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Topic: Slide Bladder Leaking (Read 1786 times) previous topic - next topic

Slide Bladder Leaking

Arrived in Carlsbad yesterday. When extending the drivers side living room slide heard a loud noise. Apparently the slide bladder hadn't totally deflated or was stuck. The amber light was on steady. Now it's leaking. You can hear the leak inside the coach. When you turn the key on the HWH panel for that slide the amber light will not stop flashing. Assuming that's because of the leaking bladder it cannot make the vacuum to satisfy the switch. I closed the shutoff valve to keep the pump from continuously running. A couple of questions. Can I retract the slide while letting the pump run to create whatever vacuum it's able to?
And does anyone have experience with shops that are able to replace the bladder close to where I'm at or further west. I'm really not wanting to turn around for NAC. That place has become my "Hotel California". 😂
Last time there we were parked next to an 09' Nimbus getting a bladder replaced. Must have picked up some bad karma. 🤦🏻‍♂️
Thanks for any suggestions.
Robert
2008 Nimbus 342
Build# 6464
ISM 500
Allison 4000 w/retarder
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #1 –
I know it sucks to back track, but probably better off returning to NAC. I know of a place in Eugene OR that does it if you want to go that far or it is close to home.

Oregon Motorcoach Center - Premium RV Service Center | Eugene, OR  They know Foretravels and did a bedroom slide bladder for me.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #3 –
Robert, if you can live with your living room slide in, just close the air valve to that slide at the manifold and put some round foam insulation in the gap of your slide then cover that with blue non-stick 2 in. painters tape. Then you can at least get it repaired at your leasure.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #4 –
Temecula valley Rv

They are fixing my living room bladder right now..
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
nonbinary
transgendered

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #5 –
You can do like I did.  Still working 10 months later. . I know I am going to have to replace sometime but getting more time before I do.

Just Joined Need to replace Bladder Club
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 Bladder Leaking

Reply #6 –
I wished I had read this before scheduling MOT for the repair. Although I have no idea if I could one. Find the leak. Or two. Access it to glue it. It's coming from the top of the slide about midway.
FYI. $4500 estimate for the LR slide seal.
Part of my $4500 lesson is to not trust the @#$& amber light. Just because the vacuum switch is made doesn't necessarily mean the seal has released all the way around. I will be verifying this in the future before moving any slide-outs.
I have four slides. I'll keep the loctite fix in mind. I hope I don't need it.
2008 Nimbus 342
Build# 6464
ISM 500
Allison 4000 w/retarder
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #7 –
Quote from: NevadaBornRvR –
Temecula valley Rv
They are fixing my living room bladder right now..
What did they charge you for the labor?  Was this a bedroom or living room slide?  CA is sure closer than TX.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #8 –
Let me get everything finished. Had some other things done so I can break out the Bladder. Livingroom was affected.
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
nonbinary
transgendered

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #9 –
Quote from: NevadaBornRvR –
Let me get everything finished. Had some other things done so I can break out the Bladder. Livingroom was affected.
Also curious about costs and your experience.  I live in Temecula, and will need a living room slide bladder someday when I decide it's important enough to fix.....
2000 U320 4010

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #10 –
Any update here NevadaBornRvR?
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #11 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
Any update here NevadaBornRvR?

Yes sir. Took it to MOT and 4.5 coach bucks later. Problem solved. I'm spraying a lot of 303 on them now.
2008 Nimbus 342
Build# 6464
ISM 500
Allison 4000 w/retarder
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #12 –
So Temecula Valley RV couldn't do them after all?  Bummer you had to make a special trip all the way to TX.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #13 –
Keith, by his last post it looks like they did do his repair work.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #14 –
Quote from: rbark –
Keith, by his last post it looks like they did do his repair work.
Hmm, I read that as he took it to (MOT) Motorhomes of Texas to do the repair instead of Temecula Valley RV. Did I miss it?
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #15 –
I read it as rez777 took his to Texas and Nevada born RV took his to Temecula valley.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #16 –
I see it now.  My bad, I confused the two because it looks like I asked NBRvR the question and Res777 answered.  Never got an answer from NBRvR yet.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #17 –
I dont know if its karma or just luck....

I have been following this thread for insight and future reference.  Well I think the future hit me today.  Parked for 2 weeks in Ocala Florida, I fixed 2 big air leaks on vroom valves when we first got here.  The Aux compressor was running maybe once ever other day.  All good. 

Today is supposed to be our last full day before heading back to Texas.  We were gone most of the day but when got home couple hours ago the compressor was running every 2-4 minutes.  While I was hunting with bubble juice, my wife walked by the driver side LV slide and heard a big leak coming from the front of the slide.  Looks like its the bladder best I can tell.  We pulled the slide in, I closed the valve and now compressor happy.  Opened the valve and sprayed the seam of the slide and sure enough big bubbles about half way up.

We leave tomorrow so I will probably wait till we get back to Texas to see if I can try some Loctite magic but it didnt look promising.

Likely to head to FOT/MOT or Keith after getting to Texas. Mean time I have valve to that room shut down with the slide fully in. 

Would there be any issues driving back to Tex from Florida if we never open valve or put that slide out till we get back?

Thanks
Tom & Rhonda
2014 IH-45 #6586 -  Ford F150 King Ranch Toad
2013 TIffin 45 LP Allegro Bus - 6 years owned - Sold
2002 Newmar 41' Dutch Star - 13 years owned - Sold

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #18 –
Quote from: tsonby –
Would there be any issues driving back to Tex from Florida if we never open valve or put that slide out till we get back?

I would stop by some home improvement store and get a 2" wide roll of painters tape. Take this and tape over the gap between slide and sidewall. This will help out in case you run through a frog choker on the way here.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #19 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
I would stop by some home improvement store and get a 2" wide roll of painters tape. Take this and tape over the gap between slide and sidewall. This will help out in case you run through a frog choker on the way here.

Mike

Some backer rod (closed cell foam insulation) stuffed in the gap before applying the painters tape helps as well.  We used low tack duct tape (recommendation from James Stallings at Xtreme).
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 Bladder Leaking

Reply #20 –
The good think about our bladders when then don't even have air in them is that the bladder presses against the slide.  Still chance of water getting through but not as bad as older style of bladder.

Based on my experience and another the Locktite has a good chance fixing your leak if you can see it and get to the hole / tear. Going almost on a year with the locktite.  Since I can live with leaving the slide in all the time I figured I would keep going until I can't fix it.
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 Bladder Leaking

Reply #21 –
I tape my bedroom slide when driving longer distances, especially if I may run into rain.  I use no-residue duct tape.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #22 –
To replace a bladder, does the slide have to come out, or can it slide in?
Dan

Re: Slide Bladder Leaking

Reply #23 –
Quote from: Propjock –
To replace a bladder, does the slide have to come out, or can it slide in?

It depends on the year of coach - there were changes to the slide mechanism.

2001 and earlier, slide has to come out.

2003 and newer - can slide in.

2002 - not sure given train system, but likely can be pushed in.
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 Bladder Leaking

Reply #24 –
Quote from: Michelle –
It depends on the year of coach - there were changes to the slide mechanism.

2001 and earlier, slide has to come out.

2003 and newer - can slide in.

2002 - not sure given train system, but likely can be pushed in.
2002 can be pushed in