I should've taken a picture, because I've never seen this problem on all my years on the forum. Friday morning, I turned the key, wait for light, check for daylight around the slide and started to retract the slide. It sounded unusual which caused me to stop. I was in for a shock: The bottom came in but the top stayed put. The slide was almost at a 45-degree angle.
I extended the slide back out, pulled the interior trim to see the top of the slide. The bladder was deflated and not a problem. The rubber trim on the top was barely touching and certainly not strong enough to prevent the slide from retracting. The top two locks were retracted too. Nothing was messing with top or side of the slide.
I called FOT for technical assistance. That yearly motorcade fee is worth it. I was told that there are no motors pulling the top in. The side runs on bottom-mounted rollers and there is only one hydraulic ram on each side.
Doing a search on this forum showed a hydraulic mechanism that sits on each side. I wish that there was a better picture.
Accessing the assembly will be my next challenge once the heat dies down.
It was time to head home so I was able to park my truck next the slide. Standing on the truck bed, I was able push the top of the slide to keep it perpendicular with the bottom while my wife retracted it. Once in, the two top pins engaged and the bladder inflated perfectly. For now, I'll be camping with the slide in.
I highly doubt it, but: Has anyone run into this issue and how hard was the fix?
This is the 01
That is very encouraging Scott. Thanks for the quick response. I am hoping that those set of rollers are all I need.
Hopefully It'll be a bigger project accessing rollers, than the actual fix itself.
So that was in my slide bladder seal replacement I'll add both links. Those plated keep the slide centered and rollers in the track. Non of it is going to be easy I fear.
Living room slide bladder DIY (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42225.0)
2000, 2001 slide delamination (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=44082.0)
2001 slide tipping roller mod (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42838.0)
I hear ya. I'll post pics once I start in on this project.
Thanks for the extra links Scott.