The other reason to level--- the slide-outs

[DonTom]

I noticed in one of the many manuals that came with my new RV, it says the first step in putting the slide-outs out is using automatic levelling that my Class A SHOULD have (press a button, of course, like everything else in my RV). But for whatever reason, the cable harness for the levelling jacks is missing. This is the one thing they discovered in the shop. They have it on order, not sure if it has come in yet, but my RV is back in their shop to take care of a bunch of small issues.

I have put the slide-outs in and out a few times with no issues, so I assume it was level enough.

But what can happen when it is not all that level and the slide outs are used? Can it damage anything?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[steveblonde]

If the unit is level putting out the slides should be okay - however if your missi g hardware your putting a lot of strain on what is there. So - small slides small strain etc. I have 3 slides, my 2 large slides weight more than 1000lbs each im sure i would be very cautious. Not being level would create more weight on one point over another

 

[DonTom]

Not being level would create more weight on one point over another

Hopefully, my being perhaps not perfectly level helps compensate for the 100 lbs I added to one side (my added 300 AH lith battery and other stuff) instead of making it worse.. It's all installed in a slide-out, which includes the kitchen.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[steveblonde]

Hopefully, my being perhaps not perfectly level helps compensate for the 100 lbs I added to one side (my added 300 AH lith battery and other stuff) instead of making it worse.. It's all installed in a slide-out, which includes the kitchen.

-Don- Reno, NV

Hopefully thats what warranty is for -i wish you luck hopefully it all works out

 

[DonTom]

Hopefully thats what warranty is for

I can see a problem there. If I ever have a slide out problem, they can claim that extra weight I added caused the problem.

But that really translates to:

I need to remove that stuff before I try for a slide-out warranty claim and then I will blame them for not getting me the levelling cable in time.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I suppose it is conceivable that a badly out-of-level RV could over-stress the slideout motor or mechanism, but in my opinion all the cautions about leveling first are just a CYA intended to avoid the idiotic things that some people are prone to do. The four slide-equipped rigs I've owned since 1997 all had very robust mechanisms, two with Power Gear rack & pinion gearing, 1 Power Gear hydraulic, and one with a big worm gear. All driven by small, high torque motors that never hesitated under any load. I can't speak to some of the newer & cheaper mechanisms, e.g. cable systems or the Schwintek worm gear - maybe they are less capable. From the complaints I see, they do seem to break down more.

 

[Kirk]

But for whatever reason, the cable harness for the slide-outs is missing. This is the one thing they discovered in the shop. They have it on order, not sure if it has come in yet, but my RV is back in their shop to take care of a bunch of small issues.

I have put the slide-outs in and out a few times with no issues, so I assume it was level enough.

May I ask how you run the slides in or out when there isn't any harness for them?

 

[DonTom]

May I ask how you run the slides in or out when there isn't any harness for them?

I meant the harness to my levelling jacks. I just now edited my OP message to correct that.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Kirk]

I kind of suspected that....... As we get old that sort of thing happens..!

 

[Ray-IN]

I can see a problem there. If I ever have a slide out problem, they can claim that extra weight I added caused the problem.

But that really translates to:

I need to remove that stuff before I try for a slide-out warranty claim and then I will blame them for not getting me the levelling cable in time.

-Don- Reno, NV

FWIW, my 16' kitchen slide room has basement storage too. That slide is rated by Winnabago for 300# in the basement storage compartments.

 

[FunSteak]

Three slides on our coach. I never open them until level. I can actually hear the difference when operating them when not exactly level. They are quieter and smoother when the coach is spot on level. To me, that tells me things are not working as hard or under as much strain.

 

[Lou Schneider]

I have a single large great room slideout on my travel trailer. When it's open it pulls that side of the trailer down slightly even with the stabilizing jacks extended. So I mounted the external stick-on level to compensate for the tilt. When the slide is in, a level indication is actually slightly high on the slide's side then the trailer settles to level when the slide is extended.