New National owner needs help PLEASE

KenneyG · 01-02-2010, 08:56 AM

Our family are new owners of a 1997 National Dolphin RV

and I would like some info about the good and bad about the Dolphin, also in the slide-out book it talks about the transit bars and I think I have them but do not know where to install them, could someone help me out Please

Thanks Ken

Belgian · 01-02-2010, 11:15 AM

Congrats on the new MH. National made some great motorhomes, I'm sure you'll love yours. I think the transit bars are to insure the slide stays retracted while driving. I would imagine they would go inside the MH between the slide facia and the outer wall of the MH. Maybe some owners of 97 Dolphins can give you a better idea of the use and if you even need them. Normally the slide motor has a builtin lock to keep the slide retracted while driving. Have fun with the new Dolphin

Jeepster47 · 01-02-2010, 12:32 PM

Our 2005 Dolphin doesn't have transit bars. It uses a magnetic motor lock to hold the lounge slide closed.

Ed

DarrylGF · 01-03-2010, 10:08 AM

I had to buy some "Transit" lock bars as the slide bounces going down the road and lets in rain near the top. Just bought some new Pickup bed cargo bars and took them apart and cut them down to fit between the slide facia and the wall of the motor home. They are a ratchet type (similar to a caulking gun) and works real well. Only thing when you go to release them you need a hand tool of some sort as they lock pretty tight. I put mine on top as I had one on the side and it dropped on my head while driving down the road. There is a lot of flexing going on in these rigs. Newer motor motor homes have automatic slide locks built in. HWH manufacturing makes them. Wish I had a set but you have to go thru a dealer to get them and probably get them installed also.
Oh yeah, I had the slide bars that Camping World sells but I sure didn't like them, that is the one that fell on my head!
Darryl 99 Tradewinds 7370