Manual Slide-Out Sag on 2000 Fleetwood Wilderness 5th Wheel: Repair Tips Needed

[Willyairmo]

Good day all. I have a 2000 824-5C camper. Since I've had it, the slide-out has always been wonky. It's a manual unit that I use a battery powered drill to actuate. Whenever the unit is anywhere in its travel, other than closed or open completely (seals compressed), it droops. When opening or closing the unit, I must support it about midway through it's droop, while using my drill gun to operate the screw. This has been a minor inconvenience while enjoying this camper, even though my wife and I have used it 26+ times/year, for the past 3 years. I've always known that one day I would need to rebuild the slide mechanism. Well, that time has arrived. The problem is I can find nothing in the way of schematics, pictures, or directions of any kind, to guide me on this journey. I am quite capable of handling the job, but I'd like to have some understanding of what's involved before I start, as opposed to forging ahead blindly. For instance, does the slide-out need to be removed from the camper? Parts availability? Anyone? Bueller?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Willyairmo

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I'm not familiar with your year/model of RV and I've never heard of a manual slide mechanism. Could you describe the mechanism and post a photo of whatever is visible, e.g. underneath?

Fleetwood has used Power Gear rack & pinion slides for decades but I don't think there is one designed for manual operation. In an emergency PG slides can be operated manually with a wrench or a drill, but the it requires squatting underneath and turning the motor shaft. If that's what you've been doing, fix or replace the motor so it works!

As for the droop, please explain further. Does the slide floor actually bend in the middle? Or do you just mean the slide tilts down? A downward tilt between full-out and full-in is normal but shouldn't be more than 2-4 inches.

Assuming your Wilderness does have a Power Gear electric slide, there are manuals for the various slide models on the Lippert-Power Gear website. See Power Gear ® Slide-Out System | Lippert Customer Care Center

 

[Willyairmo]

I appreciate the response Gary.

Specifically, my camper is a 2000 Fleetwood Wilderness 824-5C, a 25' 5th wheel trailer. It does not have a power slide-out mechanism. It has manual everything: landing gears, rear stabilizers, and Slide-out actuator. It came with a different crank handle for all three. For what it's worth, this model, though manufactured in Maryland, was built for, and sold to, the Canadian market, (amazing insulation )

The integrity of the slide-out is fine, i.e. floor, roof and walls are all solid. By 'droop', I mean that, as the unit starts to slide out of the camper, where the outer seal is no longer compressed against the outside of the slide-out opening, the whole unit begins to lean down, getting progressively worse, as the unit slides out, to the extent that it sags a good 3 to 4 inches. Whatever mechanism the slide-out rides on, is severely worn. My work-around has been to lean my back against the slide-out, grab the wheel well with my right hand and lift the whole unit up to about mid sag, and run the screw counter clockwise with a drill gun in my left hand. When the slide-out is completely extended, it is held in the proper orientation by compressing the inner seal against the inside of the opening. Retraction is performed reversing the procedure. Here's a pic of the mechanism.



To be clear, I am more than capable of repairing this mechanism. The problem is I'm old. The only thing that gives me more trouble than getting down, is getting back up. I'm just hoping to hear from someone that has specific experience with this job that could steer me toward the most efficient execution. For instance, 'remove the slide-out from the camper', or 'don't remove the slide-out from the camper. Even a listing for a replacement unit could prove invaluable. But, absent any decent service manuals for these things, or relevant insight based on experience, and I will simply have to pinch my nose and jump in. Not my first choice, but not my first time either. Once again, thanks in advance, for any relevant information.

Love, peace, and chicken grease,
Willyairmo

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

The problem is I'm old. The only thing that gives me more trouble than getting down, is getting back up.

An affliction I am quite familiar with!

I had a 1990 King of the Road 5W with a manual slide like that. I don't recall it sagging more than a few inches but it's been a lonnng time since those days. Surprised to see it still in use in a 2000 model, but there it is in yours.

Lippert (or rather their subsidiaries) made manual crank slide mechanisms and I know they sell the crank handles for them, so maybe they have some documentation on their support website (I didn't look).

Simple wear doesn't seem likely to me - that would surely take many thousands of cycles. I wonder if there is (was?) some sort of retainer rail along the side to control the sag? Maybe it has detached. What happens if you don't lift it up? Does it jam or...?

 

[Willyairmo]

Without lifting, it strains, dramatically. I've never used it without the assist.

Thanks for the parts supplier tip. I'll look into that. This is a well used camper. For the most part, this camper was well maintained, until it wasn't. So, while still very functional, she does have her foibles.

Thanks again.