Dave Solberg

RV Slide-Out Stuck: Motor Runs But Room Stays Put

Dave Solberg
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RV appliances and upgrades malfunction all the time, but if you know the proper course of action when they do, you can avoid unwanted headaches while you’re out on the road. This is certainly true of a faulty RV slide out. Stuck gears, loose cables and improper connections can cause a slide-out to extend and retract slowly or not at all.

The solution to this problem is simple. All you have to do is inspect each of the unit’s components and determine what’s going wrong. To help you do so, RV expert Dave Solberg walks you through a quick demonstration for assessing and fixing a slide-out that doesn’t want to budge. With Dave’s guidance, your upgraded RV slide room will be operational in no time!

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12 Responses to “RV Slide-Out Stuck: Motor Runs But Room Stays Put”

  1. James Miller

    My Accu-slide is popping when I try to push the slide out, and it doesn’t move the slide unless I physically push it myself while my wife pushes the button to extend the slide. I assumed it was the gearbox, but now I feel like it might be the set pin (?) coming loose. A second slide is now starting to do the same thing.

    If it’s the set pin how do I get it back in correctly? How do I know if it’s the gearbox instead?

    Thanks,

    Jim

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello James,

      Thank you for being patient while I reached out to the experts, here is the reply:

      You would have to trace the noise and check the exact area it is coming from to see what could be causing it. It is possible something is just coming loose but if the sound is coming from the top most likely it is something with the gearbox or even the chain. It is possible something on the pulleys is hanging up too or wedged in them. You will have to trace the sound and inspect the motor when operating to see what could be causing it. It is best to remove the top fascia to see the components when running so you get a better idea and check for any cables that have more tension then others when operating as well. A lot of times something might just need adjusted to stop the sound and get it to go out correctly.

      Sincerely,

      Dan
      RV Repair Club Technical Expert

      Reply
  4. steven morris

    I have a towel jammed into the slideout. I didn’t see it when I extended it, but now the slide doesn’t move and the towel is jammed in tight. What are my options?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Steven,

      It really depends on where the towel is stuck and what type of slide system you have. I would try gaining access to the area on the outside of the slide. There is a wiper seal that can be pulled back or removed to find where the towel could be lodged. Some slides could be adjusted to relieve the pressure but in-wall systems won’t be able to. If the towel is wedged in the rack of the in-wall system, the wiper and rail rack would have to be removed from the outside to clear the towel of the system. If you can’t get access from the outside then the interior fascias and backing boards might have to be removed to gain access to the area. The best place to start would be the outside behind the wiper, you may be able to clear it there. Depending on the system, you could disengage the motor and try pushing the room in by hand with the help of some other people. This can’t be done as easily with in-wall systems though, the rack assembly has to have the motors on each side disengaged before doing this.

      I hope this was helpful and best of luck!

      Dan
      RV Repair Club Video Membership

      We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first-year membership.
      https://go.rvrepairclub.com/C15286

      Reply
  5. sharon bradley

    we have a 2015 coachmen chaparral and we cannot get the kitchen slide to open. you dont hear anything when trying to make it go out but trying to go in you can hear the gears like its all the way in. cannot get it to budge

    Reply
  6. John

    The actuator on my slide out is stripped.
    Is it possible to push the slide out in by hand temporarily?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello John,

      If it is a through frame slide out, you can remove the actuator arm from the motor and the mount on the slide out. Once the actuator arm is removed, the room can be slid in with the help of some other people. Do not travel with the arm off though, you would have to add supports inside to prevent the room from extending. If you have a different type of slide out, let me know. Each slide out has different ways to retract manually. If you don’t know what kind you have, provide the year, make and model of your RV and I will see what they used.

      Thanks,

      Dan
      RV Repair Club Video Membership

      We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first year membership.
      https://go.rvrepairclub.com/C14001

      Reply
      • marvin.bell

        I have a scienic cruiser, gulfstream 2003 has four slide outs. the one behind the driver is giving problems help. new to RVing marvin belton texas

        Reply
  7. Edward Quillian

    I have the serpentine gear style system. How do you access the motors for this style of slide. It is a Voltage 39xx.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Edward,

      Most of the gear slides are either Power Gear or Lippert Components Inc (LCI) which now owns Power Gear and Kwikee as well. Some of the models have the motor directly on the gear which could be inside a compartment. In the case of a hydraulic slide, they often are tied in with the leveling jacks and are located in a compartment up front. You should have an owner’s manual showing how to manual over ride the system if it fails. If not, contact Dutchmen to get a copy. Then listen as you run the slide room in and out and you should be able to hear where the motor is located.

      Thanks,
      David RVRC Video Membership

      We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first year membership.

      http://go.rvrepairclub.com/C8454

      Reply

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