Dear Dave,
My RV has two slideouts. The bed is enclosed; however, the living room is exposed. How often should the arm underneath be lubricated? —Michael, 2007 Terry 305RLDS by Fleetwood
Dear Michael,
Most slide room mechanisms do not require much maintenance or lubrication; however, it does depend on the type of mechanism. Fleetwood used the Power Gear system typically for the larger slide rooms and a Kwikee electric slide for the bed. That unit sits inside the bed pedestal with a single rail.
Power Gear Slideout maintenance
According to the Lippert Service Manual for Fleetwood slide mechanisms, this is most likely what the mechanisms look like. According to the manual, here is what they recommend for maintenance:
Your Power Gear Slideout system has been designed to require very little maintenance. To ensure the long life of your Slideout system, read and follow these few simple procedures:
When the room is out, visually inspect the inner slide rail assemblies. Check for excess buildup of dirt or foreign material. Remove any debris that may be present.
If the system squeaks or makes any noises, it is permissible to apply a coat of lightweight oil to the drive shaft and roller areas. Remove any excess oil so dirt and debris do not build up.
If you have any problems or questions consult your local authorized dealer or call us at 574-537-8900.
Years ago, the Power Gear technician recommended 3-IN-ONE® oil at the bearings of the gear.
Your rig should have a rod with gears underneath that ride on the gear. Even if it is slightly rusty, it is not necessary to lubricate or clean it. I know that some companies recommend spraying a lubricant such as CRC, but you have to completely wipe off all the excess, which is quite a task.
More items to check on slide mechanism
It is more important to make sure nothing is bent, the teeth are all in good condition on the bar and gear, and nothing is binding. You should also have a wiring harness hanging down that should be inspected to make sure it is not wearing or binding.
Another important inspection area is the rubber seals around the room. There should be a bulb type seal both inside and out that the room flange compresses to seal. This should be inspected and conditioned to keep it soft and reduce cracking when exposed to the harsh sun.
Read more from Dave here.
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Having owned camping units with and without slides, I will never again own a camper with slides (unless someone were to give me one, in which case I would immediately sell it). The only thing I can think of that would be worse for the longevity of a camper would be a retractable roof (which slideouts kind’a are).
But Sven…without the slide she would not have room to do her quilting. 🤷♂️
Our RV with 3 slides is used 6 months FT, 6 months stored. Once a year while in residence, I spray the slide mechanisms with a silicon lube during inspection. I inspect and treat all the rubber seals & rubber sweeps, top, bottom & sides (including those on doors & bays) with a rubber conditioner. I also inspect all the RVs joint seals and reseal as needed with the appropriate sealant.
I’ll guesstimate I spend about 15-20 hours a year spread across our 6 months residence for the proceeding and other structural preventive maintenance. I spend a lot more time than that on maintenance at our stix & brix house the other 6 months!
I lubricate the gear track, bearings, and the rollers every other month. The easier everything works means the motor has an easier time bringing the slides in and out.
Thank you, Dave! 🙂 I appreciate the reminder to inspect, inspect, and, when needed, lubricate. 🙂 Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