Finally yanked the slide strap out of the floor

Magumba · 12-18-2009, 05:52 PM

Guys,
I was putting the slide out yesterday and forgot to remove the slide strap fitting in the floor. I was surprised to see it was fastened by two inch screws. Probably would not hold much.

What are your opinions of the slide hold straps usefulness?
Thanks.

fun time · 12-18-2009, 06:24 PM

Your question is one I have wrestled with for years. On one hand, and the following is a true story, I would not be without it. A good friend of mine had purchased a new DP several years ago (not a Winny brand). While going down the road the couch slide opened with his daughter sitting on it. It opened half way then banged back in causing his windshield to blow out. I am not making this up. Very scary to say the least. He is a real believer in locks for the slide outs now. His coach did not have the locks. I have owned two Winny's and my current one has the strap and my other one had a locking mechanism. I use it but often wonder just how much good the strap would really do in a situation like the incident above. I guess the bottom line is I will keep mine intact if for no other reason than piece of mine.

imgoin4it · 12-18-2009, 08:12 PM

When I had my Journey I pulled the strap out of the floor. Had an Adventurer before that and the straps on it had a frangeable link which i broke several times and had to replace the strap. After pulling the anchor screws out of the floor I reattached the anchor point but never used the strap. After a couple of years I removed the floor bracket and left it out. Never had a problem. When it pulled the bracket out of the floor there was no "strain" at all. The slide never slowed or hesitated. I think the strap is for show.

RVThere · 12-18-2009, 08:32 PM

With my old 2003 Itasca Suncruiser, my wife was demo-ing the slide out for some friends when I was not home and forgot to take the strap off.

She pulled most of the moulding off the edge of the slide out on the top strap connection. The floor connection held tight. I had to re-screw and re-bend the edge of the slide out.

We always kept the strap on when traveling but I think with the attached storage compartments, the slide was pretty heavy and not moving anywhere by itself.

indiana journey · 12-18-2009, 08:39 PM

When we were going through the "walk-thru" with our tech on our new 2004 journey he told us to remove it and don't use it. He said they had replaced many trim strips on coaches with the strap. Ours has never been used since we purchased our coach and we have never had any problems.
Indiana Journey

tomsm · 12-19-2009, 04:23 AM

I received the same advice as indiana. I've never used it and never had a problem.

rvten · 12-19-2009, 04:25 AM

When we had a 2001 Adventurer. I took the strap and stored them. Removed the bracket from the floor also. Those little screws that held the bracket would never hold that slide in.

I also asked the question from Winnebago about the use of the straps. Was told (I used to have an e mail reply I used to carry) that they were just comsmetic. To give peace of mine to the onwers.

What I always found funny. Was they give you some type of strapping or lock bar for front slide but never for the rear slide.

mrschwarz · 12-19-2009, 06:35 AM

We had an 01 Suncruiser. When we bought it (used), we got the brackets, but no straps. When I redid the floor, I removed the brackets and did not reinstall them. I never missed them.

Magumba · 12-19-2009, 01:36 PM

Thanks for your help.
We were told by the mechanic when we bought the camper to not use the strap as it was mostly cosmetic but I decided to use it anyway. I figured it can't hurt.
The slide moved with very little hesitation as it pulled the mount out of the floor. Who knows it may have been done before as the screws held pretty tightly in the rug.
Stay warm, lots of snow here in Pennsylvania.

Bob and Vicki · 12-19-2009, 04:51 PM

Pulled ours out first time we opened the slide. Threw it away. Never had a problem after that.

Bob Schuerger
2006 Meridian 36G - Chestnut

AFChap · 12-19-2009, 04:56 PM

Never used ours ... and eventually removed the bracket on the floor when I got tired of looking at it.

wagonmaster2 · 12-19-2009, 08:06 PM

I never figured the strap or connectors could hold against the power of the slideout motor mechanism, but always wondered if there was enough strength there to keep the slide-out from just slipping out by itself. We use ours but from the angle it connects to the slide-out wall it looks like the room would go out a ways before the strap could hold it.

I pulled the wall connector out on a previous Fleetwood I owned but haven't done this one yet.

Wagonmaster2
2004 Meridian 36G

Dunnpe · 12-19-2009, 11:43 PM

Ditto here, showing of the rig to friends and forgot the strap was there and bingo it popped, never plan on putting it back. It did do a little damage to the molding which I fixed. Not going there any more.

DAN L · 12-20-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba

Guys,
I was putting the slide out yesterday and forgot to remove the slide strap fitting in the floor. I was surprised to see it was fastened by two inch screws. Probably would not hold much.

What are your opinions of the slide hold straps usefulness?
Thanks.

if you have ever had a slide start to extend as i have with no input while traveling over the portland to vancouver I-5 bridge

, you would appreciate the value of the locking straps.

hydraulic pressure will easily rip the winne fittings off of the floor so remove the straps before running the pump.

i installed a strap for the rear slide also.

i also cut 2x4 lumber pieces to length and install them on top of the slide outs when they are retracted. i use ribbons on the lumber to remind me that they are there.

if you want more info on my particular slide malfunction, a long story, check my previous posts on this subject.