Slides

[DandS]

My new Canyon Star has two slides - living area and bedroom. While the living area slide moves in and out like silk, the bedroom slide tends to go out bottom first, tilting it toward coach at the top and then lets loose with a bang about halfway out and levels out. Can't believe this is normal and I've got it on a check list for dealer visit, but in the meantime we are using the coach and I don't want to break anything. My only thought is the seals are sticking at the top and then letting loose as the slide works its way out. Locks are not engaged, I checked.

Anyone have any thoughts on what the trouble might be.

[Jim Stewart]

Some slides, those without a flat floor, such as bedroom tend to tilt and raise as you describe. May be normal, but not the bang. Have someone look at the underside as you are extending the slide to see if it is catching on anything, that would explain the bang.

I had one that the metal tolerances were too close and it would bend the metal below until it reached a point where the metal let go of it and it would do what you describe as the bang.

[Luv2go]

Dave, that is not normal. Your slide is very tall and not very wide (according to the floorplan). Because of this it could tilt some but should not bang.

Can you put the slide out until it tilts, but does not let go, then stop and push on the top by hand? Does it go out with a bang? Can you look between the ceiling and the slide top to see where it is binding? It should be pretty obvious, maybe a small mirror and light would help?

Maybe the top is catching on the slide opening?

I think there are some height adjustments, there are for both my slides. Since your coach is under warranty, it should be relatively easily fixed by the dealer.

Stewart

["007"]

Check your top of slide outside frame and make sure the top metal frame isn't binding on header of outside wall frame.
If its ok than maybe the rubber seal is sticking to frame opening at top of slide. You can try and place some talc on rubber seal and see if that helps. May have to use a cloth with pole to reach under slide awning cover.

[DandS]

Found a can of Slide Seal Conditioner in my tool box - sprayed both side seals and top seal as far as I could reach under the slide awning. Seems to help a little, got rid of the violent jar but the slide still goes out bottom first. If I push on the top from inside I can get it squared. Seems like it must need some adjustments. Doesn't appear to be binding on top frame.

["007"]

If your slide mechanism looks like this only adjustment is the stop to wall and other end to close stop near cabinets on this rod.
Has nothing to do with height and if you look outside will only see floor of slide.
If you look closely you can see a roller at top of slot on floor, make sure its attached to brackets both sides of roller.
You can find more info on this setup in Quick Tips, Dales threads.

[DandS]

007 - Thanks for the suggestions and pix. However, my slide is nothing like the one pictured - it moves a drawer/wardrobe/cabinet section out and is relatively shallow. The set-up appears to be bottom heavy as there is a double row of drawers at the bottom. Our king bed is fixed, the storage is in the slide. I have not looked closely at the mechanism but I believe it is accessible from storage compartments below. Will get in there tomorrow and see what I can find. I do know it is a single actuator as opposed to the LR slide which is double and on rollers.

[Charles & Dawn]

Hope I'm welcome lol...We had sounds like a similar problem with our 2005 Cardinal 5th wheel when we got it took it back to dealer said they had to adjust the slide.It's been all good since.

[Scottsdale]

Have someone run the slide out while you watch it from the outside. If you have a slide topper awning, make sure that it is not catching and holding the top of the slide back. I had this happen on my large LR slide.

[BCook57]

The wardrobe slide on our '07 DSDP operates the same way, albeit without the "bang." The bottom goes out first, then the top rocks out. I initially thought it was out of alignment, but it is not. I had the dealer check it when new, and I had it checked by Newmar at the factory, and both places said the "bottom first - then top" operation was normal. I've never had a problem with it moving in either direction.

[DandS]

Bob - Appreciate the comment on how your slide works. Maybe that is just the nature of the beast on that type construction. By putting seal conditioner on the seals, I freed it up a lot so it no longer tilts out violently. I suspect the seals were sticking at the top for some reason. Can live with what I have now til I get it to the dealer - still want it checked.