Great information! My owners manual states not to be walking on the slide unless it’s out and it also says not to put the slides out until you’ve leveled the camper.
Great advice! On a similar topic, it would be great to do a video on how exactly to get one of these slides in if it fails…and maybe what to look for every time it goes out or in. We have the cable slide system, and I’m always concerned it’s going to fail at some point while we’re camping (and packing up to go home)!
Depending on the make of slide, you have different options. My particular make and model has a manual retract socket on the opposite side of the trailer that allows you to crank in the slide with the same hand crank or socket as the corner stabilizers. Works if you have no power or breakage. If it’s jammed, you may need to muscle it to get it in and drive your rig to a repair shop.
Oh no for sure. I 100% want to make videos like that. I just need to get some assistance from a service department.. but this thing is completely full up with work right now
@@JoshtheRVNerd // ask the Service Departments (across ALL the nearby BISH’S) to give you a heads up when this issue rolls into their service bay so you can show the process with their help… 📸📲 * i.e. for ALL the service issues you wish to showcase… preventatively speaking of course 😬🫣🤫
Andrew - Cable slide systems will have a spot on the motor mounted above the slide where you can insert an adapter (that should have come with the RV) and use a drill to run the slide in or out. It is stupid slow going and very difficult to get up there and do it while it’s moving without being in the way. If you have a cable fray or break, you can have a couple of guys push from the outside while the wife pushes the slide in button. I’ve had to do both with a cable slide and it’s a pain.
I’ve watched sales people’s faces when I ask about being able to occupy the slides retracted?? Of course you can they say! Are you sure , I ask.well ughh sure! You need to keep hammering this topic Josh! We’re looking to buy a trailer now and really needing this input! Thanks buddy😉🙏🏻
I've seen so many videos with misaligned and fallen floors and lack of support makes perfect sense. And, I've seen plenty of videos where people pile all sorts of crap in the slide to go down the road. This video will save some lucky people that see it.
Excellent topic and discussion Josh...I noticed that our schwintech 'step up' dinette slide was an open unsupported box hovering above the floor about 8 inches and about 3-4 feet inside any support. I was initially concerned that as we pounded across potholes and gravel uneven roads that this unsupported box would bounce up and down causing damage to the coach (and didn't think too much about us sitting in that box while it was retracted...) I fashioned two adjustable support legs for the inside box lip with wide bases for the floor and the underside of the box...I am really happy with the result...
Thanks for the video seeing a lot of us are going on trips on memorial day weekend next weekend. On another note it must be a fun to work around a dancing bot
Thank you. Never thought about using the slide when not out. Or over loading the slide. I did find out( after owning our trailer for a year) to fully slide out and or in, not halfway to access another part of the trailer.
I always wondered watching your videos, when you talk about stopping for breaks on the road, having lunch and such if you really should be sitting in the side.....I never thought ours were really that strong when in.
Yeah I think I mentioned it's something I haven't clarified well and possibly have shared _BAD_ info on in some of my videos. I'm always learning and trying to do my best to share good, reliable information. I don't always get it right but I can admit when I'm wrong
A side note regarding schwintec slides you didn't cover. Never get in one that is partly opened, always fully extend or retract before using or you can knock the motors out of sync. Each side has a motor and two pinion gears, and the top ones can get damaged if the slide is used when partly opened.
Applause for a well-done video! And of course, as you are probably already planning, please keep bringing these points up when talking about specific trailers, too. Not only will they be timely reminders, but when you run into other types of slides you can speak specifically to those. Some points: 1) it's not just stature to take into account regarding slides, but the rambunctiousness of whoever might be entering or using them. An energetic 8-year-old can put just as much or more stress on a slide than a sedate 200-lb adult. 2) many trailer slides, especially Super slides, have storage built in them. Given the facts you pointed out about the rolling earthquake it is important to consider the placement and weight of stuff stowed in such storage in the slides. 3) it could also be helpful to know whether slides can be partially deployed and used in that fashion. Also can you partially deploy a slide and then retract it, or do you have to fully deploy it before you can retract it again? Sometimes when getting to a campsite and getting set up we might find that there is something blocking us from fully deploying a slide. Knowing whether we can use the slide partially deployed, and knowing whether or not we have to move the trailer in order to fully extend the slide before retracting it can be rather important. Thank you for this!
Wow! Thank you for such an informative video! I never really thought about this before. Our trailer is totally accessible in road mode (to clarify, the bedroom has a separate door so we can access it separately) but the dinette and sofa are in the slide. We use the bathroom a lot in road mode but have rarely, if ever, used the sofa or dinette. Good to know not to. And as I was watching this vid, I had to go check--Rack & Pinion! Never knew the difference. Again, thank you for the info!
I have a rack and pinion slide. During travel I put pool noodles between the floor and bottom of the slide room. I like to believe it helps reduce the movement of the slide during traveling on our "well maintained roads".
Ahh.... One of the reasons why I like the units with the kitchen in the slide and not the seating... But, those are not the norm.... Thanks for the great info Josh!!
Great advice Josh! Our Coachmen Apex 215RBX is a step up slidebox design that contains the dinette, and uses the Schwintek hardware. We plan to never sit in the dinette when retracted, but alas we never had the chance. She’s brand new, just drove to our hometown two hours from the dealer, disconnected and leveled the trailer, and on slide extension… she extended two inches, the forward end froze, the backend wanted to keep going… wait, what! Fortunately the slide fully retracted and seated all around, but a second attempt had the same result. Dealer says, oh sorry, but we can’t get you into service until August. So, our summer of camping shot down the drain on a brand new trailer… frustrated to say the least. The Schwintek design is problematic, and has been for several years.
