Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

Slide out operation

June 22, 2018, 10:50:00 am

I am a new owner of a Foretravel 2003 U320 38' tag axle.  I'm sure this has been discussed many times but here I go..

I attempted to close the bedroom slide ....
turn key on unit and yellow light would not stop blinking so that I could follow steps to retract. Engine was on.

Please explain what I do when this happens .... in a step 1.2.3. Fashion.

I feel sure this is operator.  Thank you so much....

Susan Wright
SEW
2003 Foretravel U320 38'

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #1 – June 22, 2018, 11:40:22 am

Did you re-level before attempting to bring the slide in? That's always a first step for us.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #2 – June 22, 2018, 12:02:28 pm

So SEW,  your coach has a switch on the panel to the left of the driver's seat for the compressor, it should be on.  Does your instructions say that the yellow light will be steady and not blinking when the bladder is deflated?  The small compressor needs to be on and you have to have air pressure in the smaller HWH tank to deflate the bladder.  The HWH on your coach is slightly different from my 2001.  Your light should go to ready to retract or extend when the HWH system senses sufficient vacuum. 

Not enough air in the HWH air tank or a leak in one of the air lines or in the bladder itself can lead to insufficient deflation.

Can you see daylight around the edges of the slide?  The bladder should retract about 1/4".  There are ways to bypass this condition, I will let someone with your exact system let you know what they are.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #3 – June 22, 2018, 12:31:41 pm

Mine has an over ride switch. not sure if yours does to get it in in case of an emergency

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #4 – June 22, 2018, 12:45:10 pm

HWH Emergency Retract Room Procedures
On my 03 switch to left of driver labeled "air tank" only opens small compressor discharge to main tank, so better you leave it off so slide tank fills and allows vacuum operation . You might have a power switch next to compressor in lower compartment, make sure that is on. Not sure if it will help but you have a hwh reset switch, to the left of driver also. Otherwise follow troubleshooting on beamalarm sites. There can be many reasons that prevent the yellow light from going to solid state. If front slide comes in okay, this indicates air system is probably okay, but you can open outboard tank drain in front of drivers front wheel, This should start you compressor. Let it build up and shut off, then shut off engine and listen for leaks in rear slide seal and in compressor compartment.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #5 – June 22, 2018, 01:09:04 pm

Susan..I believe the system in the 03 is the same as 05 and if it is possibly the slide vacuum switch is bad.  If that is the case as long as the bladder deflates you can disconnect the switch and jump around it and the slide should operate, just make sure if you do this the bladder is deflated.  If it operates with the jumper your switch is bad and a new switch will cost around $60.00.

First try turning the switch off after the yellow light blinks approximately 20 times and count to 5 and turn it back on and wait to see if the light goes solid.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #6 – June 22, 2018, 01:30:15 pm

Roger I think we have the same system. Just for reference where exactly is the bypass solenoid located?

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #7 – June 22, 2018, 03:19:37 pm

Hddf, the 99-01 are different from the later models.  In my 2001 on the ceiling of the big bay on the driver's side there is a silver box about the size of a cake pan.  The cover has six screws (which are easily lost, don't do that) and then if I recall in the box in the rear outside corner there is a switch.  One way enables the transmission lockout (normal) the otherway bypasses the transmission lockout.  So if anything malfunctions, a pin doesn't lock or the sensor thinks it didn't or it doen't think the slide is in the coach will not go into gear.  Flip the switch, and this gets overridden.

I was having a problem with a sensor somI had to flip this switch every once in a while. I cut out the corner of the cover so it was easier to get at.  Covered the hole with duct tape.

In the 99-01slides the yellow light just comes on after about 40 seconds.  It has no vacuum sensors or anything to actually determine if the bladder deflated.  It is entirely up to you to visually check going out and coming in that the bladder is clear of the slide.  This is pretty easy to do ar the upper corners.  You should never hear any squealing coing out or coming in.  Dragging a bladder will cause it to fail pretty soon.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #8 – June 23, 2018, 06:37:59 am

Susan, on our same coach if the excess slope light is on the slide will not work. Just put foot on break turn ingnition on release air break, put air break back on turn ingnition off then work slide.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #9 – June 23, 2018, 07:29:34 am

Thanks everyone.... got it working ...re-level and relieved.  Glad to have all of the info.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #10 – June 24, 2018, 07:53:56 am

Roger the 03 is different. It has two square boxes with 110 220 on a screw. Turn the screw to 220 and bypass the interlock.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #11 – June 24, 2018, 09:14:13 am

Yes, John, I said that in reply #2.  I am glad it is working now.

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Re: Slide out operation

Reply #12 – June 24, 2018, 10:22:58 am

My 02 has the same 110/220 bypass. Mine is bypassed most the time now. The alignment in the slide is off. Would reset sometimes and sometimes it wouldn't .. as I would drive a little the light on the dash would go out. Now it doesn't .. so I bypass it. They are a little finicky to say the least . I have not tackled that one yet but I do know it goes through all the functions before and as it closes and I also hear the pins lock.. so I am thinking the magnets are off

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