Broken hydraulic kitchen slide

[Bruce and Jenna]

I wonder if anyone else has had trouble with the hydraulic slide mechanism. My big slide (kitchen/entertainment) hydraulic ram system has broken twice in the past three months on my three year old 33RSE.

The first time the mounting plate for the ram on the slide apparently bent. The bottom mounting bolt may have failed. Or the bolt may have failed because the plate bent. I understand that PI now builds that plate stronger. The dealer reinforced the plate.

Three months later, it has failed again, even after PI sent me a new hydraulic ram and gear set. The square arm with the teeth on the bottom cracked, requiring more welding and the ram warped enough to require replacement. Don't know why this time. PI says "Bad install." First dealer says they have seen a lot of slide failures. A different dealer is replacing it now.

I don't know if I can rely on the slide any longer. As well as the high cost of repairs.

So I wonder if others on this forum have run into this problem.

[Endeavor2BnC]

Knock on wood. No problems to date.

[KU9L]

We have the electric version since we have the RT. I had Ralph take a look at our big slide last week when we passed through Smith Center since our big slide had failed to move out a couple of times. Our coach sat for a year on the dealers lot before we bought it, then we spent 6 months stationary in SW FL. It was easy to get the slide moving again once Ralph told me what to do. After some extra focus on key places to lube spray the slide action became smooth again after a dozen actuations over a few weeks. Ralph says to lube it once per month and actuate it once per month even if we are stationary for longer than that. Even though the electrics are slower, I think I am going to consider ordering them on our next coach even if we get the Limited version.

Also, we are considering the 33GKE floorplan instead of the 33RSE next time as the big slide is only 2' deep instead of 4' that seems to make things a whole lot more complicated. When I bought our first Excel from Kay Wilks in Morairity, I heard all of the horror stories about hydraulics so she scared us away from them to begin with. I hope this is your last hydraulic repair for a long, long time to come!

Dave

[Bruce and Jenna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KU9L When I bought our first Excel from Kay Wilks in Morairity, I heard all of the horror stories about hydraulics so she scared us away from them to begin with. Dave

Stories similar to mine?

[KU9L]

Not sure ... think it more on the line of broken hoses and pumps, but since I was new to 5ers it was a scary thing to hear that anything on RV's weren't perfect!

[Bruce and Jenna]

Does anyone else have an RSE with an electric motor for the slides instead of the newer hydraulic? Or, more to the point, converted from hydraulic to electric?

[KU9L]

We have electric only, the RT didn't have the hydraulic option. Our main slide pulled in okay, but had to get it going manually once to get them to go out again. Service said it was because the slide rams needed cleaning, although they were pretty clean before I lubricated them when they got stuck. In the 12 times we have exercised the slide since it appears to be actuating and moving much smoother. Getting the slide moving again involved getting a small closed end wrench on the gear box of the motor to turn it counter clockwise about 2 - 3 revolutions where it started working on its own after that.

Dave

[Bruce and Jenna]

In my case, the hydraulic ram bent to useless. Moving the slide required sitting under the slide and turning the square arm that keeps the two ends moving together. Took much effort with a pipe wrench with a pipe extension for leverage.

Unfortunately, mine has broken twice in a few months. Second hand I've learned that I must take it to a dealer for adjustment from time to time, as yet undefined.

I did not know that 2007 was the first year for hydraulic rams. Normally I do not purchase Version 1.0 of anything. This may be another example. Thus do I consider reverting to the prior hardware.

[KU9L]

Factory service first instructed us to turn the square arm with a pipe wrench, but I couldn't get it to budge anything at all. Then when I tried it on the gearbox of the electric motor it turned very easy. Having no experience with the hydraulics at all and two coaches with electric only slides, it is so easy to want to lean toward electric only on all of my future slides as well. I see the attraction of the hydraulics in speed, just not to complication for extra things to break like that. Electrics might be slower, but how much time is saved that it would really come in handy? Of course the 4-way leveling is an appealing idea to many!

Dave

[rockintom]

Bruce,

I don't think considering retrofitting to an electric system is prudent or cost worthy. I think getting your rig into a good and confident repair facility to get your rig repaired is the answer. I'm familiar with the basic system operation that is used with the Lippert hydraulics. We used a very similar system in automotive applications IE convertible/retractable tops. Overall they are fairly good. I know Lippert had some valving issues, etc. in the early days. Also ram cylinder rod adjustment is critical. And on your '07 model, the flange slide bracket was not properly supported (lacking side brackets for strength). I'm thinking that if you get someone good to fix/update your system.......you'd be OK. I make it sound easy don't I? rockin'

[Bruce and Jenna]

Dave,
The hydraulic pump has a similar manual method, i.e. a phillips screw end on the motor to spin it. However, since the ram system broke the first time and bent the second time, it wouldn't move the slide. Grunting and groaning ensued.

They would have to take the hydraulic leveling control from my cold uncalloused thumb.

Rockin',
I've been told that the problem is a heavy deep slide (kitchen and entertainment with lotsa storage) coupled with a ram on the extreme end of the slide. The ram pushes the entire heavy slide out from the front corner (towards the truck). Which raises the question - where is the electric ram? On the extreme end like mine, or near the center of the slide?

[Workshop]

Bruce if I understand your statement and question....are you saying that on the units that have a hydraulic slide that only one ram rail is 'powered' by a cylinder and not both..? and one is used to extend and retract the slide. On the electric slide, at least mine...both rams are used to extend and retract the slide room, except the bedroom slide which is centered and completely different.

On my unit which has the entertainment, pantry and refrig...it does not have a flush floor and 'rides' above the floor.....assume yours is flush? Mine is 24" deep and over 10 ft in length. I wish the main slide moves as smooth as it does.

Are you saying that your slide is broken again and can't be retracted?

workhorse

[rockintom]

*To keep it very simple, the electric slide system use a motor, gearbox, pinion and gear mechanism that runs the slide in and out. Power is applied to both slide rams. The pinion and gear set up on the electric slide was also used for room timing.

*The hydraulic system uses a single cylinder with a shaft to move one end of the slide in and out, the pinion and gear system that was used on the electric system is now used as a transfer of power from one ram to another and also for room timing. Clear as mud ain't it. I wish I could explain it better......that's why I rely on pix so much!!! rockin'

[BookIIRoadtrash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom *The hydraulic system uses a single cylinder with a shaft to move one end of the slide in and out, the pinion and gear system that was used on the electric system is now used as a transfer of power from one ram to another and also for room timing. Clear as mud ain't it. I wish I could explain it better......that's why I rely on pix so much!!! rockin'

And the main floor slides the ram extends to make the slide go out and retracts to make the slide come in, but the bed room slide the ram is retracted to move it out and extended to bring it in.