Our schwinntek has failed us a few times 😡! 3 times when it was out and we needed to bring it in to depart the campground. We ended up replacing the 2 motors and just to let you know, the motors are about the size of a 8oz. slim can beverage 🙄, unbelievable, so small for a superslide to operate!! Good luck people. Happy camping 🏕
We found this out the hard way this past winter. Our slide floor detached from the wall and fell down an inch. I had to use jacks to hold the floor up level to wall until we got home from our winter Texas snow birding to fix it. I googled and found minimal information on this so I’m so glad you are educating people.
Yeah that's one of the big things that can happen. I've seen trades come in where when you put out the slide the floor "lift" basically so it can go out. I knew immediately what happened
Just heard about this topic while camping last weekend. Why it is important to not stand on the slides while they are retracted is that you can break the floor section away from the side wall of the slide.
OMG.... Thank you so much for this video. I cant tell you how much stuff we've stored in the side nook of our 22ft Salem cruise lite. My Rockwood just arrived. I will see it tomorrow. Youre right. It was 4 months. I will not store anything in the Rockwood slide. However, it is an east west bedroom slide in the 2911bs 🤔
If there’s already storage space there, then you should be fine Storage space is usually limited in size and structured accordingly. It’s where they DONT intend weight that becomes an issue
So we brought home an 2021 R&P equipted TT yesterday. We did not want another Schwintek as we had a bad experience with our last rig (motor-home) . Boy is tomorrow morning's inspection going to be an eye opener. Thank goodness it's "only" a dinette slide! Already thinking - a shim (a length of strapping?) of wood to support that front lip? Thanks Uncle J for another stellar report!
Great informational video! I would like to hear more about tires and tire care. I have a 2018 Flagstaff vlite with 600 miles on the trailer. With 90 degree weather, I had a blow out going to my last outing. The tires look good but I guess their time was up. Blew both tires on right side at 65mph. No damage and the trailer handled well pulling over. I ended up replacing all 4 on the trip. The tires were stamped 2017. Again, great vid! Jason from East Texas.
The load index and speed rating are a good place to start. Trailers are often outfitted with tires that cover the bare minimum. Do you cover your tires? UV isn't great for them and sitting in one spot doesn't do them any favors either. 6 years is the life expectancy of a tire and not using it is probably more detrimental than putting miles on it.
@@chrisfoxwell4128 It crossed my mind while driving up to our park that it was getting close to purchasing new tires. Our rv sits on an asphalt driveway with a covered carport. The tires that were still good had plenty of tread and no weathering. The guy said factory tires are notorious for doing this. But still, only 550 miles on those tires lol Never had this issue with any of the bass boats I owned.
With our 1991 Lazy Daze, thankfully, no slides! My RV mechanic told me once that he would have a very, very good retirement because of constantly failing and breaking slideouts. Thanks for this interesting video. Good advice!
Huge info prime for my current research. Bigger and taller than you, demand travel friendly access, value the class A clarity (which was not so much in my wheelhouse, but more considered now). Also great comments and tips from your "community". It could well be worth it to buy from Coldwater and hang out in Indiana in the last couple weeks of my build ( if I go that route) and drive her for a week long shakedown cruise, and let the pros touch her up before the trek back to Texas.
Our travel trailer, FR W X-Lite 24RLXL, has that kind of floor plan when in road mode, you have no choice but have to climb into the Schwintech slide out with putting knee onto dinette and step into slide out in order to get past the kitchen nook to use rest room and such and have a time or two just used it without the slide out extended because we were in a truck stop or rest area were I couldn't extend it out... Been a few times we had to get to that toilet quickly and didn't think about if we could be damaging slide out by doing so. Darned if you put it out 1/3 of the way for losing sync and darned if you access it during road mode. Thank you for sharing that information!
Thx for sharing this after I put so much stuff on my bed and knocked off my slide out of track lol I love your videos this is very important info I didn't know but now I'll be more careful
thanks for the video, I always wonder but tread lightly when trying to get something out of the U dinette or reach the thermostat when the slide is in on my FSX170SSX.
👍 good information, I have a class c Jayco, 2020 24B and love the coach but not very confident about the slideout, have already had issues with it sticking. In the shop once, but......it may have to return because it is sticking. One end wants to go, other holding on.
Good advice that's not commonly known. When I was first getting started in rv I stepped in a few trying to work on one in the yard. The screws holding the dinette bases will pop out and they'll be loose.
Loved the eye movement referencing abandoning the driver's seat while going down the road! Yes, I have heard of folks who thought cruise control took care of everything much to their dismay. Now, when self driving motor homes....
Since you bravely jumped into this pile, how about slides out first or leveling first? That should be a fun one. Read your manual, always sinks like a lead balloon.
So in a perfect world? Yes. The RV should be leveled and stabilized before operating slides Realistically.. you're pretty much fine as long as the rv is roughly eyeball level
@@JoshtheRVNerd I mentioned it because some like Prevost bus say to put out the slides before leveling. I do not know all the towable brands but have seen it both ways when looking at manufacture information in the past. Could not find information from some others did tell the order they wanted. It was a few years ago when I looked trying to settle a disagreement between a couple friends.
