Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342 (Read 403 times) previous topic - next topic

Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

So last March picked this unit. The front drivers side slide out leaks to the inside when open. This air seal appears to be good, it hold pressure. I added gauges and currently have the pressure set ~14 psi. First step is I would like to remove the facade inside so I can see around the slide when it is open. How is that fastened? I am also concerned that the problem may be the top of the slide box itself. It seems to have depression and rainwater puddles near the center close to the coach when the slide is open.  So, what is the trick to get that facade trim off?

Thank you,
Dennis
 
Dennis Haynes
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
Build #6475
Motorcade #19148

Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #1 –
If yours is like mine (03 U320) the vertical facade is held on with Velcro strips as is the long horizontal piece. Pull thoes off and you will see the screws you will need to remove. The 2 vertical pieces come off as does the top piece by removing the appropriate screws. I made a jig to hold up one end of the overhead piece while removing the screws but two people work better. Hope this helps.
 What do you mean by " leaks to the inside"?
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #2 –
Quote from: d23haynes57 –
First step is I would like to remove the facade inside so I can see around the slide when it is open. How is that fastened?

So, what is the trick to get that facade trim off?


Can you post a photo of the slide surround - both from afar and close up?
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: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #3 –
Look around the outside of the slideout bladder.

 If it is not sealed from edge of the rubber to the fiberglass (silicone or better bead), water comes in under the slidoout bladder (or tiny gap in fiberglass itself) and gets inside. Can also cause delam of fiberglass under the slideout, especially if any water in there freezes.

Look for a very slight gap in outer fberglass layer right next to the bladder. Link at bottom has a pic that may explain better.

It's easier to inspect the bladder to fiberglass (and seal it) with slideout in, not out.

Seal the verticles and the bottom of outer bladder edge to fiberglass. This solved an issue with our bedroom carpet getting wet in rainstorms.

Found the thread: Wet floor bedroom slide area - raining 

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #4 –
Quote from: AC7880 –
Look around the outside of the slideout bladder.

 If it is not sealed from edge of the rubber to the fiberglass (silicone or better bead), water comes in under the slidoout bladder (or tiny gap in fiberglass itself) and gets inside. Can also cause delam of fiberglass under the slideout, especially if any water in there freezes.

Look for a very slight gap in outer fberglass layer right next to the bladder. Link at bottom has a pic that may explain better.

It's easier to inspect the bladder to fiberglass (and seal it) with slideout in, not out.

Seal the verticles and the bottom of outer bladder edge to fiberglass. This solved an issue with our bedroom carpet getting wet in rainstorms.

Found the thread: Wet floor bedroom slide area - raining

Dan, that's an excellent reminder of a maintenance item that needs to be checked periodically  ^.^d
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: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #5 –
It only leaks when the slide is open.
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtYpbGJBcyQBhK2TQ?e=PB5ADZ
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtXxNNdRler6xMaaw?e=b4PqzK
I would like to actually look at the bladder to top of the slide interface. I'm thinking that the top of the slide may have a defect. Also concerned that water puddles on top of the slide indicating a depression in the box itself.

Thank you for any help.
Dennis
Dennis Haynes
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
Build #6475
Motorcade #19148

Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #6 –
Those look similar to how our 2003 was done.  See some photos in this album:

The selected media item is not currently available.


After you gently remove the fabric inserts (they're fabric-wrapped thin MDF or lauan plywood, I don't recall which), you'll see A LOT of screws holding the top piece and the 2 vertical pieces on.  You can probably do the side pieces by yourself, but that long top piece is going to need a helper to support it.

Does your coach have slide toppers with squeegees?  I recall there were a couple of years in the late 2007-2010 era that did not, and had a water pooling issue.

ETA - yup, 2009 at least had the issue Rain and No Slide Toppers and other topics indicate 2007 didn't either.
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: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342 Thank You Michelle!

Reply #7 –
OK. So with the help you gave I pulled the top facade. There were only 5 screws holding that piece up! So anyway, with the slide topper lifted up and the facade removed I could see the middle of the slide box was not in contact with the seal when inflated. So for now, I removed the 2 lifting brackets and re drilled them to raise them about 3/16". Slide open with the seal deflated I now have a near perfect 1/8" gap along the top. The seal easily inflates and makes full contact. I filled a 5-gallon bucket with water, went up top and poured in on to the top of the slide out roof. It still puddled near the center. No water came inside. I swept the water off the roof and then deflated the seal and retracted it. The wiper missed the low part of the roof, so it remained wet once inside. Fix for another day. At least now I can open the slide in the rain with some confidence the rain will stay outside.

I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.

Thank you again for the help!
Dennis


Dennis Haynes
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
Build #6475
Motorcade #19148

Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #8 –
Quote from: d23haynes57 –
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.

I believe Zip Dee has a wash as well as a re-waterproofing solution they recommend.  Might be Aerospace 303 products.

ETA - straight from Zip Dee.  Retreat after any thorough cleaning or every 5 years with an application of 303 Fabric Guard  https://www.awningsbyzipdee.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sunbrella%C2%AE-Awning-Fabric-Cleaning-Instructions-and-Stain-Chart.pdf
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: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342

Reply #9 –
Quote from: d23haynes57 –
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.

Dennis,
Yours is a newer model than I have worked on.  But STRONG suggestion is to contact your awning manufacturer (may still be ZipDee) for exactly what waterproofing to use. On the older models with Sunbrella, they were quite specific about exactly what to  use to clean and what to use for waterproofing.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020