Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 13, 2025 ...

Slide Adjustment [2001]

May 09, 2023, 04:56:51 pm

I just tried to pull my slide in, prior to us starting our big journey back to Maine, tomorrow.
When i got the 'yellow light ' I gave the bladder a visual, hit the retract button....nothing.
I had the engine running to help with air pressure. After a few tries, she moved, but was jammed in the upper right corner, looking out. I went down to the other end, and it had a bigger reveal of space at the top.
I had a buddy with me, took out a flat pry bar and protective rag, gave it a little nudge while pressing "retract" and she finally came in and pins engaged.
QUESTION: Is there an adjustment i can make to clear the area that binds, or do I need ot stop in Nac on my way home.
If there is a way to adjust, PLEASE be specific. My coach is a 2001 36 ft U 320 and has a pretty new bladder.
Thanks

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Re: Slide Adjustment

Reply #1 – May 09, 2023, 05:53:36 pm

Try bringing the coach back to ride height before retracting or extending the slide. If you're on uneven ground, the coach can twist while trying to get level and throw off the slide orrafice. There isn't much margin so it doesn't take much. I've seen it happen many times while boondocking.

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Re: Slide Adjustment

Reply #2 – May 11, 2023, 09:21:36 pm

Guess i should have said ' ....and was in travel mode...' along with engine running.
I STILL would like to know if there is an adjustment I can make, of do I need to go to NAC  and see Keith

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Re: Slide Adjustment

Reply #3 – May 13, 2023, 09:44:24 am

See Keith.  You may have other issues.  My slide became impossible to lock without a crowbar last year.  I had wood and steel rot in the floor under the slide arm mount...repaired at FOT in Dec.  Woody.

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Re: Slide Adjustment

Reply #4 – May 13, 2023, 11:15:12 am

Glenn;  my coach is a 2000 U320 and I was always told to make sure the coach is level, if not, level before you do anything,  engine running, deflat the bladder, visual, retract, inflat the bladder and visual again outside before you are ready to travel.  I don't suggest travel mode for the simple reason, the coach may not be level when you do that.  Hope this helps!

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Re: Slide Adjustment [2001]

Reply #5 – May 13, 2023, 11:27:57 am

Added coach year to topic title since 2001 and earlier are 1 mechanism, 2002 has another, 2003 and later (at least through 2007) yet another.

For a 2001 & 2000 coaches with slides, a search of the forum returns:

2001 U320 Slide Adjustment??

2001 Slide riding low

Slide "Shims"

Living room slide bladder DIY

LR Slide - 2000 U320


DIY OTR repair does not seem like a simple undertaking (unless you're Scott    )

Check the reveal around the slide with the coach leveled.  If it's not uniform (and especially if it appears to be binding at one side or corner) and you're certain you are truly leveled, I would suggest that since drag on the slide bladder can damage/rupture it, I would not use the slide and have someone in Nac look at it before it become a more costly repair. 

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Re: Slide Adjustment [2001]

Reply #6 – May 13, 2023, 02:41:04 pm

The reason I recommend NOT adjusting the slide without further inspection is that water had leaked into the front corner over the years.  MOT replaced the bladder in 2018 and did not notice the wood rot, or didn't think it was important.  They adjusted the slide so that the graphics were aligned and in 3 years it had sagged like in the pic.  I found the rotten wood flooring when changing carpet last summer.  Last year I could not retract my slide without assistance and kept the room in and locked until I got to FOT in Dec.  Here's a sample pic of what was left of the bare steel under that slide arm...the other was fine.  Ricky's team at FOT did a great and reasonably priced repair job in less than a week.  Nice to have my slide room back on command!

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