Thanks Josh for that info. I "may" have used a slide in roadmode before this video but now i know better. Just never gavw it a thought before, cuz everyone was in the vehicle in travelmode. once we stopped thats one of the first things done is to open the slides! now i can say we have plopped duffel bags in the dinette because we were to lazy to stow them elsewhere. but from now on that wont be happening. so again thanks for the info. we love ya ❤️ 💕
We just picked up a 245bhs. Was curious about when using the slide do i always have to make sure to have the stabilizers out, even when hooked up to the truck. Etc stopping to sleep for a few hours.
Great explanation! it really helped to see it. I was trying to wrap my head around it when you explained it to me, but seeing it is so much better. Thanks!
Josh I adore your videos and tips! I just bought my first 5th wheel in Portland, OR to fulltime in, but my second rig I'l driving to Michigan first! Keep up the good work of honest reviews and industry secrets! (Side note I bet you'd be a blast to tabletop RPG with!)
Josh! Thank you so much! I had been sitting in our recliners with the slide in!! We have a 2022 Flagstaff 22FBS with a rack and pinion slide. When you recently started saying don’t sit in there with the slide in - I took a flashlight, knelt down, lifted the carpet and saw that nothing was touching the floor and then used my hand on the seat of the chair and I got a lot of movement! Now, we don’t sit on the recliner anymore! Hopefully, we didn’t damage anything! Thanks again!!
Ugh! I absolutely hate the SchwinTek Slide outs! I have a dinette / sofa slide and (despite having this thing for a year now) I STILL trip on the step up part! 😖
GREAT video. Thank you. And to the point you made about passengers in a 5th wheel. I live in CA where it's legal as long as there's an exit for the passengers. However, is it smart to put passengers in a capsule that will break apart like a child 1st grade tower project in an accident? Yeah..NO. Legsl, but I would never allow it personally.
Please keep in mind: No MFG or dealer can say "yes you can" use the slide closed since no slide supplier nor RV builder tests for that. So it will always be the case of "use common sense" and "at your own risk"
Josh: Want to know why you can't be in a towed? Watch the Long, Long Trailer - -LOL Perhaps you should pass out a DVD to everyone buying a trailer. Also filled with lots of things NOT to do! One thing I did on our class A. Measured the gap in the floor inside, measured the extened length inside and out side, measured the closed position inside and out, measured the top and the bottom open and closed position. You then have a reference starting point. Then? Checked every month or so. Total time? Maybe 10 minutes. Time well spent and you know if an issue is developing.
Question: I have to live in my 2005 32 ft 5th Wheel this winter; (3 Slide-outs) Do you have a video that explains HOW to protect it (from water/weather damage- Saving the floor from rotting/detaching from walls )?
No. You’ll want to be careful about keeping the belly area heated and slides cleaned off whenever possible to avoid ice damming and creeping past the seals
Hmm. We have the shwintec(sp?) Type in our little Catalina, and the PRIMARY storage is inside the slide's benches. We always travel with that loaded...I guess I'll assume they thought of that in the design??
In 1993, Hydro Québec located in Québec, Canada already did the in wheels motor on a chrysler intrepid (no need to know that car 😄) Their Tm4 division works for decades in electric propulsion. I wonder if they share their knowledge with them?
well i just learned something new, thanks! we bought our first slide equipped trailer 5 years ago, it's a 2007 kz spree 260 with a 13 ft slide(dinette and couch). it actually has rollers under the front edge for support. perhaps you could address another potential issue. we always level our trailer before opening the slide, how necessary is this?
The best practice is most definitely to have the RV level and stabilized before operating the slide But real world talk: As long as it's eyeball level you're going to be fine
@@JoshtheRVNerd that's what i figured! when we bought our rv, it was a "handyman special", about a third of the slide floor(1 inch particle board) was rotted away. i rebuilt it with a double thickness 3/4 plywood, all glued and screwed together and added a 6 inch plywood skirt across the front(it's a step up slide). so i'm not worried about the floor sagging at all!
Thanks for this video. Any thoughts on placing some type of support under the slide floor of my Schwintek slide while in transit? (I have heard of dense foam rollers cut to size and even x-chocks used) Not necessarily to make it occupiable, but more to prevent excess motion while going down the road. Thanks ~
We have a schwintec slide U dinette in our wolf pup 17JGBL. You need to step up into it. It would seem this can support the weight when retracted and we have used it several times during trips to stop for lunch. I can’t imagine not being able to use this while on the road. Do you really think we should stop using it altogether? I can’t find any literature on whether or not you can or can’t.
Wow nevermind, I guess schwintecs are complete junk. Mine just failed on me for the 2nd time. Here I am camping and it won’t go out and it binds up the same way it did back in Nov. 21’. Dealer replaced all the components and 5 uses later I’m back in the same boat. Worst part is, I’m a few weeks out of warranty now after it sat at the dealer for 3 months. Guess I’m gonna have to get rid of this thing and buy something without a slide. I’m scarred. I don’t trust these now. Sigh….
What about measuring a piece of wood, maybe several lengths, to the thickness between the slide and the floor, leaving a slight gap maybe a millimeter or so, then slipping that between the floor and the bottom of the slide. This way when you access the trailer to have a sleep etc. The wood would support the slide from flexing. Let's say the slide is six feet wide and the gap is an inch. Take two pieces of two feet by maybe four to six wide by 1 inch thick (you can shave it to the desired thickness) slip those suckers on each end. A shimmy so to speak but for a slide. Do you think that might work or are there dangers.
We have a geo pro 20BHS, we use ours when it is in all the time. I think maybe dinette slides are a little more friendly because your weight is towards the walls of the slide. Edit: Josh just touched on that, thanks Josh.
