Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Preventive Maintenance  (Read 771 times) previous topic - next topic

Preventive Maintenance

After a friend with a 09 Nimbus told me he was facing over $30K in repairs at Xtreme because of water getting into his slide out openings I decided to call Xtreme to see what I could do to prevent that from happening to me.

He found out that FT did not re-fiberglass the opening after cutting. Looks like they just painted that part of the Foretravel "sandwich". Part of that sandwich is wood. If water penetrates it causes the wood, fiberglass etc to seperate.
 
I asked Xtreme what I could put on mine, since the integrity of my openings are still okay. They said use an oil based enamel paint.

First I cleaned the surface with soapy water and a toothbrush, rinsed and let dry. Next taped around the edges and then used a artist brush to apply the paint. Used a flat black color. Very pleased with the outcome and hopefully I am sealed.


'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #1 –
Probably a good idea to inspect annually now and repaint as needed.  Nice job. 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
Probably a good idea to inspect annually now and repaint as needed.  Nice job. 

Roger, that is what I was thinking also. I will definitely keep a close eye on it.
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #3 –
He found out that FT did not re-fiberglass the opening after cutting. Looks like they just painted that part of the Foretravel "sandwich". Part of that sandwich is wood. If water penetrates it causes the wood, fiberglass etc to seperate.
 

Is this how my 2003 was built, or only later years?
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #4 –
I have no idea of the years that were constructed in this manner.
Rance did inspection with slide in
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: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #5 –
Do not know the years but looking at mine you can see the painted wood part.

Take a flashlight and look. It will be obvious.
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
Is this how my 2003 was built, or only later years?

Inspect the openings with your slides in.  Our 2003 has a sealant applied all around the opening - Rance recommended we inspect it periodically and reseal if necessary in a manner similar to what Darrell used.
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: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Inspect the openings with your slides in.  Our 2003 has a sealant applied all around the opening - Rance recommended we inspect it periodically and reseal if necessary in a manner similar to what Darrell used.

Hey Michelle, thanks for the clarification to check with slides in. Also, when I say FT painted it, that is what it looks like but it probably is some sort of sealant. Mine was a light black in color (before I painted) and you can definitely see the wood grain thru the sealant.
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Darrell LeBeau –
Hey Michelle, thanks for the clarification to check with slides in. Also, when I say FT painted it, that is what it looks like but it probably is some sort of sealant. Mine was a light black in color (before I painted) and you can definitely see the wood grain thru the sealant.

Darrell,

Ours looks "thicker" than a painted sealant - more like a silicone or urethane caulking, also black in color.  I recall MOT commenting on it/inspecting it as well back in 2010 when we had our slide bladder replaced.

Michelle
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: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #9 –
Michelle, just curious how much was the slide bladder replacement? Why did you have to replace? How many years did the original one last? Thanks
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Darrell LeBeau –
Michelle, just curious how much was the slide bladder replacement?

I don't have the receipt handy, but I believe in 2010 it was approximately $1600-2000 per slide bladder, parts and labor.  It depended on which bladder it was.  Note this is for a 2003 and newer where the slide can be pushed a few inches into the coach.  Older models requiring slide removal will likely be more expensive.

Quote from: Darrell LeBeau –
Why did you have to replace?

We developed a leak due to a missing part that keeps the slide bladder from expanding too much  (said part was found in the space underneath the slide during bladder replacement, it had never been installed when the coach was built).  Emergency '03 slide bladder repair

Quote from: Darrell LeBeau –
How many years did the original one last?

8 years from original in service date, which was very good considering the situation that caused the failure.  We actually opted to have the non-failed bladder replaced at the same time as a preventative measure (since a few others with 2003's were starting to have leaks in that timeframe)

Note that in recent years, HWH has changed the slide bladder material/wall thickness and the newer ones are much more robust than our original 2003 ones.
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: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #11 –
Thanks, wonder which ones my 07 has?
'07 Phenix Double slide, Bunk beds, 42'
'14 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #12 –
Our 2001 slide bladder is still in good shape.  My estimate is 1500 or more cycles.  Lucky perhaps but then we are only a couple hundred miles from HWH.  If the newer ones are tougher then that is good news.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #13 –
On the subject of Nimbus sidewalls per the recent post.-

I had a 2011 Nimbus looked at by Xtreme for a friend while I was in NAC last week - per Rance:

  • All dark colored AND well insulated coaches will likely have trouble with Fiberglass blistering due to heat gain in sun. If you have a poorly insulated coach, apparently the heat is dissipated into the interior and less likely to have problems. The nimbus is at MOT and is a low mileage coach and is silver with minimal dark colors - no issues at all (Texas coach)
  • Rance also was up on the roof (no ladder, Greg put him up there and took him down with a fork lift......) no issues or seam problems
  • Rance did say that certain Nimbus years had a wall sandwich of fiberglass and then maybe 1/4 plywood - again, I didn't ask good enough questions. When the factory cut the hole for the slides it routed out the sidewall and treated the plywood end grains. If the end grain coating fails and is then NOT sealed against water intrusion, water will get in and cause the plywood to swell and delaminate from sidewall. I am not sure of the years or models of FT that are built in this fashion. IF the plywood is infiltrated, then damage can occur and repairs will be needed - Rance of course took out all the slides out of the coach in questions and rep[aired/fiberglassed the damaged areas and then they were repainted. I also heard the $30K number for that coach. Sounds like an ounce of prevention on these models is worth 50 pounds of cure.
  • The 2011 inspected by Xtreme was NOT affected, because at some point the sandwich replied the wood layer with aluminum - at least that is how I understood it from Rance.
Rance took time out of very busy schedule ( along with Greg) to do a no charge inspection of this coach for a perspective buyer. Great Guys and Great support - he looked at my coach too and pronounced it "clean" - room, sidewalls, bulkheads

We are lucky to have such talented and service minded people to support our coaches.
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: Preventive Maintenance

Reply #14 –
I too was invited to drop by with my coach for a free inspection at Xtreme.  While there, Rance did a under look, walk around, and roof walk.  He gave his report, and suggestions, all were minor.  He noted one of the LED turn lights they had installed in 08 had some small amount of water inside.  He said they have them in stock, and I offered to buy one.  He said, let me replace it now, when I asked how they were held in place.

He explained, how they are happy to help owners keep up with the small things.  That keeps the coaches going.  Then Xtreme wants us to come back for the big and important upgrades and more that they do.  While there looking at a older Foretravel just in for headlight upgrades, I looked at a brand new coach.  He walked me around the new, 45'er that was in to have all the slides repaired.  All the corner seams were breaking already at the metal to skin joints.  Then the gaps around the slides varied from less than my little finger's depth, to more than my thumb's width, on each end of all 4 slides.  The 3 piece roof was already a problem. But the use of only loose pink house insulation in the walls was said to not going to likely cause any dark color crazing to the filon skin panels.  Nice big coach, guess a nice price, you only get what you pay for.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)