Slideout Safety Bars

[Flossy]

I've just had my second incident with my safety bars, fortunately nothing broke, just bent bars. Anyway I removed them to have them straightened. Does anyone know if there is any problem with leaving them off? I've heard from dealers that they are the first thing many people take off.

Thanks

[jojolima]

I only use mine when it is heavy rain or we are traveling a long distance. I asked a Newmar Service Rep and he just smiled and said that "the factory install them on all units". We have never had a problem with them not connected.

[GaryKD]

Hi Dave,
I've not heard of any problem with the bars not engaged. To be on the safe side, consider cutting a couple of 2X4s to replace the bars until you can reinstall the bars.

Even though the bars will reinstall with either end facing the outside wall, there is only one way to correctly install the bars. Once installed, if the slide will not go in all the way, open the slide and turn the bar around. I know this makes no sense, but it is the way mine and a couple of other coaches work.

["007"]

Once you get in the habit of using them it will come natural checking what position there in before opening or closing the slides. Of course I have had three coach's with them so its easy for me to say.
Do not forget that drivers chair also.
Have seen some funny scenes with slides partially out traveling down the road.
Welcome to the Newmar forum and irv2.

[Flossy]

Well, I'm going to try driving without the bars to see what happens. I think I will get a couple of 2 X 4s cut to length just in case. I still have the bars on the bedroom and will continue to use them. The others I will probably beat back into shape then decide if it's worth it to reinstall. I'm going to be in Newmar-land in September and intend to tour the factory and corner some tech-type for various things.

Dave

[PoetryJoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flossy Well, I'm going to try driving without the bars to see what happens. I think I will get a couple of 2 X 4s cut to length just in case. I still have the bars on the bedroom and will continue to use them. The others I will probably beat back into shape then decide if it's worth it to reinstall. I'm going to be in Newmar-land in September and intend to tour the factory and corner some tech-type for various things. Dave

I drove my yesterday without engaging the bars. I then let the wife drive. It's all good. You will be fine.

Joe

[tmitchell]

I am on my second Dutch Star and have never used the slide locks in 55,000 miles of use. I took the lock off the front, of the LR slide, because it would rattle while under way.
I talked to the service foreman at North Trail and he said that they have never had a customer have a problem from not using the locks. The problems are the customers that do use them and forget to unlock them before opening the slides.
Tom

[roboniko]

I have 2 also and the problems I have had is that after going down theroads in La. that I have had the passenger side bar fall down and hit the floor. Just fortunate that nothing broke and more so that it did not hit the passenger in the head. I think this is a safety hazard and design flaw. Even thought they were tight when we left, thru the roughness of the road and vibration they loosened up enough to fall. NOT GOOD...

[oldnumber3]

Would a hydraulic slide tend to come open easier than an electric? Both my 2000 Bounder and my current Mountain Aire both are electric. My Mountain Aire has the safety locks which I use because they're there but my Bounder didn't. Are they that important?

["007"]

I wonder what would happen with slides unlocked and someone passing you on right hand side suddenly cuts in front of you and taps your passenger side bumper causing MH to swerve to the left and you pull coach to right to correct.
Do you think slides will react to sudden movement.
Anyone care to try.

[oldnumber3]

Nope! I got mine locked.

[tmitchell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" I wonder what would happen with slides unlocked and someone passing you on right hand side suddenly cuts in front of you and taps your passenger side bumper causing MH to swerve to the left and you pull coach to right to correct. Do you think slides will react to sudden movement. Anyone care to try.

They are not designed to keep the slides from inadvertently opening. There purpose is to seal the upper portion of the slide, to keep it from leaking.
If you want to test their integrity, lock them and press the button to open the slide. The slide locks will just rip out of their mounts.
Tom

["007"]

Here is a interesting post where one party saw his LR Slide move out 3 to 4" when he hit some strong cross winds, his slides didn't come with slide locks.