Two Slide-Out questions: (1) Are their any slide outs that use a roller or casters of some sort to provide under-slide support in the closed position? (2) For proper maintenance, should you not leave the slide in the out position for extended periods of time? Does it need to be periodically brought back in to prevent damage from settling in the open position? Thank you.
No. A slide with storage is made with that expectation and to have the cargo load spread out Retracted big slides aren’t always made to have a person standing in the middle of an unsupported space in one spot
No and I 100% don't recommend them. If the RV shifts for any reason, then the slide needs to as well. They have to move together. Isolating one and not the other isn't something I recommend
Love your videos Josh! I remember you mentioning used travel trailers coming in that you could tell people left the slide out seasonally and it was a problem. Could you remind me why?
Sure! If left out all the time, then the slide is likely exposed to a lot of rain/weather. The water washes down the slide sidewalls and wicks into the slide floor from the underside unless it's protected
FYI, I have a Grand Design Imagine, XLS 22 MLE. I just called Imagine customer service. They stated there are rollers under the slide and it is perfectly safe to use the slide when retracted.
Here is a question from a newby. When the slide is retracted, why can’t we put shims under the front edge (the edge floating above the floor) to support the slide while it is retracted. Would that allow use of slide features while retracted?
Awesome! You are the best. Thank you very much. I have a rack an pinion slide and I have searched online for hours about how the slide operates. I still do not fully understand how this slide operates. How does the motion of the slide takes it from above floor to flush to raised? Are the gear racks curved causing the raised to flush to raised again? I cannot find anything on the internet explaining this. If you can you will be the first I have seen. I am sure I am not the only one that has this question. Does anyone know? Cover that operation in a video. Also. I do not understand fully how the box is supported on the cable and shwinteck slides.
The "arm" of the slide mechanism is totally straight. The thing that makes it move is how the slide box itself is not perfectly square. When the slide it out look at the roof of the slide from the outside. You'll see how it kind of tapers down. That shape is sort of what makes it do.. what it does There's a little more to it than that, but that's the gist of it
Best slide video. Thanks for not just talking about walking, but also sitting/sleeping on a retracted slide.
Happy to help!
Hacksaw Jim Duggan LMFAO!!!!! Josh you are HILARIOUS!!!!
😃
Nice explanation on why it isn’t safe or wise to step in closed slides. It’s nice to see a sales person being honest
Everytime I watch your videos, I learn something new. Keep it up, even with the tongue-in-cheek humor. I love it!!
Awesome, thank you!
I WISH I COULD TIP YOU FOR THIS INFO. GREAT TOURS AND GREAT PERSONALITY! GO NAVY!!!
I think you technically can with one of those buttons under the video but I just appreciate you visiting regardless!!
Thanks for the great content here Nerd! Any chance you could do a similar video about slide maintenance?
Great information! My owners manual states not to be walking on the slide unless it’s out and it also says not to put the slides out until you’ve leveled the camper.
When the video goes distorted, ARRRGGGGGHHHH !!!!!!! By far the best part !
Just bought my first camper with a slide all ways enjoy you videos and tips u give out ,
Have fun!
Thank you. This question comes up from time to time in Facebook forums.
Great advice! On a similar topic, it would be great to do a video on how exactly to get one of these slides in if it fails…and maybe what to look for every time it goes out or in. We have the cable slide system, and I’m always concerned it’s going to fail at some point while we’re camping (and packing up to go home)!
Depending on the make of slide, you have different options. My particular make and model has a manual retract socket on the opposite side of the trailer that allows you to crank in the slide with the same hand crank or socket as the corner stabilizers. Works if you have no power or breakage. If it’s jammed, you may need to muscle it to get it in and drive your rig to a repair shop.
Oh no for sure. I 100% want to make videos like that. I just need to get some assistance from a service department.. but this thing is completely full up with work right now
@@JoshtheRVNerd // ask the Service Departments (across ALL the nearby BISH’S) to give you a heads up when this issue rolls into their service bay so you can show the process with their help… 📸📲
* i.e. for ALL the service issues you wish to showcase… preventatively speaking of course 😬🫣🤫
Andrew - Cable slide systems will have a spot on the motor mounted above the slide where you can insert an adapter (that should have come with the RV) and use a drill to run the slide in or out. It is stupid slow going and very difficult to get up there and do it while it’s moving without being in the way. If you have a cable fray or break, you can have a couple of guys push from the outside while the wife pushes the slide in button. I’ve had to do both with a cable slide and it’s a pain.
@@erhodes352 so that being said, is the cable slide the one that you’d use last? The others have better workability?
Thank you sooooo much Josh !!! You rocked that one ! 👍🙏🤩
Glad you liked it!!
I want to see a video on those 37 reasons! I would love to know the difference between towable and motor homes
Thank you for this breakdown of the different types of slides in a no thrills laymen version
Awesome advice. Learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. Thank you for doing them.
My pleasure!
I’ve watched sales people’s faces when I ask about being able to occupy the slides retracted?? Of course you can they say! Are you sure , I ask.well ughh sure! You need to keep hammering this topic Josh! We’re looking to buy a trailer now and really needing this input! Thanks buddy😉🙏🏻
I am always curious how they can make a promise the MFG doesn’t? 🤔
Another well-done (not overcooked) and informative video! Thanks Josh!
I've seen so many videos with misaligned and fallen floors and lack of support makes perfect sense. And, I've seen plenty of videos where people pile all sorts of crap in the slide to go down the road. This video will save some lucky people that see it.
I hope so
Excellent advise, we learned that the hard way, several years back with our first RV had floor separation from stepping on the slide while traveling.
Aw man.. sorry to hear that but Ty for sharing so people see this IS real advice
Excellent topic and discussion Josh...I noticed that our schwintech 'step up' dinette slide was an open unsupported box hovering above the floor about 8 inches and about 3-4 feet inside any support. I was initially concerned that as we pounded across potholes and gravel uneven roads that this unsupported box would bounce up and down causing damage to the coach (and didn't think too much about us sitting in that box while it was retracted...) I fashioned two adjustable support legs for the inside box lip with wide bases for the floor and the underside of the box...I am really happy with the result...
Thanks so much for this, we have been wanting a REAL explanation for this. We NOW get it, thanks again!
Share it and spread the message!!
Thanks for the video seeing a lot of us are going on trips on memorial day weekend next weekend. On another note it must be a fun to work around a dancing bot
Thank you. Never thought about using the slide when not out. Or over loading the slide. I did find out( after owning our trailer for a year) to fully slide out and or in, not halfway to access another part of the trailer.
I always wondered watching your videos, when you talk about stopping for breaks on the road, having lunch and such if you really should be sitting in the side.....I never thought ours were really that strong when in.
Yeah I think I mentioned it's something I haven't clarified well and possibly have shared _BAD_ info on in some of my videos. I'm always learning and trying to do my best to share good, reliable information. I don't always get it right but I can admit when I'm wrong
Josh, thanks for bringing this entire subject up!
You bet!
A side note regarding schwintec slides you didn't cover. Never get in one that is partly opened, always fully extend or retract before using or you can knock the motors out of sync. Each side has a motor and two pinion gears, and the top ones can get damaged if the slide is used when partly opened.
100%. I _thought_ I mentioned how they shouldn't be opened partially but didn't overly say this. Thank you for the extra clarity
Thank you so much for this video. I had asked about occupying a slide while its retracted. I appreciate you and your advice
Applause for a well-done video! And of course, as you are probably already planning, please keep bringing these points up when talking about specific trailers, too. Not only will they be timely reminders, but when you run into other types of slides you can speak specifically to those.
Some points:
1) it's not just stature to take into account regarding slides, but the rambunctiousness of whoever might be entering or using them. An energetic 8-year-old can put just as much or more stress on a slide than a sedate 200-lb adult.
2) many trailer slides, especially Super slides, have storage built in them. Given the facts you pointed out about the rolling earthquake it is important to consider the placement and weight of stuff stowed in such storage in the slides.
3) it could also be helpful to know whether slides can be partially deployed and used in that fashion. Also can you partially deploy a slide and then retract it, or do you have to fully deploy it before you can retract it again? Sometimes when getting to a campsite and getting set up we might find that there is something blocking us from fully deploying a slide. Knowing whether we can use the slide partially deployed, and knowing whether or not we have to move the trailer in order to fully extend the slide before retracting it can be rather important.
Thank you for this!
Awesome points to add here. Tyvm!!
Wow! Thank you for such an informative video! I never really thought about this before. Our trailer is totally accessible in road mode (to clarify, the bedroom has a separate door so we can access it separately) but the dinette and sofa are in the slide. We use the bathroom a lot in road mode but have rarely, if ever, used the sofa or dinette. Good to know not to. And as I was watching this vid, I had to go check--Rack & Pinion! Never knew the difference. Again, thank you for the info!
A very important video about the slid on the R Vs , thanks much.
I have a rack and pinion slide. During travel I put pool noodles between the floor and bottom of the slide room. I like to believe it helps reduce the movement of the slide during traveling on our "well maintained roads".
lolol
Ahh.... One of the reasons why I like the units with the kitchen in the slide and not the seating... But, those are not the norm.... Thanks for the great info Josh!!
Fair enough!
Great advice Josh! Our Coachmen Apex 215RBX is a step up slidebox design that contains the dinette, and uses the Schwintek hardware. We plan to never sit in the dinette when retracted, but alas we never had the chance. She’s brand new, just drove to our hometown two hours from the dealer, disconnected and leveled the trailer, and on slide extension… she extended two inches, the forward end froze, the backend wanted to keep going… wait, what! Fortunately the slide fully retracted and seated all around, but a second attempt had the same result. Dealer says, oh sorry, but we can’t get you into service until August. So, our summer of camping shot down the drain on a brand new trailer… frustrated to say the least. The Schwintek design is problematic, and has been for several years.
..you _just_ took it home and your dealer won't even look at it until _August?_
Call Coachmen. That's nonsense.
Our schwinntek has failed us a few times 😡! 3 times when it was out and we needed to bring it in to depart the campground. We ended up replacing the 2 motors and just to let you know, the motors are about the size of a 8oz. slim can beverage 🙄, unbelievable, so small for a superslide to operate!! Good luck people. Happy camping 🏕
We found this out the hard way this past winter. Our slide floor detached from the wall and fell down an inch. I had to use jacks to hold the floor up level to wall until we got home from our winter Texas snow birding to fix it. I googled and found minimal information on this so I’m so glad you are educating people.
Yeah that's one of the big things that can happen. I've seen trades come in where when you put out the slide the floor "lift" basically so it can go out. I knew immediately what happened
Just heard about this topic while camping last weekend. Why it is important to not stand on the slides while they are retracted is that you can break the floor section away from the side wall of the slide.
Right. That's usually the result
It's a low occurrence, but I've seen it
OMG.... Thank you so much for this video.
