Fleetwood Slides caving in

[tedward1555]

Hi I just hooked up at a new park and while outside I noticed the bottom of the bedroom slide is drooping and separating from the side wall. The slide seems to go in and out effortlessly. Anybody got any ideas what might be causing this? The other side is fine.
Thanks
Ed

[Pat Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedward1555 Hi I just hooked up at a new park and while outside I noticed the bottom of the bedroom slide is drooping and separating from the side wall. The slide seems to go in and out effortlessly. Anybody got any ideas what might be causing this? The other side is fine. Thanks Ed

It almost looks like water got in there and froze.

[tedward1555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat Z It almost looks like water got in there and froze.

I see what you mean, however I started noticing a little bit of a droop on that side back when it was cold/freezing, but it had not separated from the side wall and I just thought it was a mfg error that wouldn't be a problem... but now that its warm weather I see the complete separation. This has happened in the last week. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it goes further. Either way it has to go into the dealer to look at and fix. I would assume this is a warranty issue but which one???? Fleetwood? Freightliner? Power Gear? Not sure

[Pat Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedward1555 I see what you mean, however I started noticing a little bit of a droop on that side back when it was cold/freezing, but it had not separated from the side wall and I just thought it was a mfg error that wouldn't be a problem... but now that its warm weather I see the complete separation. This has happened in the last week. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it goes further. Either way it has to go into the dealer to look at and fix. I would assume this is a warranty issue but which one???? Fleetwood? Freightliner? Power Gear? Not sure

i would think Fleetwood. Good Luck

[gripper]

Hi Tedward1555,

Seems like our paths have crossed again. Maybe because we both own Fleetwoods? My slide (passenger side, front end), did the same thing! So far, it has not gotten any worse than when I first noticed it, about a year ago. I just put some silicone sealer on it, to keep the water out. I would be interested in what you find, as to the cause and will be following the thread.

Roland

[tedward1555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gripper Hi Tedward1555, Seems like our paths have crossed again. Maybe because we both own Fleetwoods? My slide (passenger side, front end), did the same thing! So far, it has not gotten any worse than when I first noticed it, about a year ago. I just put some silicone sealer on it, to keep the water out. I would be interested in what you find, as to the cause and will be following the thread. Roland

Hi Roland... I'll let you know. I have an appointment for service next week with a list of other items so this goes on it. I will not be happy with just a seal fix. This shouldn't happen.
Thanks
Ed

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedward1555 Hi Roland... I'll let you know. I have an appointment for service next week with a list of other items so this goes on it. I will not be happy with just a seal fix. This shouldn't happen. Thanks Ed

Let me know too , please , as I have had a small separation on the driver slide front and rear. I was at the Fleetwood factory and they put some geocel on and said it's no big deal ( they were in bankruptcy at the time , however they treated me royally ). That was in June and it hasn't gotten any worse.

Cliff

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall Fleetwood factory said it's no big deal Cliff

If its no big deal...wonder why they don't just build them this way. IMHO, any kind of separation and or de-lamination may not be a "big deal now" but it could lead to some really serious problems later.

Ed, my understanding is that FW is not honoring any warranty items pre bankruptcy. I hope I misunderstood.

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Check this link Question about Fleetwood Slides because I have the same problem on two of my three slides. I too called Fleetwood and sent them the same photo. Their reply was to drill and countersink and use flat head screws to pull the floor back up. I did just that, and it closed the gap and now there's no crack showing. I used #10 X 1-inch Stainless Steel flat head screws and it seemed to work okay. If you do this be careful when drilling and make sure you don't drill in to far from the edge. You will miss the metal frame if you get too far in. I'd say about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in from the edge. Apparently there is an angle iron frame. Not far enough and your drill will be drilling into the vertical section of the angle iron. Make sure you use a large enough drill bit so when screwing in the screws you won't break one.

I then siliconed using a good grade of silicon sealant. If you do this get Big Stretch Silicon Sealant. It is much better about not cracking over time. It stays flexible and doesn't seem to crack and pull away like many of them do.

As a side note: when I drilled one of the holes on the far outside corner of the bedroom slide water came running out. It drained for about two minutes. I have no idea how it got in there unless it was from sweating. I found no other signs of water inside or anywhere else in this area.

