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Topic: slide room delamination (Read 580 times) previous topic - next topic

slide room delamination

Did Foretravel change the slide room design over the "U" series coach build run? I see a number of 2001/2 slide room seal/bladder and delimitation problems on the website. Wondering if the 2004/5 have a different slide room design than the 2001/2. I am researching Foretravel motorhomes and 2001-2005 "U" coach are high on the list.

On another thought. Can anyone direct me to a drawing or illustration of the chassis/superstructure? I am trying to understand the monocoque or semi-monocoque design. I see other manufacturers putting the information in brochures but the only brochures I can find on Foretravel are single page spec sheets for the 3 different Unicoach models. Thank you.

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #1 –
2000-2001 have one style of slide mechanism.  Slide usually needs to be removed (with a forklift) to replace bladder

2002 has a train slide mechanism.  I believe slide pushes in for bladder R&R

2003 - 201? have a different slide mechanism.  Slide pushes in for bladder R&R.  Post 201? (whenever Foretravel started doing the flat-floor slide in the IH, things may be different.

2000-2001 did have an adhesive incompatibility issue resulting in delamination.  This often caused slide bladder problems.  2000, 2001 slide delamination

Slide bladders appear to have a 7-10 year lifespan.

I don't believe Foretravel ever released official photos or drawings of the structure, but you might try the Wiki Foretravel Specifications, Floorplans & Brochures [ForeForums Foretravel...
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: slide room delamination

Reply #2 –
Michelle, Thank you very much for the information. Looks like it was isolated in those couple early 2000 years. This information is an immense help for my search. I do appreciate the help.

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #3 –
So with the delimitation on my 2001 it was clear to me that they used an incompatible adhesive. It actually caused the foam they were bonding to to recess away from the adhesive. With very little contact. I actually used spray foam to repair and believe I have a good repair. Bonded well to the old foam.
Scott
2000, 2001 slide delamination

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #4 –
Quote from: dienes –
Michelle, Thank you very much for the information. Looks like it was isolated in those couple early 2000 years.

You're welcome!  I would say that if the coach owner has records of a delamination repair done by someone who understands Foretravels, I wouldn't let that dissuade me from purchasing a 2000 or 2001 if the floorplan and storage met my needs/wants otherwise.  Most will likely have been repaired by now.
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: slide room delamination

Reply #5 –
dsd,  Thank you for the link. Very good explanation of what was going on with the slide. I understand the construction that much better.
Thank you for the help,

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #6 –
All the slide rooms in 99 thru 2001 will have delaminating.  The mastic they used ate away the blue foam and the heat causes the fiberglass to pop out.  I know my slide was fixed and they had to remove it to fix it.  I also had to have the graphics repainted on it then too. It was an expensive fix.  I think I posted  a picture on here somewhere of what the blue foam looked like. You could see a latticework of mastic well distributed but it had not spread but it was actually really lines that had eaten into the foam and the contact area was just the top of the bead fo the most part.  I had it on the sides and the whole bottom and part of the top too.  If there was enough metal in the area it was fine so the crosspieces portions did not have to be done. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #7 –
Quote from: John S –
All the slide rooms in 99 thru 2001 will have delaminating.  The mastic they used ate away the blue foam and the heat causes the fiberglass to pop out.  I know my slide was fixed and they had to remove it to fix it.  I also had to have the graphics repainted on it then too. It was an expensive fix.  I think I posted  a picture on here somewhere of what the blue foam looked like. You could see a latticework of mastic well distributed but it had not spread but it was actually really lines that had eaten into the foam and the contact area was just the top of the bead fo the most part.  I had it on the sides and the whole bottom and part of the top too.  If there was enough metal in the area it was fine so the crosspieces portions did not have to be done. 

I found the photos in your album  https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=102

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: slide room delamination

Reply #8 –
Quote from: dienes –
dsd,  Thank you for the link. Very good explanation of what was going on with the slide. I understand the construction that much better.
Thank you for the help,
I prior to digging into it literally would have never imagined the way they did the construction. Building a frame and covering it makes sense, I guess, but you start with five external parts and they have to be assembled and repaired cosmetically. I would have guessed if they had had some boat builders insight they would have made a mold and produced basically a bath tube but inside out. (Slide) Attached a much less frame to the open end and been done with it. One piece, lighter, stronger and oh yes less work, a lot less. Zero seams to repair. If they had just did a mock up with the products they used they would have realized the failure. Shame.

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #9 –
Some benefits/some disadvantages to "reinventing the wheel".

For both better and worse, Foretravel is pretty much geographically isolated from the rest of the RV industry and has historically "reinvented the wheel". Mostly got it right!
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #10 –
My 1997 U295 on cool morning you could see where all the metal was run in the sides, cross bracing and all
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #11 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Some benefits/some disadvantages to "reinventing the wheel".

For both better and worse, Foretravel is pretty much geographically isolated from the rest of the RV industry and has historically "reinvented the wheel". Mostly got it right!
Yes I agree. When I first was around these coaches I just assumed they would have been one piece. I was wrong.  Just a different background. Aerospace and performance boats. I actually think if they would have been built differently if anyone had been around these other designs prior.  Lighter, much less work, and one piece. They had the staff building one piece roofs and all the fiberglass parts. They were so close. I kept the last boat we built from scratch, all composite and Balsa wood end cut blocks. Light and strong. fun stuff. Latest parts are vacuum bagged to remove all the excess resin/air and pull the fibers closer. Probably drop another 20%.

Re: slide room delamination

Reply #12 –
I'm not convinced all fiberglass (no metal framing) would be a good idea when you have windows, slide/window awning hold-downs, and a big-a**ed opening in the sidewall of a coach.  You'd also need a mold for all the different slide sizes...
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: slide room delamination

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Michelle –
I'm not convinced all fiberglass (no metal framing) would be a good idea when you have windows, slide/window awning hold-downs, and a big-a**ed opening in the sidewall of a coach.  You'd also need a mold for all the different slide sizes...
Yes you would need a mold for each part. They require being stored indoors and take up space. Mounting a sub frame is not difficult and windows are an effortless issue. Everyone looks at things differently. It would have saved them many hours over building the box in parts blending all the seams. It would have gave them a one piece component that if separation did happen it would have never been evident. At this point it's a non issue. Cabinet builders build cabinets. Bath tub builder build tubs. Metal workers use metal. They all end up with a similar product but totally different. Boils down to cost, quality. Weight. 40+ Years of aerospace technology sways me towards being functional, light, strong and cheap. Rarely cheap up front anymore but the savings are in weight and reliability driving cradle to grave cost savings. Our coaches share this. Foretravel builds a very desirable coach (IMO) and with other outside influences during design/conception could be even better or worse. One simple oversight of incompatible components cost Foretravel a fortune. Well actually cost each one of us money.  20/20 hindsight would of changed several build design flaws and saved us the end user money, failures cost us, nevertheless im unaware of bang for you buck that can compete with a 2005 Foretravel. My 2001 is as close as ill ever see and im good with that.
Scott