I cant tell you how much stuff we've stored in the side nook of our 22ft Salem cruise lite. My Rockwood just arrived. I will see it tomorrow. Youre right. It was 4 months. I will not store anything in the Rockwood slide. However, it is an east west bedroom slide in the 2911bs 🤔
If there’s already storage space there, then you should be fine
Storage space is usually limited in size and structured accordingly.
It’s where they DONT intend weight that becomes an issue
@@JoshtheRVNerd yes, 2911bs.
Ps: Nerd Herd. Lol. Just got to the end of your video
So we brought home an 2021 R&P equipted TT yesterday. We did not want another Schwintek as we had a bad experience with our last rig (motor-home) . Boy is tomorrow morning's inspection going to be an eye opener. Thank goodness it's "only" a dinette slide!
Already thinking - a shim (a length of strapping?) of wood to support that front lip?
Thanks Uncle J for another stellar report!
My pleasure! :)
Great informational video! I would like to hear more about tires and tire care. I have a 2018 Flagstaff vlite with 600 miles on the trailer. With 90 degree weather, I had a blow out going to my last outing. The tires look good but I guess their time was up. Blew both tires on right side at 65mph. No damage and the trailer handled well pulling over. I ended up replacing all 4 on the trip. The tires were stamped 2017. Again, great vid! Jason from East Texas.
The load index and speed rating are a good place to start. Trailers are often outfitted with tires that cover the bare minimum. Do you cover your tires? UV isn't great for them and sitting in one spot doesn't do them any favors either. 6 years is the life expectancy of a tire and not using it is probably more detrimental than putting miles on it.
@@chrisfoxwell4128 It crossed my mind while driving up to our park that it was getting close to purchasing new tires. Our rv sits on an asphalt driveway with a covered carport. The tires that were still good had plenty of tread and no weathering. The guy said factory tires are notorious for doing this. But still, only 550 miles on those tires lol Never had this issue with any of the bass boats I owned.
@@chrisfoxwell4128 Thank you for explaining why folks cover their RV tires. I often wondered why they were covered!
With our 1991 Lazy Daze, thankfully, no slides! My RV mechanic told me once that he would have a very, very good retirement because of constantly failing and breaking slideouts. Thanks for this interesting video. Good advice!
Huge info prime for my current research. Bigger and taller than you, demand travel friendly access, value the class A clarity (which was not so much in my wheelhouse, but more considered now). Also great comments and tips from your "community". It could well be worth it to buy from Coldwater and hang out in Indiana in the last couple weeks of my build ( if I go that route) and drive her for a week long shakedown cruise, and let the pros touch her up before the trek back to Texas.
We just expanded by the way! We now have a store in Longview, Texas! :)
Our travel trailer, FR W X-Lite 24RLXL, has that kind of floor plan when in road mode, you have no choice but have to climb into the Schwintech slide out with putting knee onto dinette and step into slide out in order to get past the kitchen nook to use rest room and such and have a time or two just used it without the slide out extended because we were in a truck stop or rest area were I couldn't extend it out... Been a few times we had to get to that toilet quickly and didn't think about if we could be damaging slide out by doing so. Darned if you put it out 1/3 of the way for losing sync and darned if you access it during road mode. Thank you for sharing that information!
I know that feeling... I pull as far as I can to the right so I can open the driver side slide to get to the bathroom.
I call that the "Luke Kneewalker" Maneuver
@@JoshtheRVNerd ROFL
Great advice since I was looking at slide outs and this is invaluable for my next selection of TT.
Glad it was helpful!
Great points. My thought is to avoid damage just don't use the slide while it's in when it comes to travel trailers.
That truly is the best suggestion. But there are always folks that want to know
Thx for sharing this after I put so much stuff on my bed and knocked off my slide out of track lol I love your videos this is very important info I didn't know but now I'll be more careful
TY for being willing to share this with other viewers!
thanks for the video, I always wonder but tread lightly when trying to get something out of the U dinette or reach the thermostat when the slide is in on my FSX170SSX.
👍 good information, I have a class c Jayco, 2020 24B and love the coach but not very confident about the slideout, have already had issues with it sticking. In the shop once, but......it may have to return because it is sticking. One end wants to go, other holding on.
Good advice that's not commonly known. When I was first getting started in rv I stepped in a few trying to work on one in the yard. The screws holding the dinette bases will pop out and they'll be loose.
Yep yep. Weight spread out is ok. It's all that weight in one spot that causes the issue
Wait.. so YOU'RE THE ONE!!
Loved the eye movement referencing abandoning the driver's seat while going down the road! Yes, I have heard of folks who thought cruise control took care of everything much to their dismay. Now, when self driving motor homes....
I would NEVER do something that silly
I jam a broomstick into the wheel like an adult
Since you bravely jumped into this pile, how about slides out first or leveling first? That should be a fun one. Read your manual, always sinks like a lead balloon.
So in a perfect world? Yes. The RV should be leveled and stabilized before operating slides
Realistically.. you're pretty much fine as long as the rv is roughly eyeball level
@@JoshtheRVNerd I mentioned it because some like Prevost bus say to put out the slides before leveling. I do not know all the towable brands but have seen it both ways when looking at manufacture information in the past. Could not find information from some others did tell the order they wanted. It was a few years ago when I looked trying to settle a disagreement between a couple friends.
Thanks Josh for that info. I "may" have used a slide in roadmode before this video but now i know better. Just never gavw it a thought before, cuz everyone was in the vehicle in travelmode. once we stopped thats one of the first things done is to open the slides! now i can say we have plopped duffel bags in the dinette because we were to lazy to stow them elsewhere. but from now on that wont be happening. so again thanks for the info. we love ya ❤️ 💕
So the big thing is just make sure the slide floor isn't moving/bowing under your weight.