Be sure and look further down in the posting, page 2, I think, because I posted a photo showing what it looks like after I put in the screws.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob (WA0MQE) Check this link Question about Fleetwood Slides because I have the same problem on two of my three slides. I too called Fleetwood and sent them the same photo. Their reply was to drill and countersink and use flat head screws to pull the floor back up. I did just that, and it closed the gap and now there's no crack showing. I used #10 X 1-inch Stainless Steel flat head screws and it seemed to work okay. If you do this be careful when drilling and make sure you don't drill in to far from the edge. You will miss the metal frame if you get too far in. I'd say about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in from the edge. Apparently there is an angle iron frame. Not far enough and your drill will be drilling into the vertical section of the angle iron. Make sure you use a large enough drill bit so when screwing in the screws you won't break one. I then siliconed using a good grade of silicon sealant. If you do this get Big Stretch Silicon Sealant. It is much better about not cracking over time. It stays flexible and doesn't seem to crack and pull away like many of them do. As a side note: when I drilled one of the holes on the far outside corner of the bedroom slide water came running out. It drained for about two minutes. I have no idea how it got in there unless it was from sweating. I found no other signs of water inside or anywhere else in this area. Be sure and look further down in the posting, page 2, I think, because I posted a photo showing what it looks like after I put in the screws.

Thanks Bob. I saw your photos and was wondering what the fix would be.

I will do the same to mine. How many screws did they suggest you use, as it's a 30" slide.

Thanks

Cliff

[tedward1555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob (WA0MQE) Check this link Question about Fleetwood Slides because I have the same problem on two of my three slides. I too called Fleetwood and sent them the same photo. Their reply was to drill and countersink and use flat head screws to pull the floor back up. I did just that, and it closed the gap and now there's no crack showing. I used #10 X 1-inch Stainless Steel flat head screws and it seemed to work okay. If you do this be careful when drilling and make sure you don't drill in to far from the edge. You will miss the metal frame if you get too far in. I'd say about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in from the edge. Apparently there is an angle iron frame. Not far enough and your drill will be drilling into the vertical section of the angle iron. Make sure you use a large enough drill bit so when screwing in the screws you won't break one. I then siliconed using a good grade of silicon sealant. If you do this get Big Stretch Silicon Sealant. It is much better about not cracking over time. It stays flexible and doesn't seem to crack and pull away like many of them do. As a side note: when I drilled one of the holes on the far outside corner of the bedroom slide water came running out. It drained for about two minutes. I have no idea how it got in there unless it was from sweating. I found no other signs of water inside or anywhere else in this area. Be sure and look further down in the posting, page 2, I think, because I posted a photo showing what it looks like after I put in the screws.

Thanks a bunch. If it turns out to not be a warranty issue, I will do a fix like yours too. I was also wondering about adding an extra security angle iron on the outside too.... any ideas about that? If Fleetwood didn't build them to last, we should retrofit them to last ourselves... I spent way too much money on this rig to just accept a half hearted "no big deal" from Fleetwood. Let me know what you think about an extra external angle iron... I'd have to check/test to make sure it goes in with the slide so couldn't be too thick of steel but probably wouldn't need to be more than maybe 18 gauge to do the job.
Thoughts?
Ed

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall Thanks Bob. I saw your photos and was wondering what the fix would be. I will do the same to mine. How many screws did they suggest you use, as it's a 30" slide. Thanks Cliff

Bob, I saw your photo on the other thread and the answer to my question is 3 screws.

Thanks for all the updates. They were quite helpful to me and others , I'm sure.

Cliff

[Clifftall]

Ed, my understanding is that FW is not honoring any warranty items pre bankruptcy. I hope I misunderstood.[/QUOTE]

Jim, They are honoring the first year warr. as I was told by them.

Cliff

[tedward1555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall Ed, my understanding is that FW is not honoring any warranty items pre bankruptcy. I hope I misunderstood.

Jim, They are honoring the first year warr. as I was told by them.

Cliff[/QUOTE]

When was Bankruptcy ? And since my providence was originally titled on 07/18/2008 I guess either way I'm out of luck on the slide issue right?

But all other warranties still apply right? Freightliner 5yr, Cummins 5yr, etc