This helped me remove my motor, can't spin it, even in a vise. Ordered a replacement.
Excellent explanation! Just what I needed! I feel comfortable with my schwintek slideout now. Ordered a replacement motor from ebay to have on hand.
OK Google need repairs on a motorhome are we water heater
One of the best Rv Technicians on youtube, amazing resource. Thanks for the great Video Darren.
Awesome video. We just bought a trailer with this system. Glad to know how it works. 👍👍👍👍
Definitely helped me understand how it's made since this is my 1st camper trailer. we already have an issue with rear side not coming in after only 3 operations since bought new. Thank you
SAVED MY BUTT IN THE MOUNTAINS! Rear slide-out would not come in after camping for a week in Eagle Nest NM. PANIC!!! ICE STORM Ah COMING!! Was always dreading "this day" from the time I bought motorhome. Your videos have tamed the mysterious monster in the walls. By following your steps, pushed it in and got home to Texas. Thank you so much!! By the way, found water got in the module and crapped out. Poor design on placement and build. Seal those babies, cause they cost almost 400 dollars!
You have certainly gained another fan, Darren! Excellent video! Thank you! 😎👍
This is really helpful, mine does something very similar where it does not extend completely on one side unless I do the little retract then back out again to fully extend. The challenge I am having with trying to resynch the slide is when I retract the slide it comes in like 6 inches and stops, then I have to extend again a inch or two and then retract again.
Well worth the time to watch the entire video as well as the follow up one. I learned a ton about my slide system from this and feel a lot more comfortable now that I would be able to at least get home if my slide failed for some reason while camping. Thanks!!
Thanks for showing me what's inside my RV. I was wondering how it worked.
Excellent video. Helped me confirm the issue with my motor set screw and get my slide working again!!
@18:10 “Oh look, I did this whole long video and all I really needed to check first was if the wires were connected…” 😂😂
Excellent Job explaining how this System Works!!
Great, Great! Thank you so much! I’ve been RVing since 1999 and I’ve owned 4 RVs. Had problems some small and others big. Folks like you help us make the right decision which way to go for help or repairs. Thanks so much keep it up and yes, I did subscribed! Will be watching!!
Great video, we just bought a brand new Catalina Summit, I believe I have the same slide set up. I'm going to check my motor retainer screws to make sure they are tight. I'm an aircraft mechanic so the maintenance doesn't scare me.
Very nice video - so informative - very well explained - fault diagnosis was great with well explained reasoning - loved the will go one way but not the other - tips and tricks throughout.
I have an open range 2020 LT 275 RLS. Trying to leave on a camping trip in May 2022 the Schwintek slide refused to come in more than an inch before it would go in overload. It had a hall effect error. I put it in manual override and was able to get the slide in and out multiple times during our trip. I watch your troubleshooting video and followed all of the steps, however, was unable to find a simple short, but was able to see corrosion from water on the PC board where the wires are soldered. I plugged both motors in and ran them while not in the wall, to verify they were rotating freely, and the hall effect sensor was rotating as well. I noticed one motor would rapidly stop after turning for a few seconds. A little bit of work with some contact cleaner and addition of dielectric grease on the corroded solder. I plugged both motors in and they both ran freely while not in the slide. I added some waterproof tape on the cap in and reinstalled. Everything is working fine. We’ll see on New Year’s when we take it camping next. Thank you for your videos. I am always telling people on the open range Facebook page to go to your site to figure out what’s wrong with their poorly built camper.
could also switch the motor connectors, test the system, and see if the fault follows the connectors. Faster/easier way to test the control box vs the motors/wiring.
Almost complete information...
After work has been completed, you need to run the Schwintec in all the way and continue to hold the button for 3-5 seconds. This allows for the "zero" point to be reset. Due to this being a dual motor slide system, this system counts the revolutions at each side to know if it's all the way in or out. It's good to re zero a Schwintec every so repetitions by re setting the zero point. Customer should be aware not to stop mid way through (unless an emergency) a slide out or in process. This can and will throw one out of sync. Keep on the button all the way in and all the way out with a proper running slide. And every so often, re zero by staying on the button after it has come all the way in and made its final noise for 3-5 seconds...
Thank you for the great vid!
Great video. Great explanation of different potential issues while diagnosing.
Great tech work . Thank you this is going to help me understand so much about this system
What a great video, thanks for sharing. My slides having trouble coming in and out so I have to take it in for repair.
Excellent 👌! Great explaina
tion/demonstration on how that slide system works. The troubleshooting shooting steps were also outstanding. Thanks!
Made it look easy great job- my slide won’t budge been trying all day
Hi Joe, I'm not sure what repair you are doing (and hopefully you've gotten it fixed!), but we did just put out this video and part 2 will be coming out on Friday: th-cam.com/video/QH9ODDjQ-js/w-d-xo.html
Great video! My slide will only go out after I push the override button like you showed... it works for sending them out as well. My awning broke the same day my slide messed up. I was trying to bring it in and something broke because it shot out violently and slammed all the way open. I live in Tacoma if you want to make a video on how to repair an awning. It's a 2020 Salem cruise light. I manually rolled it up by hand but I'd love to have it fixed. Not for free of course..
Thank you for having intelligence on troubleshooting. So many call themselves techs. All they really are is part swapper with a shotgun approach. Replace enough parts and you might fix it.