Got it! 👍👍
HELLL YEAH MR. Josh!!! Common sense is key. Thank you fur all the info.
My pleasure!
We just picked up a 245bhs. Was curious about when using the slide do i always have to make sure to have the stabilizers out, even when hooked up to the truck. Etc stopping to sleep for a few hours.
Great explanation! it really helped to see it. I was trying to wrap my head around it when you explained it to me, but seeing it is so much better.
Thanks!
Glad it helped!
Josh I adore your videos and tips! I just bought my first 5th wheel in Portland, OR to fulltime in, but my second rig I'l driving to Michigan first! Keep up the good work of honest reviews and industry secrets!
(Side note I bet you'd be a blast to tabletop RPG with!)
I try to keep it lively! :)
Forty years of wondering and now I know from a pro! Thank you!
Glad to be of service!
Great info! We just bought our first slide out camper. The first camper we bought was from you when your place was called something else.
Would’ve been Haylett RV
All but one of those employees are still with us!!
“…get a kid or something like that” 😝😝😝😝 You’re so funny Josh lol
Dude your awesome, you got this down. Great info that is really appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
Josh! Thank you so much! I had been sitting in our recliners with the slide in!! We have a 2022 Flagstaff 22FBS with a rack and pinion slide. When you recently started saying don’t sit in there with the slide in - I took a flashlight, knelt down, lifted the carpet and saw that nothing was touching the floor and then used my hand on the seat of the chair and I got a lot of movement! Now, we don’t sit on the recliner anymore! Hopefully, we didn’t damage anything! Thanks again!!
Glad this was helpful to you! May save you some repair money one day
Ugh! I absolutely hate the SchwinTek Slide outs! I have a dinette / sofa slide and (despite having this thing for a year now) I STILL trip on the step up part! 😖
Thank you Josh just came across this one answered some questions I was thinking
awesome! :)
Great video thanks for this information. Something most of us have never thought about.
👍🏻
Thank you Mr Josh, something I never thought of
GREAT video. Thank you. And to the point you made about passengers in a 5th wheel. I live in CA where it's legal as long as there's an exit for the passengers. However, is it smart to put passengers in a capsule that will break apart like a child 1st grade tower project in an accident? Yeah..NO. Legsl, but I would never allow it personally.
Man I sure wouldn’t
As always, great information. Thank you for taking the time to educate us all.
Glad to help where I can!!
Thanks Josh, I am going to check my bed slide using your advice, since I want to be able to use it with the slide in and I am a “larger” person.
Please keep in mind: No MFG or dealer can say "yes you can" use the slide closed since no slide supplier nor RV builder tests for that.
So it will always be the case of "use common sense" and "at your own risk"
Josh Thanks for the excellent and very informative and useful info! 😊😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Josh: Want to know why you can't be in a towed? Watch the Long, Long Trailer - -LOL Perhaps you should pass out a DVD to everyone buying a trailer. Also filled with lots of things NOT to do!
One thing I did on our class A. Measured the gap in the floor inside, measured the extened length inside and out side, measured the closed position inside and out, measured the top and the bottom open and closed position. You then have a reference starting point. Then? Checked every month or so. Total time? Maybe 10 minutes. Time well spent and you know if an issue is developing.
Been ages since I saw that bbarely remember it
@@JoshtheRVNerd
ruclips.net/video/dZy1_WHwTN8/видео.html
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Have fun!
Thank you for what you do. I just keep learning more and more from your videos.
Thank you! Have a brand new 22 cougar 22mls. This is very helpful!
My pleasure, Brad. Thankfully that model is very accessible even when closed
Question: I have to live in my 2005 32 ft 5th Wheel this winter; (3 Slide-outs) Do you have a video that explains HOW to protect it (from water/weather damage- Saving the floor from rotting/detaching from walls )?
No. You’ll want to be careful about keeping the belly area heated and slides cleaned off whenever possible to avoid ice damming and creeping past the seals
A cell phone camera is a great second set of eyes, plus some you can turn on a light. This helps you see tight spots you can't.
Oh man.. I use my phone's camera as a "tight space peek" all the time
Hmm. We have the shwintec(sp?) Type in our little Catalina, and the PRIMARY storage is inside the slide's benches. We always travel with that loaded...I guess I'll assume they thought of that in the design??
yeah they plan for storage built into slides. It's the unexpected weight pegged into one spot that's an issue
Josh: Thank you. And you KNOW why!😊😊 Respectfully, W.S.
Really good information. Never knew that about trailers and 5th wheel.
In 1993, Hydro Québec located in Québec, Canada already did the in wheels motor on a chrysler intrepid (no need to know that car 😄)
Their Tm4 division works for decades in electric propulsion.
I wonder if they share their knowledge with them?
Loved "hack saw" Jim Duggan
Who didn’t?
🇺🇸
well i just learned something new, thanks!
we bought our first slide equipped trailer 5 years ago, it's a 2007 kz spree 260 with a 13 ft slide(dinette and couch). it actually has rollers under the front edge for support.
perhaps you could address another potential issue. we always level our trailer before opening the slide, how necessary is this?
The best practice is most definitely to have the RV level and stabilized before operating the slide
But real world talk: As long as it's eyeball level you're going to be fine
@@JoshtheRVNerd that's what i figured! when we bought our rv, it was a "handyman special", about a third of the slide floor(1 inch particle board) was rotted away. i rebuilt it with a double thickness 3/4 plywood, all glued and screwed together and added a 6 inch plywood skirt across the front(it's a step up slide). so i'm not worried about the floor sagging at all!
