By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
What’s the best product to use for preventive maintenance on the rubber seal outside the RV’s slide room? Would Vaseline be good, or maybe lithium grease? —Robert, 2022 Winnebago Voyage
Dear Robert,
I would not recommend Vaseline as it would be a mess not only on the seal but the side of the slide room. Lithium grease is designed for lubrication and as a rust inhibitor. It would not condition the rubber seal, and the white type would be just as messy as Vaseline.
The rubber seal on the perimeter of the slide room typically has a bulb on the inside and outside that is compressed to seal out wind and moisture. Some have an additional flap that will wipe or “squeegee” the side of the slide room as it comes in. The main concern is to keep this seal soft and pliable so it will actually compress and do its job.
Extended exposure to the sun will dry the rubber out and create weather-checking or cracks, so it is important to treat it periodically. There are several products on the market and with RV marketing being so popular, dozens more are crawling out of the woodwork!
Products I recommend as RV slide room seal protectants
The goal is to condition the rubber seal with UV protection. The oldest product that I know of is 303 Protectant. It has been around since I was at Winnebago back in 1983!
303 Protectant has been proven to protect against UV degradation and is not greasy. Simply spray it on and wipe it off. The recommended application will be different depending on the exposure of the seal to the elements. I typically apply it once a month during the RVing season.
Another product that I have used is ProtectAll All Surface Cleaner & Wax that has carnauba wax and is a good UV protection product, as well. Apply it the same way as the 303 Protectant.
It seems like everyone has a dedicated “slide room” seal spray and the shelves at RV supply locations are full of them. However, I have tried these two and they perform very well.
You most likely don’t need to condition the inside portion of the seal very often as it is not exposed to the harsh rays of the sun. But conditioning it a couple of times each year would not hurt.
Don’t forget the top and bottom seal, as well, especially the top if it does not have an awning cover because, you know, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
While you are applying the conditioner, make sure you visually check the mechanism as well as the top of the unit for rust and debris. You can easily do this with a selfie stick and your cellphone.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
How do I clean my slide room seals and topper on a permanently parked RV?
Dear Dave,
I know this is not a typical pull-type RV; however, I have two questions related to the slides. The toppers on the slides are really dirty from sitting in a park. Also, the seals along the sides are black in some areas even though they are supposed to be white! My question is: What product is best to clean them? The second part of this is that one topper is loose and rain pools on it. How can they be tightened properly? It looks like the same mechanism as on our 2008 Lexington motorhome slide. Any help would be appreciated. —Dave, 2010 Hampton
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303 is also very good to use on any rubber parts, window and door seals and even the black frames.
I also use it on my tires instead of those products that make the tires shine. They do not prevent UV damage and actually degrade the rubber. You can see it when you wash the tires. The soap foam turns a brown color. The 303 brings back the nice black look without the shine.
Thank you, Dave ! 🙂 We also use 303 Protectant on our seals. Thank you for the suggestions and reminder! Have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Baby powder is also recommended. I find it works well, doesn’t attract dirt, and eliminates the “squeaking” when slides come in & go out.