By Cheri Sicard
RV slide outs—you either love them or hate them. Either way, if your RV has one or more slide outs, you’ve probably discovered already that they need maintenance and care, so much so that many RVers avoid them entirely (I am firmly in that camp).
In his video, certified RV inspector Duane, from the RV Inspection and Care YouTube channel, shares his top 4 RV slide out tips. Put Duane’s tips into practice and properly maintain and protect your RV’s slide outs, and avoid a lot of potentially expensive repairs.
(As a side note, the video title promises five essential slide out tips, but I only counted four. He skipped from No. 3 to No. 5.)
Duane begins by stressing that not all RV slide out systems operate in the same way. Yes, they all go in and they all go out, but the mechanisms that provide that motion can be very different.
That said, there are four common slide out systems in use in most of today’s RVs:
#1 Electric rack and pinion: A circular gear moves on top of a lateral gear, which in turn moves the slide room in and out. This reliable system is the most common type.
#2 Schwintek: Worm gears at each end of the slide move the room in and out. This one had a bit of a bad reputation, but Duane says it is reliable IF it is used on small slides. The problem comes when RV manufacturers use a Schwintek system on big, heavy slides, as they were not designed for that.
#3 Hydraulic: Uses a motor, a pump, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir to move the slide. This system IS ideal for large, heavy slide rooms.
#4 Cable: This system uses cables to move the slide room. As it’s a bit pricier, it’s not as common as the other types.
No matter what type of RV slide out system you have, to one degree or another, it will need some maintenance.
Here are Duane’s top 4 RV slide outs tips:
#1 Lubricate moving metal parts: You want to keep metal parts that touch each other moving smoothly, but Duane says it is important to use the right lubrication. Only use a dry lubricant, such as this one. If you don’t use a dry lubricant, dirt and debris will be attracted to that lubricant and it can end up gumming up the entire system.
#2 Lubricate slide seals often: The rubber seals that go around your slide rooms keep out dirt, debris, and especially water. Replacing seals is an extremely expensive proposition, so you will want to pay attention to this tip. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are the #1 factor when it comes to breaking down slide room seals. Therefore, it’s especially important to lubricate with a UV protectant. Duane recommends 303 Aerospace Protectant to keep those slide seals supple and properly operating.
#3 Keep slide seals flipped into place when slide is extended: Duane says this is one of the most common problems he sees as an RV inspector. When the seals are not fully extended along with the slide room, it’s an invitation for dirt, debris, and water to enter the coach. Make sure to keep your slide seals flipped out and nice and tight against the walls of your slide room. Watch the video as Duane shows what to look for and how to fix it, both manually and automatically.
#4 Listen to your slides: Duane says it is important to know your slide outs, how they operate, and the sounds they make. If you have heard loud sounds and/or grinding noises, it’s an immediate clue that something is wrong and you should stop what you are doing and go investigate before anything goes seriously wrong.
RELATED
- RV slide out service tips and tricks
- Sagging, loose cables are a silent threat to your RV’s slide-outs
- Preventing a leaking slide out motor from causing roof damage
- 7 of my favorite high-quality travel trailers without slides
RVT1221
A great article! We have a 2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD. When we put our our galley slide we noticed a clicking and popping sound. Someone told us that it was the pipes or water lines that have an elbow that allows it to come in and out. Have tried to see and locate these lines. We had our slide out serviced and they stated they found nothing wrong. Is it our imagination or could something be going on?
No doubt that Duane has some good knowledge of slides, however- the factory people and the manufacturer of my Power Gear slides both say that minimal lubrication is needed and if you are compelled to do so- lube only the rams and wipe off when done. The rollers are permanently lubed and should not be touched except to make sure the riding surfaces are clean. After 16 years of ownership I’ve found that this works.
Thank you for calling attention to another of Duane’s videos and summarizing it, Cheri! The common thread in so many articles is to routinely inspect and service RV components. Doing so dramatically reduces the likelihood of large, expensive repairs. Have a great week and safe travels!
Informative article. Thank you. We are VERY interested in the make and model of the RV pictured above with the L-Shaped couch. . After some research on the internet not finding anything. Appreciate any response..
Good article. Even though I have been RVing for over 40 yrs, It’s just now been in recent years that I am dealing with a slide out. Running a Schwintek system on a smaller slide. I was warned not to operate the slide when the trailer was out of level. The other things mentioned in the article, I will take to heart.