Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Partial Slide Extension (Read 242 times) previous topic - next topic

Partial Slide Extension

I have a tree blocking my Driver Side Slide and can only extend it about 80%.    I was told once at FOT never to partially extend is that fact of fiction?
2009 Nimbus CE
2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
 ̷2̷0̷0̷6̷ ̷C̷o̷u̷n̷t̷r̷y̷ ̷C̷o̷a̷c̷h̷ ̷I̷n̷s̷p̷i̷r̷e̷

Re: Partial Slide Extension

Reply #1 –
True. You should always extend or retract all the way. It can get out of synchronization if it doesn't go all the way out or all the way in.
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

Re: Partial Slide Extension

Reply #2 –
True,  but once I had to break the rule and didn't see any side effects. Don't know if I was just lucky.
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: Partial Slide Extension

Reply #3 –
Trying to think of why it would be an issue, all I can come up with is that when the slide is in, the outside maintains the shape very well, for the bladder seal to seal against.  There can be very little deformation in size since the side is solid. 

The inside is a different story, as it has no support in the middle of the opening.  There are brackets on the inside that have a wedge shape that pull the edge of the slide outwards to the wall (up at the top and down at the bottom), to make sure the slide opening is as uniform as possible, for a good slide seal.

If you don't go all the way out, there may be some bow in the slide structure, and the seal may not make contact with the slide structure.  This could lead to water/bugs/rodent intrusion, as well as a spot where the bladder doesn't have something to push on within it's normal distance when inflated, which could be an issue.

Just thinking out loud.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Partial Slide Extension

Reply #4 –
If you ever had one get out of sync and suddenly as you are moving it one end moves and the other doesn't and the room gets jammed, then you will understand why.
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