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Extending floor of slide

I would like to extend the floor of our slide, about 14" inches to allow us to reconfigure our dining booth to a bar facing the window. The floor will need to be extended to allow chairs to sit level. I have seen pictures of coaches that have this but haven't seen anything on exactly how they accomplished this. I have a plan on how I plan to do this, but would like to entertain other ideas. I have not been able to find anything using the search function on this forum, maybe user error?  Tom
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #1 –
Any that I've seen were built so that the bar was almost the depth of the slide minus maybe 8-10"s...I'd definitely slide back n fall off the stool if I tried sitting that way!
2000 Foretravel GV320 4010 #5717
"SuperDutyFiver" on most other boards

*** East coast based - literally "all over the east coast!"

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #2 –
My old coach had that done. THey made an aluminum framework. They then put a one inch think piece of plywood over it but made sure to do it in pieces in the back so you can access the slide parts
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #3 –
We put theater seats in our coach that extend past the slide and put casters to support them near the outer edge of the part that extends. If you put casters under your slide floor extension in a similar way they would bear some of the weight, meaning you wouldn't need to make the slide floor extension as beefy and would have less stress on the slide itself.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John S –
My old coach had that done. THey made an aluminum framework. They then put a one inch think piece of plywood over it but made sure to do it in pieces in the back so you can access the slide parts

Since replacing the slide bladders in the OP's 2004 is done by pushing the slide in, making the floor extension easily removable is wise advice.  You need to make sure there is no interference with fixed objects if the slide is pushed in up to 12" or so.

I would be somewhat concerned about being able to clean/retrieve debris from under an extension.  A design allowing easy removal would also help here (pet food, dropped screw, etc.)
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: Extending floor of slide

Reply #5 –
I think I would be most concerned about what an extension would do to walking past or over it.  Would you have to step up and down each time you walked through the coach?

I dislike our dinette seats, as if I am sitting down Willie cannot put her feet as we sit across from each other.  And vice versa if she is sitting down.  And I know you are thinking I must have size 12s, but only 8.5 and Willie's are smaller.
Herb and Willie
Escapees 90802
2014 IH-45 Build 6581
2002 U320 40' AGDS Build 6021 Sold
1999 U320 36' No Slides Sold
2007 Monaco Dynasty Diamond IV Sold
2005 Discovery 39 Sold
1986 20' Wilderness TT,  Died a natural death after floods, etc.
Walldog's Journeys
And Willie Said

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #6 –
We made ours so you just stepped on it as you walked by. It is bolted on so it can be removed though,it is a pain
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #7 –
Great responses, good points to consider as well. The extension will be 14" wide. There will be 14" between the extension and the cabinet with the slide in. Should give plenty of room to replace slide seal and to sneak past when traveling. I think I am going to weld a frame of square tubing. Attach that to the leading edge of the slide. Put rollers on the front, to support weight when sitting or standing on it. Cover with plywood then put the same glue down luxury vinyl planks as the rest of the coach. The problem Herb described is what we are experiencing.  We also saw what Bill and Marsha did in their non slide coach. We wanted something similar. Here are some pictures to give the general idea.
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #8 –
I started extending the slide floor of coaches about 20 years ago. The trouble with the extension is you create a fulcrum at the edge. If you step on it, it will crack. Once the wood has cracked, there is no repairing it. I have added wood under that and some clients have asked for wooden blocks covered in felt that they can manually place under there with the slide extended. Plus- if you extend the floor too much, it may impact your cabinets when the slide is retracted.

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #9 –
Ernie I really appreciate you knowledge and vast experience in all things related to flooring. My informal at this point plan is to weld a 1 1/2" probably 14 gauge square tube frame the size of the the extension.  I would then attach the frame I built to the edge of the slide with fairly large self tapping screws. The opposite side ( the end toward the center of the coach) I would in stall 2 rollers to support any weight at the end of the slide. I'm not an engineer but if both ends are supported, it seems to me like it does away with fulcrum. I may be missing something.  The dimensions of the extension is approximately 14" x 72". Before adding the extension there is 28" of space between the edge of the slide and the cabinet, with the slide in. That will leave 14" with the extension on.
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #10 –
Updated dated drawing
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #11 –
Quote from: T and M Long –
Ernie I really appreciate you knowledge and vast experience in all things related to flooring. My informal at this point plan is to weld a 1 1/2" probably 14 gauge square tube frame the size of the the extension.  I would then attach the frame I built to the edge of the slide with fairly large self tapping screws. The opposite side ( the end toward the center of the coach) I would in stall 2 rollers to support any weight at the end of the slide. I'm not an engineer but if both ends are supported, it seems to me like it does away with fulcrum. I may be missing something.  The dimensions of the extension is approximately 14" x 72". Before adding the extension there is 28" of space between the edge of the slide and the cabinet, with the slide in. That will leave 14" with the extension on.

If it were me, I would install four rollers, two at the end of the extension where you plan to install them and two more as close as possible to the point where the extension attaches to the slide. That way all the weight on the extension would be supported by the rollers, and there would be no possibility of the weight breaking the connection between the extension and the slide. I am not an engineer either, but I learned long ago that it doesn't hurt to add more support but it can hurt a lot if you don't put enough.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #12 –
So on my 320 the table is mounted on the slide and is cantilevered out. I see no reason you couldnt do that for bar chairs the same way, although they would not be movable. Could rotate. Nevada RVR put his table on a floor mounted slide to accommodate your knees to slide behind making it more accessible from the front.
Scott

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #13 –
I value everyone's ideas and comments. I feel this forum is an unbelievable wealth of knowledge and experience. For that I am thankful. I am pressing on with my floor extension on the slide. Here are some pictures of my progress. This frame will be through bolted to the 2 1/2" rectangle tubing on the slide, in four places with self locking nuts on the backside. I am going to put 2 rollers on the front/bottom. Will be able to service or replace from the front. The extension will be "permanently"mounted to the slide.
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #14 –
A thought to turn the rollers 180 degrees so they won't be "TOE STUBBERS"?
Future Foretravel Owners
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Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #15 –
Only downside I can think of is if Little Rock's get between rollers and floor they will leave their skid mark.
Looks very robust👍👍
Scott
 

Re: Extending floor of slide

Reply #16 –
Yes my thoughts exactly about small rocks or debris getting under rollers could scuff the floor. Will have to be diligent and keep an eye out before moving slide. As far as the rollers being toe stubbers they will be recessed about 2" back ( the picture they were just laying on the floor ).
Tom and Michelle 2004 U270 36WTFS