If you have questions, we have answers! Join us LIVE every Wednesday (that’s today!) at 4 p.m. PST (7 p.m. EST) for Talkin’ RV Tech. Here is an excerpt from one of our recent shows where one of our viewers wanted to know when he should release his RV slide-out button.
Question: When extending or retracting slide-outs, when should I release the button? I usually count three seconds after the slides are fully extended or retracted before releasing the button. Am I damaging the hydraulic motor holding for that long?
Answer: Unfortunately, there is not just one answer to this question. There are several different slide-out systems and they all function differently. For the most part, hydraulic slide-out systems should be extended or retracted 95 percent of the way and then “bumped” the rest of the way back in or out to rest into place.
On the contrary, if you have a Schwintek slide-out system, you will want to hold the button until the room comes out and the motor stops.
Do you need more information on your slide-out system? I have linked several resources for you. They can help you identify the slide-out system you have as well as provide you with information regarding proper use and maintenance required for your system:
We hope you join in on the conversation—we’d love to chat with you! Join us live TODAY at 4 p.m. PST (7 p.m. EST) for Talkin’ RV Tech. You can join us on any of the YouTube or Facebook destinations linked below. We hope to see you there!
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Dustin owns and operates California RV Specialists, an independent RV repair shop located in Lodi, CA. He thrives on sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of RV repair and maintenance with his team, customers, and virtual friends.
Be sure to check out his YouTube channel where he shares what’s going on in the shop and the product offerings in the store. Dustin is also very active on Facebook. Join his group, RV Repairs and Tips – What’s in the shop!
Dustin proudly operates the business alongside his wife, Ashley; but the true pair that run the show are their Boston Terriers, Arvie and Hitch.
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Thank you, Justin!
Not a very informative article….”read the owners manual”.
We press the switch and let go. On front slide get a recorded voice that says to make sure every thing is clear, then the slide comes out. Same going in. Bedroom slide has no recorded voice, but same out and in, press button, let go. We have Buffalo electric motors on our 2002 Newmar Dutchstar. Glad we don’t have hydraulic.
The “bump” isn’t possible for our hydrologic kitchen slide. It is on the same circuit as our living room slide so they both extend/retract on the same switch – one slightly before the other, so that the kitchen slide seats several seconds before the living room slide.
We just wait for the living room slide to rest flush before letting go.
But it must not really matter since the other side has been seated in place with button pressed.
Schwintek is definitely a different matter. Never stop during the process and hold until you know it has fully extended or retracted.