Dave Solberg

Fix a Camper Slide-Out Making a Grinding Noise

Dave Solberg
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Duration:   3  mins

The Accu-Slide camper slide-out has completely changed the game when it comes to maximizing the confined living quarters of an RV. With an Accu-Slide, you can add much needed space to your RV bedroom when you reach your destination, and all it takes is the push of a button. But, like any RV component, there’s potential for malfunction and the occasional troubleshooting.

For any number of reasons, your Accu-Slide camper slide-out might take on an unpleasant grinding noise when being extended or retracted. Apart from the disagreeable sound this causes, that grinding is also bad for the camper slide-out itself, as it’s likely the result of faulty parts and/or debris. So in this lesson, we teach you how to find the source of the grinding coming from your camper slide-out, and show you some expert techniques for fixing the problem so you can get back to enjoying your time on the road.

Finding the grind on your camper slide-out

To help you solve the puzzle of the grinding camper slide-out on your RV, repair expert Dave Solberg walks you through a quick demonstration for determining the source of the grind. First things first, Dave explains why it’s important to stop retracting or extending your Accu-Slide as soon as you hear that unwanted noise.

You’ll need to ensure you position the Accu-Slide properly so you can inspect the cables and gears that move the space. Once there, Dave shows you what to look for, including loose cables that don’t sit flush in their pulleys, ill-fitting gears, and too-taut/not-taut-enough cables. He also demonstrates the best way to remove the jamb from your camper slide-out to check for any debris or screws that might be stuck in the side cables. With Dave’s simple tips, you’ll be able to scope out the issue and get your slide-out sliding in and out in no time!

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15 Responses to “Fix a Camper Slide-Out Making a Grinding Noise”

  1. Daniel Raidy

    Hello
    Thanks for all this information. But the information I need is. I’ve done all this and I know the cable is stuck in the wall jam between the pulleys. I don’t see anyway to get this cable free. I’ve loosen the cable and there is no give. I’ve used picks and screwdrivers to try and free the cable at no avail. To me it looks like the whole slide out has to be removed to get to this pulley. Or is there another way. Right now the outer pulleys I can reach are coming out of the wall and the inter jam pulley has the cable stuck in it. It’s going to cost me over $4000 to take it to someone to remove
    the slide out and fix the upper pulleys and replace all my cables correctly.
    I joined this club to find out how to fix both problems. Can you help me on this issue and tell me what I can do to fix both problem. If I can get the inside wall jammed cable free I could probably figure away to fix the upper pulleys. If you can tell me how to fix both it would truly be appreciated.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Daniel,
      Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:

      The best thing to do is condition the slide seals. When these are exposed to the elements they can dry and crack over time. Conditioning them will help them last and perform better for much longer. The other thing to consider are all of the seals along the edges and tops, where the roof membrane wraps around and any other components that are attached and sealed. The most damage I have seen from slides are openings in the sealant. This can be at the main seam on the roof at the fasica, there is usually a tape and this needs to be in good shape. The edges around the fascias are important to check as well. Just make sure everything is sealed up properly to prevent any water intrusion. This is the best thing that can be done for the slide.
      https://www.thetford.com/product/slide-out-rubber-seal-conditioner/

      Sincerely,
      Dan
      RV Repair Club Technical Expert

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Daniel. On the cable systems I have seen, the channel that is attached to the wall can come out by removing the screws on the outside that go into the jam. You should be able to remove the seals to see the metal channel that is attached to the wall. The pulleys are in this channel and once you remove the channel from the wall it should come out. If this channel is damaged or you have a different type of system with different channels you might have to remove the slide to fix it. There are other systems I have had to remove slides to fix, this is needed for certain systems. Asking $4000 is really high though. Most RV service center should be able to do it within a few hours. The slide doesn’t even need to be all of the way off the unit, just out of the opening. You could try sliding the room towards the other side to give you more room. If you have the room a little bit out you can use a floor jack and blocks of wood to raise the room a little bit to help take the pressure off and then manually push the room towards to the other wall to give you more room to work it. Typically it doesn’t give much extra but an extra inch could make all the difference. This is easier done on smaller slides, larger ones may require extra people to help shift it. If all of this fails to work you could always contact BAL, this is the company that makes those slide systems. They do offer some good information on their systems as well.
      https://www.balrvproducts.com/products/oem/accuslide/index.shtml
      Dan
      RV Repair Club

      Reply
  3. kerley460

    Cable style slide out having problems coming back in. Sounds like it is dragging the battery down hard

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Tony!

      We’d love to help! What is the year, make, and model of your RV?

      Thank you!

      Jessica
      RV Repair Club Video Membership

      Reply
  4. Luis Morales

    The cable for my slide out on the top left side seems to have jumped out of the pulley and lodged somewhere behind the cover against the wall. I am trying to figure out how free it without having to remove the whole slide.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Luis!

      That’s a great question!

      The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!

      Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:

      1. Click on the email link: https://go.rvrepairclub.com/c19458
      2. Click on the Premium Membership offer.
      3. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase.
      4. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password.
      5. Fill in your debit/credit card information.
      6. Finish by clicking Complete Order.

      If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536 at your earliest convenience, or chat with us on our site.

      We greatly appreciate your business!

      Sincerely,

      Jessica
      RV Repair Club Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hey Wayne!

      We’d love to help you out!

      The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!

      Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:

      1. Click on the email link: https://go.rvrepairclub.com/c18442
      2. Click on the Premium Membership offer.
      3. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase.
      4. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password.
      5. Fill in your debit/credit card information.
      6. Finish by clicking Complete Order.

      If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536 at your earliest convenience, or chat with us on our site.

      We greatly appreciate your business!

      Sincerely,

      Jessica
      RV Repair Club Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi, Mike. To provide more specific troubleshooting information we need the make, model, and year of your RV as well as the type slide room mechanism. Most of the mechanisms on the market today are owned by Lippert Component Inc (LCI). Is the slide room actually operating and making a grinding noise, or just grinding. You should be able to isolate the noise as to the rollers underneath the room, the gears underneath in a larger hydraulic slide mechanism, or the motor.

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Thanks for visiting the RV Repair Club site. To provide more specific troubleshooting information we need to know the make, model, and year of your RV as well as the slide mechanism if possible. There are several models ranging from the smaller cable slides to full length hydraulic slide and most have an override procedure and troubleshooting. Usually a model that doesn’t slide in all the way is either a binding issue, air in the hydraulic line, or it could be a motor issue. Getting the proper info will help.

      Reply

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