Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures  (Read 410 times) previous topic - next topic

2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Asking for a friend whose slide won't come in. He's pretty sure it's an air leak between the manifold shutoff valve and the bladder but can only hear air when the bladder valve is open.
 His question is does he have a hand winch like the HWH manual shows or is that for older models?
 Also, are the procedures the same for both 2003s and 2004s?
 He just wants to put the slide in so they can get to Bigfork, Mo. tomorrow. TIA!
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #1 –
IF he doesn't mind risking the slide bladder, he can fake the controls into thinking the bladder has been fully deflated. 

Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

If there's a large enough leak in the slide bladder or line than he can't get it to pull vacuum and get the solid light to retract the slide, he'll have to move the slide with a potentially partially-inflated bladder.  I'd consider closing the bladder valve and letting the slide bladder deflate naturally as much as possible (a few hours or overnight if there's no risk of rain), then clamping the line to the bladder and opening the valve, letting the system try to pull vacuum on what line it has.  Then he should be able to achieve solid light and move the slide, close the valve, and unclamp the line.

Note the risk that if the bladder isn't deflated, there will be some drag on it while moving the slide and he does risk tearing it.  This applies whether he manually finds a way to retract the slide or fakes out the controls to do it.

Backer rod and low-tack duct tape will seal the gap around the slide well enough to drive, even if it rains.

ETA - if he has the OEM black plastic-handled valves, the valves themselves are known to leak and many have swapped them out with quarter-turn air line ball valves (air compressor/tool department) from Lowes/Home Depot.
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: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #2 –
Thanks Michelle!  He ended up calling FOT and the tech walked him through his problem and it turned out to be a solenoid that he jumpered to allow him to bring in the slide. I'm not too sure exactly what he actually did but it worked so all is well. Turned out to be an electrical problem and not an air problem.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #3 –
Quote from: rbark –
He ended up calling FOT and the tech walked him through his problem and it turned out to be a solenoid that he jumpered to allow him to bring in the slide. I'm not too sure exactly what he actually did but it worked so all is well. Turned out to be an electrical problem and not an air problem.

Would be good to get the details on which solenoid was jumpered - it will surely help someone else in the future.  That and the exact symptoms he had - blinking light?  no light?  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: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #4 –
Yeah slide issues.... I could not get a solid yellow light for the slides today. I was trying to extend mine. When I turned key on the yellow light would start blinking and just continue to do so. After reading thru my manual again, I couldn't figure out what was going on. Called HWH and got put on a call back list. Called a friend in Las Vegas and he starting reaching out for help also. Called  Keith Risch and after about 3 minutes of FaceTime on my phone, figured out that my HWH compressor was not starting. He led me to the resettable breaker panel in the bay next to my compressor and the little pop out on the breaker was out and had tripped. Pressed in and the compressor started. It ran a couple minutes and shut off, as it should, and now I could get a solid yellow light and work my slides. If it continues to trip it will need to be determined why, but so far so good. Keith Risch is a good resource and a great human being. Said I owed him a cup of coffee next time I was in town...
Keith and Dawn Hudson #18766
Current- 1999 U295 DFGE 40ft. - Build #5405
Coach Name: 4BUS4US
Previous- 2008 Nimbus CE338: 40th Anniversary Edition- Build #6486. 
Toad: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

 "I know something about a lot of things..a lot about something's..and everything about nothing "

Re: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #5 –
Michelle, I'll try and get a better description of what exactly he did and to what tomorrow. He's not mechanically inclined so his wording on the components are not what I would say.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel
 

Re: 2004 U270 emergency slide retract procedures

Reply #6 –
Ok, got some more info on my friends issue with his slide not retracting.
 The Foretravel tech had him go through the steps to see if he had an air leak in the bladder or the air line from the manifold to the bladder and everything was ok. Next step was to unplug the vacuum pressure switch attached to the manifold ( left hand side as you are looking at it). Make a short jumper wire and with the 12VDC pump on have someone operate the slide control key switch as you put the jumper wire on the disconnected plug. His slide came in and I assume when he gets his new switch and installs it, it will be fine. I took a picture of mine and the only thing I see different is my switch has 2 orange lines while his has a red and a black line. Also I don't know what his part number is but you can see mine in the picture.
 And yes, he did have a blinking yellow light but would never go to a solid light.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel