Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach  (Read 1460 times) previous topic - next topic

Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

I had the bedroom slide-out bladder replaced at Oregon MotorCoach in Eugene Oregon Thurs/Friday. It failed in the "normal" location at bottom middle by the slot and guide.

Oregon Motorcoach breakdown:
Parts:
 bladder (60") $793
adhesive tape for seal $74.10
air manifold: $930
------------
with 10% Motorcade discount $1617.39 for parts,  shop supplies $25.30, shipping $36.18.
Labor 11 hours at $115 = $1265.
Out the door $2943.87
One night in motel as it took more than one day @ $104 (with pets rate)

----------------------------------

We had the living room bladder replaced at OTM in Nac back in Feb 2017.  (see thread here: "Normal service" and Slide Bladder replacement, Old Town MotorCoach Nac )

OTM back in Feb 2017 (with Motorcade discount)
For the living room slide (160" wide). All prices rounded up/down to even $.
Parts:
Bladder $1628
Air manifold (now required by HWH with new bladders) $832
Vacuum y modifier for manifold $30
double side tape: $62
New slot cover (since ours was mis-applied upon build and caused this failure) $35 (if yours is correct not needed)
Primer for bladder replacement: $30
3/8: air couplings:, 3 each: $36 for all three

Labor for slide bladder only: 12.5 man hours @ $90 per hour: $1125
 $3743 give or take $2.00-$3.00  in the rounding.  Add $35 if your slot cover bottom middle at bottom of slide is not correctly placed.
Remember to add 8.25% tax rate on top.  Should come out to about $4050 with taxes.

-------------

History: The coach is a 2003, and previous owner replaced both bladders in 2010 (only the bedroom bladder had failed, but they replaced both) . So 2003 to 2010 = 7 years, and now 7 years later both replaced again.  Should be good until 2024.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #1 –
Thanks for the write up, Dan!

I know the new bladders require less pressure than the old ones.  One of the regulators in our coach was leaking badly and the only one available from HWH was the newer 12.5 PSI model instead of the approx.16 PSI OEM regulator.  The new regulator was $66 plus freight IIRC.

Is it possible to only replace the air pressure regulator instead of the entire manifold? 
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Mark Duckworth –


Is it possible to only replace the air pressure regulator instead of the entire manifold? 


To the best of my knowledge, HWH requires the entire air manifold to be replaced with a new bladder. Supposedly operates differently.  I just hope they don't change air manifolds again in the future as we know have both of the new type.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #3 –
Wondering if the reduced air pressure requirement indicates a more flexible, possibly thinner bladder? May help it retract to give more clearance when deflated.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #4 –
New Bladder is thicker in material... Pressure rested at 16lb if I remember correctly... Manifold has a vacuum module to relieve pressure. New manifold is required for warranty of new bladder.

Manifold can be turned up to 22lb again if I remember but if you turn it up to high it will cave the fiberglass on the slide and cause cracks or total failure. SO if the bladder is not sealing properly the chances are the slide is out of alignment or the bladder is bad

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #5 –
I thought the new manifold is required with a new bladder as the bladder defaults to the deflated position without a vacuum, unlike the older bladders that require the vacuum to deflate.

Dan - Full timing,  do you have a part number for the slot covers?

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –


Dan - Full timing,  do you have a part number for the slot covers?


I don't have the part number, but FOT calls it "Slideout Slot Cover".  $35.13 list, $32.53 w Motorcade discount.  Foretravel parts: 1-800-955-6226 or parts.texas@foretravel.com . 
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
I thought the new manifold is required with a new bladder as the bladder defaults to the deflated position without a vacuum, unlike the older bladders that require the vacuum to deflate.

Dan - Full timing,  do you have a part number for the slot covers?
Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing something about the change you mention.
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #8 –
Quote from: DavidS –
New Bladder is thicker in material...

Thicker material, plus more robust seaming, could potentially address the issue that we (as the previous owners of Dan's coach) and Dan experienced with the bladders failing at the seam right at the slot at the bottom center of the slide.

I have my fingers crossed that Dan and Sandy find more fun things to do in 2024 than slide bladders ;)
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: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #9 –
Looking like I will have to take our coach to Eugene in the near future to replace both windshields, & to repair the hyd oil leak on the slide (hopefully will just be a bad line/fitting, not a blown cylinder)... then IF I have enough coach bucks left may try once again to address the HWH leveling issues. (levels by dumping air but will not start the 12v pump to add air to the leveling circuit.(pump does maintain pressure in the front/rear tanks like it should)
'02 40' U320t  4010WTFS Build 6036 1 slide
Motorcade # 17841
SKP 151920
Retired truck driver
 5 million miler
Still have itchy feet for travel

Re: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #10 –
FWIW, about 6 years ago both my hydraulic rams leaking and HWH was 4 weeks out on replacement parts @ $500+ ea.
MOT took out rams, took to shop virtually next door that rebuilds hydraulics for oil patch and agriculture. $100 ea to rebuild in 1 day, back in and working perfect ever since
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: Replaced bedroom slideout bladder at Oregon MotorCoach

Reply #11 –
Quote from: AC7880 –

I don't have the part number, but FOT calls it "Slideout Slot Cover".  $35.13 list, $32.53 w Motorcade discount.  Foretravel parts: 1-800-955-6226 or parts.texas@foretravel.com . 

The HWH part number is;  RAP93382
$32.53 plus $18.21 UPS from FOT.  Emailed with HWH numerous times only to have them tell me that they didn't know
what I was talking about, even though I sent them pictures.  Having the part number might have helped but I didn't know
what it was until I looked at the FOT receipt.

Boy, that UPS is a killer!