Community Forums

Bill Fleming · 05-19-2010, 10:36 AM

I have a Model AC36201 Year 2001 Alpine, with two slides. The rear slide (which contains the closet) has always been sluggish. It is now VERY sluggish. To open it I have to push hard, move with switch, push hard again and so on about 3-4 times to get it to open. Closing is a bit better, but also starting to need some muscle power help. I believe this slide is moved by an electric motor, not the HWH hydraulic system (but not sure).
Can anything be done to improve it? I have sprayed lubricant on the tracks. If electric, can the motor be exchanged for a more powerful one?
THANKS!

JLMunsil · 05-19-2010, 11:23 AM

Bill, Try putting a spray lube or baby powder on all seals inside and out. Be sure to use lube thats ok for rubber.

Bill Fleming · 05-19-2010, 11:56 AM

Hi Jim
I had not heard of the use of talcum powder - will try that soon. Special spray lube for slides has not helped much.
Thanks!

JLMunsil · 05-19-2010, 12:41 PM

I had the same problem with my closet slide on my 2002. The bottom would start out and the top would not follow without a push then it would go the rest of the way fine. I would lube it than it would be fine for awhile. It seemed to hang up more often as time went on. I looked for a way to adjust it thinking that it was rubbing to much on one side or the other. It could be done but would require supporting the slide.(not so easy) I decided that the slide was centered ok and that the seals were getting stiffer with age. So more lube. Could be that the motor is getting weak. Don't know where to get a replacement. Maybe others have ideas.

GMDavidson · 05-19-2010, 12:49 PM

I also have a 2001 with the same problem. At the Quartzite ACA rally in January I was told to try baby powder as a lubricant. It helped greatly and almost worked without me applying some manual arm power form inside.

It is an electric motor - but I'm not sure a bigger motor, if it would fit, would help. If your's is like mine, when the slide goes out, the top somehow binds and doesn't go out the same as the bottom - probably because the force to extend the slide is all on the bottom of the slide.

The problem, as best I can tell, is when the top seal reverses. Hope you follow that - the top seal points inside when the slide is in, and outside when it's out. You have to push till the seal reverses.

I tried an alignment procedure that I got from WRV before they went out of business - didn't fix anything.

I sure would be interested in a permanent fix.

Bill Fleming · 05-19-2010, 12:57 PM

Thanks guys - looks like the baby powder is the next step.

dgerstel · 05-21-2010, 08:13 PM

Has anyone checked the voltage at the motor while the slide is being operated? I am having a problem with my entry step cover and have found a voltage drop at the switch on the ground side. I plan to, just add a better ground, it can be very hard to trace where the one being used now is coming from.

WRV told me about the powder on the slide seals and I have found it to work very well. I always had to help the top of the closet slide on our 2002, I did not lube the slide seals on it with powder.

Renipladlo · 05-22-2010, 01:36 AM

I am not sure in the alpines, but WRV used Power Gear units in the 5th wheels. Since WRV moved a lot of systems in the early models from the fivers to the MH's, I would assume that you might have a power gear slide unit and if you could get numbers off the motor (compartment somewhere near the slide) their should be a motor in there. Once you have the model and serial numbers you can search the net and find what you have. But I would give power gear a try.