Sticky slide & bent flange

[GoneFishin]

As I was pulling in the driver's side slide it stuck a little & I thought it was the black weatherstripping. No big deal.

But the next time I pulled in the slide I realized at the last minute that it was more than a little sticky this time. The slide started to come in, sort of angling up at the bottom as usual, but then I noticed that the front area of the slide was really sticking and not coming in like the back half of the slide was. Then BAM! it came unstuck and moved in as usual. I stopped it and checked with Rick who had been watching from the outside of the motorhome. It looked OK from where he was, but we didn't realize what had happened until he came in and we looked at the inside of the slide.

On the interior, right behind the driver's seat, there is a small round slide lock mechanism attached to the wall at the top front of the slide. It's attached with 3 screws to the wall and we've never used the slide lock bar. One of the screws caught the top front flange of the slide and bent it. Rick managed to straighten it a little, but there's not much room to work in because the top of the slide is close to the ceiling. After he removed the trouble-making screw and straightened the flange as best he could, we slowly but surely put the slide out.

I don't think it will stick again with the screw not there anymore and I sure didn't think about it being a problem before. Anyone ever have this happen?

[R&J]

HI
Stop by a Auto body shop, wouldn't take them 30 mim to repair it.
? Rick and Mic are you still in Oregon
Rich & Joan

[Drifter]

Wow, Now you know why I carry all those tools, like those big C-clamps everybody was teasing me about at Quartzsite. I only have one question, was any of the fishing equipment hurt? I hope not, that would be a real problem.

[GoneFishin]

Rich & Joan,
We are currently in Ocean City, WA & moving soon to Chehalis. Where are you guys?

Luckily, we don't think the sticky slide will be too much of an issue anymore. At the campground in MT where we spend the summer there is an auto repair shop at the campground for all the local ranchers, farmers and locals. If we need any help we'll probably be able to get it there.

[GoneFishin]

Hey Drifter! How are you guys?

Rick says he never, nor will he ever, tease you about the wide assortment of tools you carry on-board. We have C-clamps with us and he probably wishes he had brought the larger ones. With the 'wood' trim on the inside of the slide and the limited room with the ceiling there's not much more he can do. He was going on about having a piece of steel and being able to clamp it, but I think we'll be fine (have yet to bring the slide in again ). I'm the worrier in the family. And nothing was damaged, especially the fly rods! They are tucked away in the special padded tubes that Rick built in the storage bay.

We both didn't think much about it when it stuck the first time. We thought maybe the black rubber seal needed cleaning. After all, we've been on the coast for the past couple months. Who would have thought that the company would install something on the wall that would interfere with the slide?? My lesson learned from this is to really investigate anything that's not right, even if it seems minor. It could become major.

[Drifter]

Were back in Michigan in paradise. We wish you were hear.

[GoneFishin]

Ahh man!! That does look like a nice place. We're only 2,440 miles away.

[Drifter]

When can we expect you?

[GoneFishin]

Mike,
IF you said you were making your yummy grilled salmon and roasted potatoes & onions with real butter I'd drive real fast.

Thanks for taking my mind off the slide.

[R&J]

Just out side of Portland off I-205 , at the stick built home. It about 1 1/2 hour away. It look like the way it was bent it would keep the slide from going all the way out. Take care
Rich
R&J

Mike
Nice looking place to spend the summer, next to a lake