Slide Room Troubleshoot: Identifying Your RV Slide Out Mechanism
Dave SolbergIf you notice your RV slide room is experiencing some sort of malfunction, you may need to troubleshoot to diagnose the problem and figure out the best course of action. In order to pinpoint the proper solution, you have to first determine the type of RV slide out mechanism that’s equipped on your rig. Once you know what you’re working with, you can streamline the repair process.
In this lesson, Dave Solberg introduces some of the most common kinds of slide room mechanisms and discusses the importance of going into a troubleshoot with all the right information. With Dave’s help, your room will be extending and retracting like normal in no time flat!
2005 Fleetwood discovery 38U slide rooms do not function
Hi Dennis,
Here is what our experts had to say:
If you are having issues with multiple slides it is best to start with the house batteries. These need to be fully charged with good connections for the slides to function. A lot of times there is a fuse near the batteries for the slide systems as well so you will want to inspect everything around it. After that you will want to check the fuses inside if you don’t see any by the batteries. Test the voltage to the fuse and out of it to make sure it is working properly. If all of that is fine then you will have to inspect each slide individually. Depending on what type of slide system you have there might be a controller, these are more common for the in-wall systems. The slides that operate with arms underneath to support and guide the room will just have motors to push the arms. Go to the rear of the arms to look and inspect the motors. These are for electric systems, if yours is hydraulic then you will have to inspect the pump, controls and the valves to the rooms. There could be a fuse for the pump that will need checked. There could also be an issue with the controller as well, make sure it has power. Again, there are many things that could be wrong based on what type of system you have but the best place to start is at the batteries.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Let us know if you have any other questions!
Sincerely,
Codi
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I have a 2018 Forest River 2506S and the slide out just stopped working and I can’t find any information on it. When I press the toggle switch there is nothing happening sp I checked and there is no power to any of the 4 wires on the back of the switch. Everything else works fine and battery is fully charged. I don’t even see where to use the manual crank?
If there is no power to the switch you will want to check the fuse/breaker. The slide will have a protective device inline and it is either at the main power center as a fuse or can be found near the A frame as a fuse or resetable breaker. Usually the issue can come down to a loose connection but could also be a blown fuse or faulty breaker as well. Check all around the battery area and also underneath the camper just behind the A frame, they hide a lot of breakers here too. To manually crank that model you will have to get underneath of the RV and trace back the actuator arm of the slide. At the end of this arm is the motor and it should have an attachment on it to manually crank in. The ends can be different but usually you can attach a socket to it to turn. On your model the motor will be close to the entrance steps so check in this area when underneath the RV. Some models have an access port cut through the frame to manually crank but most have to be done underneath.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
2004 Winnebago Journey two slides. Neither slide will move all of sudden.
Not sure how to trouble shoot this ?
If you have multiple slides not running it is best to start with the batteries. They could be low or weak. Slides take a lot of power and if you have weak batteries they won’t run at all. You can get them tested at local auto parts stores for free usually. If the batteries are good you then want to check the fuses and the wiring. A bad wire connection will prevent them from moving as well. Start at the batteries and check the connections, make sure there is no corrosion or broken wires. After that you would need to check the fuse panel and the voltage to the slide fuse, most likely they share a single fuse. After that it could be the switch. Starting with the batteries is the best thing to do.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
FR Lexington GTS 300SS i read all info given to me and I cant find what type slide I have. From videos maybe rack and pinion? Problem, bottom moves out but about 3 inches out top hangs up on something and won’t extend. Help, plz
Hi Nancy. Yes most likely you have the through frame slide. The top is most likely hanging up on the seal. It is possible the seal dropped down and got wedged into place, something else like debris is stuck there or something is out of adjustment. I have actually seen the room too low to where the top of the slide got wedged under the seal when brought in and wasn’t able to come back out without someone on the inside pushing and me using a pry bar on the outside to get it to pop out. We do have a video showing how to adjust that type of slide to change the gap on the top, most likely you just need to lower it to come out more clear but it is possible you have something on top wedged into place so once you get it out make sure to inspect the seal and the rest of the roof. Also check the seam tape along the outside edge of the slide on the roof. A lot of times this tape gets folded up and it sticks really well to everything. This causes the slide to hold at the top often as well.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/adjusting-rv-slide-out-seal-011521/
Dan
RV Repair Club
I have a 2005 Holiday Rambler Vacationer. The converter is not working and now the slides will not pull in when I start it. Any suggestions of what to check?
Hello Karen,
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Thanks!
Madeline
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Let’s start
I have a 2004 36′ Monaco La Palma with 2 slides. The main slide will retract all the way, but after driving a short distance the lower edge will open up about an inch and a half while the top is all the way in. Can I adjust this or do I have to take it in to a shop?
reasearching info on slideouts
Where do i find slide out motor on a 2008 kodiak travel trailor
How do I identify the manufacturer of my Alpine Avalanche slide out mechanism?
Hello Richard,
All slide room mechanisms need a motor to drive the slide whether it’s a hydraulic model or electric. If you can find the motor, it should have the make, model, and serial number. To provide more specific information on your slide mechanism, you could take some photos of the rams or cables and we should be able to assist. Also, please provide the year and model of your Avalance.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
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Hello Richard,
It sounds like you have a loose connection that is allowing air to come into the system, usually before the pump which would be a low pressure side of the system. Check all your connections and it would be a good idea to apply a little plumbers tape to the fittings to make sure you have a good connection.
Hope this helps,
David RVRC Video Membership
Nice
We have a 2010 Winnebago Adventurer with a total side electric mechanism slideout. Right now our slideout is about 4 inches out and we cannot get it in. It also won’t go out all the way. The back goes out, but the front is not in sinc with it. Help! At this point we can’t even take it someplace to have someone look at it and work on it because we can’t drive it with the slide not all the way in.
Hello Paul/Cleone.
To provide more specific information regarding your slide room mechanism, we need the model of your Adventurer. In 2010 they used a Power Gear rack and pinion on the 32’ model and a series of Kwikee models on the 35’ and 37’. Typically if the room does not come in it could be low battery power that is not releasing the brake on the gear, or it has reset the stop position memory on the one side. You should have instructions in your owner’s packet regarding how to manually bring the room in? If not, contact Winnebago Ind Owner Relations Dept. I think either way, you need to get it to a dealer for inspection and proper resync? If you can get the unit most of the way in and it’s only sticking out 4” on one side, you can safely drive that as it will not slide in and out. If you want added piece of mind, cut a 2×4” the length of the space between the wall and the inside room flange and wedge one or two in between.
Thanks
David RVRC Video Membership