()Been waxing our new to us Foretravel this weekend and rubber residue from the bladders is on the edge of the slides. My thinking it is a result of the previous owner who lives in Texas and like Florida were we live the summer heat and infrequent slide operation is the cause.
Just read on the Dash Cleaner thread were Protect All Products was recommended. On the site they sell a Slide-Out Rubber Seal Treatment. Wondering if anyone puts any type of treatment on the bladders as preventive maintenance?
Hi Gary,
Sorry I can't help specifically with your problem, but I had good results with Was Wax All
for spot cleaning my coach.
Works well without water. Your coach is going to sparkle with that new wax job.
Hope that helps. Jim
I was told by HWH, that that is when the bladder is starting to fail. It does not mean that it is failing right then but leaving behind parts of rubber is not good and it will need to be replaced at some time. I know I had mine replaced when I had to pull my slides a few years ago and I had those marks but now I do not have any with the new bladders.
I certainly hope it is not failing. Mine was replaced by HWH about 18 months ago and I usually have to clean off a little of those black marks anytime I wash the coach.
Rich
I wonder if you need to put wax not he slide. I replaced mine a couple years ago and I no longer have the little black marks. I also cleaned them off and waxed the area.
I do wax it. The marks do clean off fairly easily.
Rich
The previous owner took great care of the coach. I'm not even sure why I'm waxing it because the paint/clear coat looks as good as new. The rubber residue is minimal and comes right off.
I'm hoping it is more related to Texas heat and the slides being closed over an extended period of time. My concern and question is if the material the bladders are made of dries out from heat and age. If so it just seems some sort of rubber treatment like silicone applied periodically would be a way to extend the life.
I sent an email to HWH today asking what if anything can be done to prevent the rubber from leaving a residue and possibly at the same time allowing the bladders to have less friction when operated. I'll report back on what they say.
Gary
I too get those black marks. I just wax them off every once in a while.
Will be interesting to here what HWH has to say about it.
Engineering group at HWH said it is not uncommon to see rubber residue from air seals. As far as using any type of treatment on the bladders, they said DO NOT spray anything on the bladders. If you want to avoid the marks frequent use is the answer.
They said the air seals should be fine, and if they should fail it will not be due to heat or anything like that, it would almost have to be punctured like a tire.
Main thing do not use anything on the seals, they said some chemicals do not mix well with the rubber
Hopefully this information helps some.
Gary
Thanks Gary that is good to know. If the black marks indicated that the seals were starting to fail then that would mean that mine have been starting to fail for 3+ years. On the flip side I do believe that the ravages of time will eventually win - hopefully, just not too soon.
I know that I replaced mine and the black marks stopped and have not been there love the last three years. I had them prior to replacing the bladder.
Smear a very light film of some Dow Corning #4 silicone paste on the rubber.
Good luck,
talcum powder