Thank you for taking the time to show us how it all works and you are a great teacher.
Great video. I watched this to fix my own .
Thank you for making this video
Really appreciated this video. I like your detailed explanation and troubleshooting shortcut/pointers.
Great video! Very helpful. I do, however suggest you look up the word "Opaque".
What if your controller has no lights binning even after trying to rest?
We have a 2013 Hampton crossroads and 1 slider won’t go out but the other 2 went out fine ..
Great videos very well explained!!
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That looks like an Entegra Qwest 24L. That's because we have one !! Great video!
Thank you so much for this I know just enough to be dangerous this helped me greatly.. I bought a small small Rpod wannabe trailer.. it's actually the Starcraft Comet Mini with the small slide out and hesitated to do it because I didn't understand how it worked, now I'm confident that I believe I could do it and I think I'll buy a spare motor and just haul it with me. I'm assuming mine would be the black cap since I have a very small slide?.. I will be going out and peeling that rubber back and looking... again thanks so much for this
Thanks for all the info! You're very verbose..just like I'd be if making this video! Lol! But you mention everything! I'm converting my Rear, Newmar Bedroom Slide on my 2008 All Star for commercial use. Removing Newmar mechanism and putting Schwintek for more space.. huge job! This helps..alot!
Very knowledgeable with great explanations so we can understand. Thank you so much. Extremely helpful!
Super..well done, much appreciated. We are good to go for our next trip. Me wife was quite worried :)
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you... troubleshooting our 5th wheel's slide, and I found your instructions to be helpful, and entertaining..
Thanks so much for this video. It allowed me to remove and replace my slide motor with ease. I even used your tip about turning the motor using 12 volts. It worked fantastic!!👍
Thank you so much for the video, had a little tug on the end of my connection cables and this video really helped figure out what was wrong! No parts to replace, just had to get tension off of a cable and slide is working perfect again!
Great videos!! Thx for posting videos. Ours is working prefectly but good to know how to use manual mode in case something doesnt work. Also on how to lube the rails in the other video.
My buddy has an older trailer and his same system is off not side to side but somehow off top and bottom. Cannot figure out how to get it back even. The bottom was out about 6 inches, after a dealer looked at it, got it to about 2.5 inches out from bottom when closed. Said it would be 2k to take it all apart and try to reset everything.
Maybe I should have him call your now online services to see if we can fix it without haveing to take it all apart.
very well done tutorial. great teaching for one of the most feared rv issues
I have the Slimrack system. You mentioned that you were going to show how to adjust the slide out in the forward and aft position. I didn't see where you did that in this nor the follow-up video. Have a 2018 Winnebago Vista 29VE, and the slide out shifted forward and putting pressure against front motor and wires. Fortunately, slide out is still even at both ends and isn't cocked. Literally, the slide out has shifted forward, and I need to push it toward rear of the motorhome. As it stands now, slide out still functions, but needs attention before any damage is done and or burn up a motor. Thanks.
What is the size of that 1 screw that holds the motor in place? (mentioned at 15:54) Where can I get one, because they've had my RV for 10 weeks saying they didn't send with the motor!
Darren, thank you for explaining how these slide systems work. We were told by the seller that we should hold the close toggle switch for at least 5 seconds after the slide mades contact with the trailer frame. He said it allowed the system to ‘synchronize’. Do you agree?
Thanks again, Rick Burkhalter
I heard this advice when I purchased this RV. I can promise you that we always held the switch for 5 seconds after full retraction/extension. I think that is a good practice to help the system maintain synchronization. However, if you also look at the troubleshooting guide on the LCI website, it says "Synchronizing The Slide-Out Motors
1. Fully extend the slide room using the slide-out switch.
Keep the switch engaged until the motors shut down on
their own.
2. Retract the room 1-2 inches.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until both motors shut down at the
same time. In many cases, only two or three repetitions
are necessary to synchronize the system.
4. Fully extend and retract the room. Always let the motors
shut down on their own before releasing the switch."
Here is the link to the troubleshooting manuals: support.lci1.com/in-wall-slide-out
@@stevenpelayo9418 Thank you Steven. Very helpful. Rick
Love your videos, watching this clip I was able to troubleshoot and repair my slide. Turned out to be an easy fix the connection at the motor came off. Simply plug it in and tape it to keep it from coming out again. Can you provide a part number and where to purchase to 6 pin connector. I would like to make a test wire like you have.
Drink every time he says "motor" lol good luck RV family
82.8K subscribers 199,914 views • FROM • Oct 31, 2020 I just seen @t I`m going to keep up with reviews on these . I`m older and have had a life of repairing House`s Technology all that goes with a Large Family ...lot`s of Kids. Thank God for People LIKE My RV Works,Inc if I`m up that way I would call HIM For SUre!
Very well done. Little long, but well worth the extra time. Nice job
Excellent video and really appreciate it. You are an excellent teacher! My question is this...I understand that the schwentek motor failure is common. If that is true, once you have everything torn apart, and spent the diagnosis time, why not install a new motor anyway? Next time, when the motor goes out, it will be a service call plus the motor removal, installation, etc. all over again. Does the cost of the motor make this not a good idea? Or, do the motors last for many years and my information of a short motor life span is wrong? Thank you...
The best slide out video ever.
Sort of feels like a Schwintek master class. Almost wish mine would malfunction so I could look like the ultimate expert.