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Topic: Air bladders for slides (Read 760 times) previous topic - next topic

Air bladders for slides

wife and i are looking to purchase
a FT mh. I read in several threads
about the slide bladders failing and
the cost is in the thousands.
 Is foretravel still using this design.
And if not what year did they discontinue..?
thx

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #1 –
It cost about 4 CB to have a slide seal replaced at FOT last year, FYI

Don't let a  Possible slide seal failure deter you from one of these fine machines. I know 2000-05 had them


Keith
The selected media item is not currently available.Keith & Jo
2003 U320T 4025 PBBS Designer series
Build 6203    Cummins 500hp
2000 U320 4010 WTFE / Build 5762 —Sold—
Motorcade #18070   
Pasadena, Texas
2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara-Sunset Orange pearl coat
Don't argue with a fool, people watching might not be able to tell the difference.

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #2 –
As far as I know it's still being used.

We've had that system for several years.  It's not trouble free but the excellent seal and the flush sides with the slide closed make it worth the occasional repair for us, especially considering the quality of the coach. 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #3 –
I've had my current U-320 12 years. The slide bladder was replaced when I got it and I had to replace this past year. Around $4,000 is about right. The newer versions are said to be more durable than the first one that I got when I bought the coach.

Drive a Foretravel and you will note no squeaks or rattles, the slide design being an important piece of that equation.

I always try to remind people that these older coaches require quite a bit of maintenance. Many of us choose to pay for maintenance on an older coach, rather than suffer monstrous depreciation on a newer coach. Also, many on this Forum slf maintain a great percentage or all of their coach, keeping costs down.

These are amazing coaches. And parts are in general readily available and the factory is still in business and supporting almost all the prior coaches (not so much on early gassers and early OshKosh chassis.

Don't forget you are maintaining a coach that was likely $275K - $600K when new, and all the systems are 10 - 25 years old.  It will be neither inexpensive nor trouble free. BUt it will likely still be the lowest total cost of ownership to have this class of quality and enjoyment when interest costs and depreciation are included in your analysis.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #4 –
I just had two bladders replaced on my 2006 Phoenix by MOT. They did a super job quickly and correctly. Both bladders were on the same side of the coach and it can only be assumed that that side had faced the sun longer. I am wondering if 303 protectant could be used to add some UV protection to the seal. As the other side seems to be in good shape I'm going to start using 303 just in case. By the way it cost 8 CB's but if I get another 14 years use I'll be happy.
2006 Phenix 442
2018 F150
Yellow Lab "Rascal"

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #5 –
I would give HWH a call and ask if they have a recommendation for a bladder protectant.  I use 303 on tire and air bags.

We have the original slide bladder in our 2001. We are the second owner and treat it with great care.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #6 –
The slide bladder system is still being used.  There have been some changes over the years, but expense to replace remains on the order of $2-3K per bladder.  It's a rubber part, and as with tires and other rubber things, it will age out.  One of our members took a look through forum posts and found the average lifespan to be 7-10 years, which is similar to the lifespan of tires.

It is not a DIY job.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #7 –
When the FT slides 1st came out (around 2000), we replaced a bunch of bladders. Was told the room was made a bit too big for the hole. Hence, HWH designed a smaller thinner bladder, we stopped seeing the issue. If that is true or not, I can't confirm.

Also, 1st gen slides, had HWH hydraulic hoses fail constantly at the fittings. We kept repairing them, but they finally stepped up, and replaced all the hoses under warranty, because HWH is a stand up company.

We are talking early 2000, and I would imagine all coaches have been upgraded by now.

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #8 –
Thank you all. We are looking at a 2010 nimbus. If the slide bladders
have not been replaced yet they would be about due correct?. We love
everything about this coach.
  If a bladder fails does the slide
still retract or are you stuck out on
blm land or in a campground??

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #9 –
We had frustration with an intermittent slide problem  on our previous coach. We always somehow got it in.  We had it to both Foretravel and to MOT with no success.  I finally booked an appointment one December with HWH in Moscow Iowa to have them look at it.  On the way I spent the night in a Loves parking in DeMoines where  the temperature was below zero with a strong north wind and blowing snow.  I left the generator running and the Aquahot kept the coach warm and comfortable.  The next morning in the sub zero temperature I gave the Aquahot engine loop a few minutes to do it's thing on the Cummins and it started up just like it thought we were  in Florida.  (I say that to emphasize how well the coach is designed.)

HWH spent all one day and part of another diagnosing my slide problems.  They charged me about $700 and then at their direction FOT refunded a $2,500 controller that FOT had installed.  They said the old one I had in they bay was fine after testing it.  We never had another minutes problem with the slide as long as we owned that coach. 

The slide design may expand your vocabulary at some point but I don't believe it will let you down.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.
 

Re: Air bladders for slides

Reply #10 –
Quote from: varmonter –
Thank you all. We are looking at a 2010 nimbus. If the slide bladders
have not been replaced yet they would be about due correct?. We love
everything about this coach.
  If a bladder fails does the slide
still retract or are you stuck out on
blm land or in a campground??

I am not sure they are due, with care they will last a long time.  Heat and sun may be their biggest problems.  Most do nothing until they need to. 

Keep the surfaces on the slide where the bladder makes contact clean and waxed (as much as you can get to anyway).  To the extent that it is possible visually check to confirm the bladders have retracted before extending or retracting the slides.  They should never squeal.  Use a water spray or maybe a mix of water and soap on the slide surface if the bladder is dragging to make it easier to slide if needed.

The bladder inflates to 10-15 lbs to make the seal.  When it deflates moving air makes a lower pressure (a partial vacuum) that helps retract it further. Fully retracted the bladder will be about 1/4" from the slide.  With no pressure and no vacuum the bladder may just contact the slide or be just clear of it.  You can retract or extend it. This is the time for a water spray.


Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN