Holiday Rambler Slide Use

[roscoesdad]

Posted this on the RVNET, but thought I would come to the "experts" for a answer.

The Manual on my 2005 Holiday Rambler Ambassador states, have airbags fully inflated before putting slides in or out. This means, unless I am confused:

When arriving:
1. Pull into parking spot.
2. Put slides out
3. Dump airbags
4. Level MH using jacks.

When leaving:
1. Start engine and let airbags fully inflate.
2. Raise jacks.
3. Put slides in.

Does this sound logical? I wonder why you could not dump the air, level the MH with the jacks, and then operate the slides. Sounds like operating the slides with the MH level would be better.

[Route 66]

Welcome to iRV2!

HR/Monaco does recommend to extend the slides before leveling, which is the opposite of most other manufacturers.

[BaldOldBob]

We've used the "Monaco method" during most of our 4 plus years of fulltiming with no problems. I say most of our 4 plus years because early on we did it the more reasonable sounding way. Then when we cracked a windshield it came to me that just maybe Monaco knew what they were saying. Also learned to drop the air rather than empty the air tanks. Never have had a problem since. For us it was a live and learn thing.

[Diplomat Don]

roscoesdad......When your coach was built, the slides were installed and adjusted when the coach was AIRED up on level ground. This is when all of the openings are square. When you pull into a campground, even when the site is not level, the coach is still in the aired up position with everything supported correctly. The openings are as square as they will get. When you dump the airbags, the coach is still pretty square, but as soon as you start using the jacks, the frame can get twisted (slightly) and the openings are no longer square. Now you're trying to push a square slide out of a tweaked opening.

One thing I would add to your list. When you have electrical hookups, I always plug the coach in first, connect the water and sewer while the slides are still in and then extend the slides with the help of shore power. I do the the reverse when I'm ready to leave. I leave the disconnecting of the power and plumbing until the slides are back in.

[AKBrick]

Actually you forgot that before starting your engine, you have to bring your jacks up first so that the frame won't get twisted when the engine starts.

Jacks up
Start engine to air up
Turn off engine/ Put slides in

AKBrick

[Batman_777]

Fleetwood emphasizes the platform should be level and stable with the jacks down before moving the slides, and the engine must be running for the slides motors to operate (Freightliner thing). Never move slides on an unlevel or unstable platform and never have the wheels in the air (Use leveling blocks). The power lift jacks are not made to suspend the entire weight of the RV in the air since the unit may wobble and twist the frame structure and damage the jacks.

Arriving:
1) Motor on
2) Jacks Down
3) Move slides out
4) Motor off

Departure:
1) Motor on
2) Jacks should still be down
3) Move slides in
4) Jacks up

[Diplomat Don]

Batman_777....Monaco, on the Roadmaster chassis, recommends just the opposite of the other brands.

[itdave]

I am not sure why the frame would get twisted if you air up before lifting the jacks. I most cases when I air up the coach the jacks come off the ground as the coach reaches ride hight. When the coach has been raised a lot on the jacks this does not happen, however if I raise the jacks without air in the bags doesn't the coach end up resting on the deflated air bags stop. So I can't see where the twisting is coming from.

For owners of other Motor Homes we Monaco owners know that the process for a Monaco coach may be different from what your manufacture recommends. We have found that following Monaco's directions prevents damage to things like the windshield.

[roscoesdad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKBrick Actually you forgot that before starting your engine, you have to bring your jacks up first so that the frame won't get twisted when the engine starts. Jacks up Start engine to air up Turn off engine/ Put slides in AKBrick

Quote:

Originally Posted by itdave I am not sure why the frame would get twisted if you air up before lifting the jacks. I most cases when I air up the coach the jacks come off the ground as the coach reaches ride hight. When the coach has been raised a lot on the jacks this does not happen, however if I raise the jacks without air in the bags doesn't the coach end up resting on the deflated air bags stop. So I can't see where the twisting is coming from. For owners of other Motor Homes we Monaco owners know that the process for a Monaco coach may be different from what your manufacture recommends. We have found that following Monaco's directions prevents damage to things like the windshield.

My thoughts are that the airbags will lift the jacks, so I lift the jacks after airing the bags. I also have to shut engine down to move slides, but I can dump air using acc. on ing. after slides are extended. I then turn ign. to on and use jacks. Every bell and whistle on the dash comes on while setting jacks.

[MonacoMama]

PLEASE IGNORE any post made by a NON-Monaco Owner unless they tell you to follow the manufacturer procedures. It will always be one of my pet peeves when someone comes in to tell us what they do with their coach. It does not apply to Monaco Brand RVs.