2003 slide bladder problem

Topic: 2003 slide bladder problem (Read 2005 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #25 – October 23, 2013, 06:37:02 am

George, the red light is the indication for the hydraulic pump. Glad to hear everything is work and yes, I'm sure it was just a Texas (TC) thing you experienced at Buckhorn!

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #26 – October 23, 2013, 09:38:34 am

I was told to always level before extending the slides. I always park/brake/level/extend slides/turn off dash air/turn engine off after time for turbo charger to cool/hook up power/turn on A/C/ turn on TV/hook up water. DAN

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #27 – October 23, 2013, 09:40:33 am

Oh by the way will be at Buckhorn in Kerrville for Thanksgiving Feast on Thanksgiving. DAN

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #28 – September 03, 2015, 12:17:26 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – October 22, 2013, 11:21:50 pm

Sure glad we got the "self healing" option on our FT! Slide bladder problem... gone! Transfer switch problem.... gone! Amazing technology (LOL).

I realize this thread is a couple of years old, but can someone please tell me what the "self healing" option is?

Also, when the coach parked and not in use for an extended period of time what keeps the bladders inflated?
Does the auxiliary compressor still have power when the 12V coach power is shut off?

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #29 – September 03, 2015, 01:40:52 pm

Air for the slide seals comes from the S/O Seal Air Tank, which is pressurized be the 12 volt compressor. If you have a continuous leak in a slide seal bladder, this tank will bleed down. At that point all that keeps the seals inflated is the memory of the rubber and that may not be enough to keep contact all the way around. The new seals are shaped differently, they have a bit of a ridge along the center where it contacts the slide wall. You can see if there are air gaps around the seal pretty easily. If it is in storage, you can run some 2" blue painter's tape around for a temporary seal.
I don't know if the 12 volt compressor will work when the 12 volt switch in the step well is OFF. Maybe some one will clarify that. My guess is, it would still run. If you want to make sure it does NOT run, with the ignition key ON press Emergency Stop on the HWH touch panel, turn the ignition off and then remove the fuse to the compressor.
Dick

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #30 – September 03, 2015, 03:01:00 pm

Dick,
Thank you for your reply.
There is a new bladder (06-13) on the bedroom slide but it has leaked considerably prior to me taking delivery of
the coach last week. The previous owner hasn't used the coach for awhile, hence the sale of it. I'm wondering if the bladder
didn't deflate over a period of non-use and that's why it leaked. Close inspection reveals that the bladder is sealing all around
but I'm waiting for the floor to dry out before performing a water test. Also hoping that the Marine Grade plywood does not need replacement. The blue painter's tape sounds like a good idea when not using the rig.
There was some delamination repair performed under the slideout at the same time the new bladder was installed. The repair work
looks OK cosmetically but close inspection reveals that there is still some delam at the very bottom edges of the slide out opening.
Nothing serious, but there are a couple of places where the fiberglass skin needs to be glued back to the luan plywood. If not I
would think that water will get in between the layers and cause more delam. I am planning to take the coach to Texas and have Foretravel fix the delam problem professionally, unless someone here on the board can steer me to a repair facility that does high quality work closer to me here in East Tennessee. We have had 3 other motorhomes over the years and Tennesse RV failed to do
acceptable quality body/paint work for us on a Monaco Windsor 3 years ago, and apparently on this Foretravel.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #31 – September 03, 2015, 03:04:47 pm

Delam is main cause of bladder failure. Suggest you take to Xtreme paint in NAC. TN RV can be "spotty" in repair and bodywork.....

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #32 – September 03, 2015, 03:53:21 pm

MOT also does delam work depending upon the seriousness of the delam. If it will need to be repainted then Xtreme or FOT. I think MOT uses Xtreme for painting. FOT has done a couple of nice paint repair jobs for us and their quality was fine. Many here prefer Xtreme - We have not used them yet.

Re: Aux Compressor - We added a switch in the Hot line of the fuse and can turn it off when desired. We used to pull the fuse. The switch is easier.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #33 – September 03, 2015, 04:17:57 pm

Marine grade plywood pretty resistant to decay...but you never can tell till you open it up.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #34 – September 03, 2015, 04:18:01 pm

Xtreme in NAC is a better option for this work than FOT. At least that is where most on this forum would go.
FWIW I just had slide Delam fixed in June at Xtreme. Along with steps, outside TV and a few adjustments

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #35 – September 03, 2015, 05:11:27 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – September 03, 2015, 03:04:47 pm

Delam is main cause of bladder failure. Suggest you take to Xtreme paint in NAC. TN RV can be "spotty" in repair and bodywork.....

Tim,

Can you please explain to me why the delam causes bladder failure?

The delam isn't serious enough to be visible to the eye. It looks smooth but you can barely push in a blister in one spot that
may be 3" in diameter. It looks to me like Tennessee RV did not bond the laminates back together at the edge but merely swiped
some sealant around edge of the entire slide-out opening, with the exception of across the top. When I first checked it out I was able to push the edge of the fiberglass skin in a bit, distorting the sealant. I removed some of the sealant (1") and could see a very slight crack or reveal between the skin and luan in a couple of places. It looks like I could remove all the sealant, open the crack up asmuch as possible to get some adhesive inside and squeeze it back together. But that leaves a raw edge of luan visible. It would
look good finished with a strip of black plastic or rubber that is adhered with black RTV sealant maybe. I do not think that painting
the sidewall is necessary as the only work to be done is on the inside edge of the slideout opening. It's a really nice coach that deserves to be repaired properly.

Also, if we go out to Xtreme, FOT or MOT in NAC with our toad and dog what accommodations are there for us during our stay?
And even with an appointment we could be there upwards of a week maybe?

