DIY bladder replacement

Topic: DIY bladder replacement (Read 1004 times) previous topic - next topic

DIY bladder replacement

July 29, 2022, 04:16:51 pm

My understanding is the 2003 coaches and later do not require the slide to be removed to replace the bladder? Is this true?

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #1 – July 29, 2022, 04:32:34 pm

Well, the slide has to be disconnected from the hydraulics, but can be pushed inside rather than having to be removed from the coach, so you can access the bladder from the outside.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #2 – July 29, 2022, 07:26:00 pm

That's true for the living room slide but the bed room slide must be removed.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #3 – July 29, 2022, 07:38:19 pm

Quote from: rbark – July 29, 2022, 07:26:00 pm

That's true for the living room slide but the bed room slide must be removed.

Fourdayoff told me he pushed his in to get to the bladder. I hope that's the case because I've got to get to mine here shortly.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #4 – July 30, 2022, 01:03:32 pm

Thank you all for the reply. I plan on purchasing a FT soon. I've owned 5th wheels for 20+ years and always did my own repairs and maintenance. I replaced the rubber seal on my current bedroom slide. It wasn't the easiest but I was able too. I'm rearching 1999 - 2005 FT.

Thanks again

David

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #5 – July 30, 2022, 02:27:03 pm

Quote from: DaveL – July 30, 2022, 01:03:32 pm

Thank you all for the reply. I plan on purchasing a FT soon. I've owned 5th wheels for 20+ years and always did my own repairs and maintenance. I replaced the rubber seal on my current bedroom slide. It wasn't the easiest but I was able too. I'm rearching 1999 - 2005 FT.

Thanks again

David

Dave I personally like the 2003 better than the 01,02 in regards to slides

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #6 – July 30, 2022, 06:13:53 pm

On our 03 with the closet slide in the bedroom was able to push it in.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #7 – July 30, 2022, 07:15:33 pm

Quote from: red tractor – July 30, 2022, 06:13:53 pm

On our 03 with the closet slide in the bedroom was able to push it in.

That's what Fourdayoff has too. I wonder if my bed slide is going to be different.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #8 – July 30, 2022, 07:39:38 pm

Subscribing. I'm new to Foretravel and diesel pushers and all I can say is wow I love them. I've been looking at a lot of different coaches and I'm so glad I bought a Foretravel. I will say there is quite a learning curve with them but this forum is a wealth of knowledge.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #9 – July 30, 2022, 08:36:18 pm

When I had my bedroom bladder done, I thought the tech said the slide had to be removed. Maybe I misunderstood him. Hope so.
Temucla Valley RV won't let the customer in the bays when they work on your coach.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #10 – July 31, 2022, 08:26:07 am

Quote from: rbark – July 29, 2022, 07:26:00 pm

That's true for the living room slide but the bed room slide must be removed.

The bed room bladder on my '03 was replaced without removing the slide at MOT.

Keith

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #11 – July 31, 2022, 10:02:44 am

I'm wondering if those who have had their bedroom slide removed for bladder replacement on 03's it was done just because it's not that large and allows for more space when it's out of the way?

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #12 – July 31, 2022, 10:36:32 am

The short answer to your question is NO.

One removes a stop under the bed, several screws. With stop removed, press retract button until slide moves in to reveal the bladder. Bladder work can begin. Simple vs removing slide

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #13 – July 31, 2022, 11:35:02 am

Keith, is your coach a N/S bed, so the slide is moving the closet or a E/W bed so the slide is moving the bed?

Rudy, do you know exactly what parts need to be removed? I'm looking at doing this in the very near future, and any info is better than trying to figure it out by myself.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #14 – July 31, 2022, 11:44:14 am

Keith, with sllide IN, raise bed. Look for a stop holding a switch button closed toward the foot of the bed. Remove stop, retract slide just enough to expose bladder.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #15 – July 31, 2022, 12:01:25 pm

Quote from: WS6_Keith – July 31, 2022, 11:35:02 am

Keith, is your coach a N/S bed, so the slide is moving the closet or a E/W bed so the slide is moving the bed?

Rudy, do you know exactly what parts need to be removed? I'm looking at doing this in the very near future, and any info is better than trying to figure it out by myself.

It is an east west bed that is in the slide. I don't know what the disconnected to allow it to come in. They replaced the living room bladder the same way.

Keith

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #16 – July 31, 2022, 12:05:03 pm

Our slide is the closet slide, N/S bed design so that might be the difference.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #17 – July 31, 2022, 12:27:27 pm

Quote from: hdff – July 31, 2022, 08:26:07 am

The bed room bladder on my '03 was replaced without removing the slide at MOT.

Keith

All I can say is that is such a improvement over removing the slide. That being said I had to do a lot of repairs to my slide so it would of needed to be removed anyway. Far better design IMO. I also think that yours does not have the upper lock pins. Great idea that is just a pain in the rump. (Failure) Slide envy for sure.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #18 – July 31, 2022, 12:44:20 pm

Quote from: Rudy – July 31, 2022, 11:44:14 am

Keith, with sllide IN, raise bed. Look for a stop holding a switch button closed toward the foot of the bed. Remove stop, retract slide just enough to expose bladder.

Is that the same button that turns off the lights on the slide side of the bedroom? That one I'm familiar with. It's not adjusted right because the lights stay on.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #19 – July 31, 2022, 01:42:37 pm

Send me a pic of area under bed with slide in and I can comment on stop fixture.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #20 – August 01, 2022, 12:38:31 am

Quote from: Rudy – July 31, 2022, 01:42:37 pm

Send me a pic of area under bed with slide in and I can comment on stop fixture.

Here's what I've got.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #21 – August 01, 2022, 06:39:23 am

Quote from: WS6_Keith – August 01, 2022, 12:38:31 am

Here's what I've got.

So the head of your bed is on the passenger side?

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #22 – August 01, 2022, 08:09:36 am

Dave, I do not see the stop because of lack of experience. But Motorhome Services of Nac removed mine and pushed the retract switch and moved the slide in to reveal the bladder. My memory is the stop is in the center of the slide structure.

With the bladder deflated you might move the slide out a little and see if you can see a stop revealed with the structure moved out from full in position. A call to someone in Nac that works on Foretravel may help find the stop. Sure wish I was smarter.

Eddie, You are looking at the foot of the bed in my coach.

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #23 – August 01, 2022, 10:02:56 am

Post a better picture in this area please

Re: DIY bladder replacement

Reply #24 – August 01, 2022, 09:34:54 pm

I think you got it Scott. I don't see anything else besides the light switch, which is easy enough to remove for this. It looks like I can just run the bolt in and that will allow me to bring the slide in about 2" further than now. If I needed more, removing the bolt altogether would get me about 2 1/2" or so.

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