Manufacturers ought to put roller ball casters at the lip to support it.
Great information as always, I learn so much from you. Thanks, Josh.
My pleasure, Jan!
Thanks for this video. Any thoughts on placing some type of support under the slide floor of my Schwintek slide while in transit? (I have heard of dense foam rollers cut to size and even x-chocks used) Not necessarily to make it occupiable, but more to prevent excess motion while going down the road. Thanks ~
I'm not a fan of those and do not recommend them
We have a schwintec slide U dinette in our wolf pup 17JGBL. You need to step up into it. It would seem this can support the weight when retracted and we have used it several times during trips to stop for lunch. I can’t imagine not being able to use this while on the road. Do you really think we should stop using it altogether? I can’t find any literature on whether or not you can or can’t.
Usually on those you’re OK
Wow nevermind, I guess schwintecs are complete junk. Mine just failed on me for the 2nd time. Here I am camping and it won’t go out and it binds up the same way it did back in Nov. 21’. Dealer replaced all the components and 5 uses later I’m back in the same boat. Worst part is, I’m a few weeks out of warranty now after it sat at the dealer for 3 months. Guess I’m gonna have to get rid of this thing and buy something without a slide. I’m scarred. I don’t trust these now. Sigh….
What about measuring a piece of wood, maybe several lengths, to the thickness between the slide and the floor, leaving a slight gap maybe a millimeter or so, then slipping that between the floor and the bottom of the slide. This way when you access the trailer to have a sleep etc. The wood would support the slide from flexing.
Let's say the slide is six feet wide and the gap is an inch. Take two pieces of two feet by maybe four to six wide by 1 inch thick (you can shave it to the desired thickness) slip those suckers on each end. A shimmy so to speak but for a slide.
Do you think that might work or are there dangers.
I just don’t recommend it. Takes one time to forget it’s there to cause an issue. I totally get what you’re saying though. The idea crossed my mind
@@JoshtheRVNerd I agree it's risky.
We have a geo pro 20BHS, we use ours when it is in all the time. I think maybe dinette slides are a little more friendly because your weight is towards the walls of the slide.
Edit: Josh just touched on that, thanks Josh.
👍🏻
Two Slide-Out questions:
(1) Are their any slide outs that use a roller or casters of some sort to provide under-slide support in the closed position?
(2) For proper maintenance, should you not leave the slide in the out position for extended periods of time? Does it need to be periodically brought back in to prevent damage from settling in the open position?
Thank you.
1.) yes but they’re often situational like bed slides and brands aren’t always consistent with them across floor plans
2.) In or out. All the same
Great information, makes since but odd manufacturers do not advise either way.
I have to ask, What about Wardrobe slides. Should you unpack them for transit?
No. A slide with storage is made with that expectation and to have the cargo load spread out
Retracted big slides aren’t always made to have a person standing in the middle of an unsupported space in one spot
Great video AGAIN! Truly love all of your videos.
Man ty :)
So happy I do not have slides. No worries and an easier setup! Even a quick overnight still attached to the truck!
Excellent video Josh. Thank you.
Great advice Josh, thank you, quick question, sometimes I see jacks under the slide box, is this necessary,?
No and I 100% don't recommend them. If the RV shifts for any reason, then the slide needs to as well. They have to move together. Isolating one and not the other isn't something I recommend
Love your videos Josh! I remember you mentioning used travel trailers coming in that you could tell people left the slide out seasonally and it was a problem. Could you remind me why?
Sure! If left out all the time, then the slide is likely exposed to a lot of rain/weather. The water washes down the slide sidewalls and wicks into the slide floor from the underside unless it's protected
Great info! Helped reinforce my desire to avoid slides for our next small trailer.
Glad it was helpful! I hope manufacturers continue to expand on those slide offerings as I feel it’s an underserved market segment
Great information Josh! Thank you!!!
Glad it was helpful!
FYI, I have a Grand Design Imagine, XLS 22 MLE. I just called Imagine customer service. They stated there are rollers under the slide and it is perfectly safe to use the slide when retracted.
That's awesome news. I would get it in writing though
Here is a question from a newby. When the slide is retracted, why can’t we put shims under the front edge (the edge floating above the floor) to support the slide while it is retracted. Would that allow use of slide features while retracted?
You can.. at your own risk. If something breaks, then the mfg wouldn’t cover it. Thats the biggest caution I would offer
But in theory you’re spot on
Awesome! You are the best. Thank you very much. I have a rack an pinion slide and I have searched online for hours about how the slide operates. I still do not fully understand how this slide operates. How does the motion of the slide takes it from above floor to flush to raised? Are the gear racks curved causing the raised to flush to raised again? I cannot find anything on the internet explaining this. If you can you will be the first I have seen. I am sure I am not the only one that has this question. Does anyone know? Cover that operation in a video. Also. I do not understand fully how the box is supported on the cable and shwinteck slides.
The "arm" of the slide mechanism is totally straight. The thing that makes it move is how the slide box itself is not perfectly square. When the slide it out look at the roof of the slide from the outside. You'll see how it kind of tapers down. That shape is sort of what makes it do.. what it does
There's a little more to it than that, but that's the gist of it
Thanks Josh. I appreciate you replying.
Great job! I have never seen this addressed.
lots of great information! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure! Ty for watching
Informative video, Josh. Well done, sir!
Thank you kindly!