Is using a URL the only way to post pictures on this forum?

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #36 – September 03, 2015, 06:23:56 pm

If the delam causes too large a bulge then the fiberglass can rub on the bladder (even when it is deflated fully) as you take the slide in and out.
I was told by Rance at ctreme that delam is important to get taken care of because of this effect on the bladder.
The most common delam is seen in the 2000 and 2001 coaches like mine in the slide unit. This is caused because the factory used adhesive that actually melted the Styrofoam in the slide unit that fills the void between the structural members. Since the foam shrunk the adhesive couldn't hold the fiberglass to the foam. Rance just finished doing a number of this euro slide unit do you lamb repairs including mine.
I suggest you talk to James Stallins at Xtreme ( or Rance) and either of them can give you a good idea of what they have seen what it takes to fix it.
If you elect to get your machine worked on at Xtreme they have a no charge studio apartment that is available if you get work done at their facility. Extreme is dog friendly James and Jennifer have a nice small dog by the name of diesel.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #37 – September 03, 2015, 07:25:28 pm

Quote from: Michelle – September 03, 2015, 06:37:52 pm

It sounds like you're talking about the main coach body below one of the slides, is that correct?

Yes Michelle, the delam is taking place on the main coach body at the bottom of the slide-out opening.
The slide-out itself is fine.

At this point I have removed the carpet and padding inside the bedroom area, as well as the bottom and side trim pieces
on the slide. I have a fan blowing on the sub-floor and the AC is on. I'm trying to dry out the plywood to see what I've got
to replace. Initial indications are that I will probably have to replace the sub-floor in that area.

I will take some pictures and try to post them showing the sub-floor itself. It doesn't look factory, more like Tennessee RV
cobbled it together.

Great forum you guys have going here! Glad I found it.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #38 – September 03, 2015, 08:01:30 pm

When the slide is in (at least on our 2001) you can see the bladder pull away from the slide along the top and the bottom, yo can see daylight from inside. If you can slip a credit card between the slide and the bladder from the outside along the bottom then it is clear there. If the bladder has a hole on it and/or the vacuum is not retracting the bladder enough then when you open the slide it will usually squeek. We had a problem with ours not deflating all the way. A spray bottle with some water and soap eased the way until it got fixed and prevented damage to the seal.

John (Hatchet) posted this about a fix for a small tear in his bladder. He said today that it is still holding.

What did you do to your coach today IV

On our coach with the bkadder deflated there is about 3/8" clearance, a bil less in the corners so it has to be a significant delam to cause drag and snag on the bladder.

On the 02s and 03s, maybe more there is a metal strip on the bottom of the slide for rollers. I have seen some where that strip wasn't firmly secured to the bottom of the slide. that may be a cause for some bladder failures.

Keeping the top of the slide free of debris is another suggestion for long bladder life. Keeping the slide clean and waxed probably helps too.

Any delam around the edges of the slide opening should be repaired soon. Water is the root of almost all problems.

Roger

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #39 – September 03, 2015, 08:27:52 pm

Quote from: Michelle – September 03, 2015, 07:44:58 pm

Just thinking out loud here - what floor plan do you have? Trying to rule out something plumbing-related as the cause of the moisture, rather than the slide seal (unless it's obvious it's from the slide).

Not sure of floorplan. The closest I can come is the PBDS, the shower is in the same spot but catty-corner rather than squared-in,
and the sink is next to it. The shower is next to the bedroom wall and the slide-out but no one has been using the shower or the
coach for a while. I feel confident that the slide is leaking somehow, like the bladder deflated after sitting for a long period of time
and rain water got in. But, tomorrow I will research the possibility of bathroom water intrusion.

Thanks for the idea.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #40 – September 03, 2015, 08:31:54 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – September 03, 2015, 08:01:30 pm

Any delam around the edges of the slide opening should be repaired soon. Water is the root of almost all problems.

Roger

Water is the Achilles heel for all RV's.
They use water soluble adhesive to laminate the sidewalls on all I have ever owned.

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #41 – September 03, 2015, 08:49:52 pm

Think I missed it somewhere, what model and year coach to you have?

In another thread I began elsewhere, I suggest using a switch on the 12v aux compressor rather than pulling the fuse. I will report later the result of some troubleshooting MOT Rodgers and Risch are doing on my aux that seemed to be headed to failure and the work around system I and Rodger have devised. Dick S. and another also have one made, but I have been admonished that modifications need to keep in mind DOT regs.....more when MOT finishes. (I was going to tap into an air line to replace the aux compressor air supply if it fails, for I must have air in my third air tank to deflate the slide bladder and retract it to go home)

mike

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #42 – September 03, 2015, 11:56:21 pm

"John (Hatchet) posted this about a fix for a small tear in his bladder. He said today that it is still holding."

What did you do to your coach today IV

Thanks for pointing that out. I missed it 2 weeks ago. Just ordered a kit to carry "just in case"

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #43 – September 04, 2015, 09:07:00 am

Traveling Man,

If you go to the LaQuinta in Nac, ask for the suite. They have 1 suite with 2 rooms. We stayed there for 1 1/2 weeks in July with our 2 dogs. WELL worth the few extra bucks compared to the regular rooms.

Larry

Re: 2003 slide bladder problem

Reply #44 – September 04, 2015, 09:22:06 am

Ah, TM, a 2003. Not sure my slide operation the same. when get to Nac, give me a call and we can show you around if you like, mert some local owners.

There is another place in town also doing some paint work, some body wirk that some mistakingly think was sent to Xtreme. I think Xtreme is place to go but FOT does good work i hear and as for the third place i personally would not go there unless price was the total determinant, no other criteria mattered. Even that would concern me though.

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