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Topic: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit (Read 718 times) previous topic - next topic

Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Well it's my turn in the bladder barrel.  We arrived in SW Florida on Thursday, got all set up on our site, and Friday the auxiliary pump kept running due to a tear in the livingroom slide bladder.

With rain in the forecast for today (sprinkling now) and a Home Depot nearby I bought some of this 1/2" foam backer rod with the hope of stuffing it in the reveal around the slide where the bladder is to keep water out. 

It was the perfect choice!! I installed it in about five minutes and it was the perfect fit. It also comes in 3/8" diameter.  A twenty foot roll is about $3.50 and may be the ideal first aid kit for any of you that have a bladder failure in the future.

Re: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #1 –
That's exactly what we did in 2010 when our BR slide bladder failed while on a trip.

Xtreme also suggested low-adhesion duct tape for going down the road if it's raining.  With the backer rod in place as well.  Just remember to remove the tape before deploying the slide.

You may need to "fake out" the HWH system to move the slide. 
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: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #2 –
Yes Michelle, I'm looking for a 2-pin connector
that I can short the wires together and fool the HWH to run the slide.

No luck yet, does anyone have a part number?

Re: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #3 –
Humm, I never had to do that with the LM slide when the bladder failed. I think my hole was small enough that it would pull a little vacuum allowing me to move the slide. I also used the foam rolls to seal the gap plus tape.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
Yes Michelle, I'm looking for a 2-pin connector
that I can short the wires together and fool the HWH to run the slide.

I *think* what we did was clamp the airline shut (leaving the quarter-turn valve open), then operate the slide.  (the quarter-turn that are in the HWH bay). 

The selected media item is not currently available.
It'll pull vacuum and think the bladder is deflated.

Then close the 1/4 turn valve and remove the clamp to prevent long-term damage to the air line.

ETA - found the old thread and specifically John S's guidance on clamping the airline with vice grips in order to operate the slide Emergency '03 slide bladder repair
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: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
Just curious, why won't it pull a vacuum with just the 1/4 turn shut-off valve closed?

My memory isn't the greatest on this (it was 10 years ago  and I was the one running the controls on the inside), but I think the line being monitored for vacuum is downstream of the shutoff valve.
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: Slideout Bladder First Aid Kit

Reply #7 –
Michelle you are correct about the shut off.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins