If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

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If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

April 21, 2022, 09:54:22 pm

So my slide has been working fine since I bought the coach in Jan of 2019. My 12v air compressor has never worked, but my bladder has always deflated when I turned the key and other than a few times when the slide pins didn't drop and I had to listen to the the bell for a ways. I have always been pleased with my slide's function.

Until today.

I made an appointment to get my slide looked at just for piece of mind before we go on our Alaska trip this summer. I made the 500m drive yesterday and hooked up at the HWH plant in a downpour at about 3pm. Pulled around for my 7am appointment and they let me pull right in and As I already knew the 12v compressor was toast. They also replaced a bad relay and the glass bowl for water drainage. Less than a coach buck and I was happy and on my way by 11am. Arrived home after the 8hr jaunt and heard the hissing of air on the drivers side below the slide. Opened 2 bay doors below slide thinking I probably needed to tighten one of the lines that the tech had fiddled with. Nope. The slide seal/bladder has a leak in it. What the heck???

Can you still use the slide with a leak? It has a pinhole leak but it is still inflating, just leaking. I assume the leak will just keep getting worse.

Or do you need to tape it up until it is fixed?

Never thought mine had a vacuum but after talking to tech he said I did, but I guess it is independent from the 12v compressor? Because it still worked to deflate the bladder even though the compressor didn't work.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #1 – April 21, 2022, 10:10:05 pm

Bummer, that's definitely bad luck!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #2 – April 22, 2022, 08:50:44 am

I fixed a leak in the slide bladder several years ago with a product to fix tears in wet suits. I purchased a tube of it at a diving shop and applied 3 coats. It held for a few months until the rear slide started leaking so had to replace both. My leak was a split about an inch long. Good luck!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #3 – April 22, 2022, 09:09:32 am

Bladder and slide problems, think I saw some pills on TV for such things.
Just kidding around, hoping you can get those issues resolved before Alaska.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #4 – April 22, 2022, 09:15:52 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Py37G9qsfY

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #5 – April 22, 2022, 09:57:28 am

Don't know how a stax can help you but,check out some of the RV shops in Elkhart Indiana,can get it fixed on the way to the Yukon.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #6 – April 22, 2022, 10:29:49 am

I have an apptment at HWH on 6/29-6/30. At least I know the way

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #7 – April 22, 2022, 10:43:51 am

Quote from: Bill B – April 22, 2022, 08:50:44 am

I fixed a leak in the slide bladder several years ago with a product to fix tears in wet suits. I purchased a tube of it at a diving shop and applied 3 coats. It held for a few months until the rear slide started leaking so had to replace both. My leak was a split about an inch long. Good luck!

The product Bill is mentioned is call "Aquaseal." Get the one with Cetol and mix it together. It dries harder and quicker.

A perfectly fine solution to get you through till your end of June appointment at HWH.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #8 – April 22, 2022, 10:47:57 am

Me, I would have tried SHOE GOO!!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #9 – April 22, 2022, 11:01:07 am

Thanks Bill and Siren. Being delivered tomorrow. I'll give it a try!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #10 – April 22, 2022, 12:27:48 pm

Bummer Tommy, sorry to hear this. We've all got to knock that repair out at some point though, so I'm glad you have a bit of control in this situation

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #11 – April 22, 2022, 12:53:02 pm

Hey Tommy sorry hear about the slide bladder, that's a real PITA especially when planning a trip like that.

I'm planning on a trip to Alaska this summer myself, I hope you get things worked out and to see ya up in the North Star State!

Safe Travels. Mike

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #12 – April 22, 2022, 03:19:17 pm

Quote from: zmpm01 – April 22, 2022, 12:53:02 pm

Hey Tommy sorry hear about the slide bladder, that's a real PITA especially when planning a trip like that.

I'm planning on a trip to Alaska this summer myself, I hope you get things worked out and to see ya up in the North Star State!

Safe Travels. Mike

Heading north after we leave HWH so maybe we will see you guys!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #13 – April 22, 2022, 03:48:18 pm

For those who would like to know the total estimated cost of the living room slide seal replacement is seal $1940 manifold $580 plus 12hrs labor@$110 for total of $3840. Doesn't hurt to bad if you say it real fast. Knew this going in when I bought the coach and the extra space is worth it to me. Scott DSD you got any repair slots available for this work??

Happy Friday everyone. I have a bourbon in my hand sitting with a bunch of friends at Turkey camp! All is well!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #14 – April 22, 2022, 04:47:05 pm

Quote from: Tommy D – April 22, 2022, 03:48:18 pm

For those who would like to know the total estimated cost of the living room slide seal replacement is seal $1940 manifold $580 plus 12hrs labor@$110 for total of $3840. Doesn't hurt to bad if you say it real fast. Knew this going in when I bought the coach and the extra space is worth it to me. Scott DSD you got any repair slots available for this work??

Happy Friday everyone. I have a bourbon in my hand sitting with a bunch of friends at Turkey camp! All is well!

Yep its amazing how things happen. Figure it was a twenty year old tire and one would replace without thought. The price of the seal keeps going up. Mine was 1840$. I passed on the upgraded manifold and converted/upgraded myself. I will say it seems to hold manifold/ bladder air pressure with no additional air for many weeks without dropping now. Very nice! New seal style is also a good improvement since it stays in contact with zero pressure. Sorry the driveway is booked up with current Bronco distraction. Its cost me many times more than the Bladder. Also on my coach it wasn't the bladder issue as much as it was the delamination issues. So far im extremely happy with my control devices to prevent bowing under pressure. It was a huge problem I never noticed, but please understand I never opened for over a year either. So yes they can be used. For mine I taped to seal and kept closed. Just turn off your manifold air, but will leak rain inside. yes they can be needy big fat babies, but worth the cost of upkeep IMO.
Living room slide bladder DIY
2000, 2001 slide delamination
12 hours labor? ? ? ?I must be real slow in my old age. Im sure I had more than 12 days
Ill keep my fingers crossed for you hoping you dont have any other issues.
Scott

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #15 – April 25, 2022, 04:50:37 pm

We must have just missed each other, we were just there @ HWH getting 2 1/2 of our seals replaced. Why the 1/2 - they could not do my kitchen slide and said it had to be removed from the coach, but did install the manifold and I have the new bladder in a box for my next trip to FOT. I have to say I'm not impressed with their work, besides not being able to do one slide there was a big puddle of hydraulic fluid under the coach when I picked it up - turns out there was a loose fitting. Coach was a mess inside too.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #16 – April 28, 2022, 07:40:55 pm

Tried aquaseal, 3 coats, but it didn't work for me. On the bright side the leak is small enough that it still seals the slide while using engine compressor. And the hole in the seal leaks out the air when the engine is off so you can operate the slide if you need too. Wouldn't want to have it out in a driving rain with the engine off but while extended this week with a steady rain it didn't leak a drop that I could see.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #17 – June 28, 2022, 05:47:23 pm

At HWH for 2 day repair......please send money😳😳😊

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #18 – June 28, 2022, 10:17:27 pm

From what I have seen, you will leave there with more money in you pockets then if you had the repair done somewhere else

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #19 – June 28, 2022, 10:39:54 pm

Quote from: turbojack – June 28, 2022, 10:17:27 pm

From what I have seen, you will leave there with more money in you pockets then if you had the repair done somewhere else

I like that optimism!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #20 – June 29, 2022, 12:17:21 am

Looks like a day or two spent in Muscatine May be in order!

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #21 – June 29, 2022, 08:47:56 am

The new seals are real nice. Mine works perfect. I wouldn't worry about what they can fix, it's what they can't that can get real expensive

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #22 – June 29, 2022, 11:31:36 am

I feel for people who have slide issues. They go bad at the most inopportune times it seems. I'm not being snarky here, are having slides worth the aggravation when they go bad? Always wondered about that.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #23 – June 29, 2022, 11:38:31 am

My bedroom slide has had a small leak in the bladder near the center, where the hydraulic ram notch is, which has a plate to give the seal something to press on. Until this trip, it would seal when the slide was closed with very little to no leakage. It would also seal when open if I shoved some 1/4" silicone sheet in the gap before inflating the bladder. It seems the silicone provided a good enough seal to keep it from leaking much.

This trip, a second leak has developed and I cannot get it to seal when the slide is out. Someone on the FT FB group mentioned using 3/8" backer rod foam and stuffing it in the gap. I ordered 100' and have been doing this and it works well as a temporary solution.

IMO, slides are definitely worth the hassle. This coach would not be big enough without the slides, IMO...at least in this configuration.

Re: If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all (that should be a song)

Reply #24 – June 29, 2022, 11:55:35 am

Agreed. A slide-less coach isn't an option for us while we're still working and have two full size dogs. If we were just doing weekend trips or taking vacations in it, that'd be a different story but we'd probably also be looking at smaller rigs in general. Right now we're hunkering down and working during the week for extended periods of time and the extra room is worth the hassle.

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