Slide guides breaking out

[Doo]

I am looking at a 1997 Excel Esquire 33 foot used trailer. I have been told that Excel had a problem with the slide guides and gears braking loose from the outside edge of the slide out. Has anyone had this problem or is it just this one couples problem or lack of proper maintance. Is there any other problems on these 97 models I need to look at before I buy it. Thanks

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doo I am looking at a 1997 Excel Esquire 33 foot used trailer. I have been told that Excel had a problem with the slide guides and gears braking loose from the outside edge of the slide out. Has anyone had this problem or is it just this one couples problem or lack of proper maintance. Is there any other problems on these 97 models I need to look at before I buy it. Thanks

Doo....welcome to the forum......I've sent you an email, to hopefully answer your question. rockin'

[MonacoMama]

Welcome to iRV2, Doo !! You will find the members here at Excel full of all sorts of info... all you need to do is ask!
Good Luck on your research of the 97 Excel. I am sure you will enjoy it.

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doo I am looking at a 1997 Excel Esquire 33 foot used trailer. I have been told that Excel had a problem with the slide guides and gears braking loose from the outside edge of the slide out.

Doo...are you referring to the plate that's part of the slide ram and where it attaches to the 'slide rooms wall'. Below is a picture of mine, because of age...yours might be different.



workhorse

[Doo]

Thanks for the reply. How does this connect to the slide wall. I understand it is fastened to wood. Is this had to replace or does the slide have to come out to replace where it fastens on to the slide

[Doo]

If I can figure out how to post a picture I will take some oictures of how it looks Thursday when I look at it again all set up.

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doo Thanks for the reply. How does this connect to the slide wall. I understand it is fastened to wood. Is this had to replace or does the slide have to come out to replace where it fastens on to the slide

Posting pictures seems easier now than in the past...but than again I've already figured it out. If you need help, you can send me the photos and I'll post them.

On the photo I sent, the ram plate is attached to the slide by the single bolt that is seen at the bottom of the plate. The slide itself, on mine, is attached to the ram plates by the bolt, one on each ram plate, and four larger bolts/nuts and multiple screws that go through a 2" angle iron section that is connected to the two plates.

I will try an post photos of those tonight.

My unit, when I purchased it, had the rear skirt bad due to moisture damage and was repaired by the dealer and made better by me later. No the slide does not have to be removed to make the repair. Found out later that the front skirt was also bad and I did the repair at a later date.
If your handy, have the tools and the time....should be able to.

workhorse

[Workshop]

Doo here's a few additional photos.

Front ram plate on the sofa/dinette slide. Shows two of the four bolts and the angle iron section that is connected to the two plates. In theroy the slide room sits on and connected to the angle and plates.




Ram plate on Rockin's 2005 excel. Different setup and attachments.




Rear skirt on my unit when I 'was making the dealer repair better'. Basically 2x6 materials to make the skirt. Runs from the wheel well to the rear of the slide skirt.

[rockintom]

Thanks for helping Doo.....workhorse. For some strange reason...I thought the original material was interior plywood? And the long term fix (pre 2004) was treated or exterior plywood. See what I get for thinking......Workhorse's Beast had been "dealer repaired" prior to his fine purchase. Does anyone know more???....inquiring "know it all" minds want to know!!!

[Workshop]

Rockin' this is what I remember about the rear skirt. There was a thread back in Nov 07 and this was a comment that was made about the skirt....there was other info there that was usefull also. Other than that I don't know. When I repaired the front skirt....it was 2x2 framing and had ply on the exterior wall. Would assume the rear needed more stuff.

[rockintom]

Thanks for refreshing my old mind of that earlier posted subject matter. SKIA done forgot!!! rockin'

[Doo]

The last picture you posted with the skirt covering pulled back, is this the wood that rots out? Did I read right that part of it is boxed in and you have to relace the inner wood inside the box. As long as I don't have to mess with anything on the siding I should be Ok fixing it on my own. I use to build houses when I was younger so working with wood is all most second nature. If I fix it it will get treated wood put back and then treated again after it installed. I don't like doing things twice.

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doo The last picture you posted with the skirt covering pulled back, is this the wood that rots out? Did I read right that part of it is boxed in and you have to relace the inner wood inside the box. As long as I don't have to mess with anything on the siding I should be Ok fixing it on my own.

___The last picture you posted with the skirt covering pulled back, is this the wood that rots out? ....I do not know what the original looked like...from what was said in the 'comment' link above, the rear skirt is made from 2x6 material. How much of it will be damaged, I don't know. But as you can see on my unit....from below the slide floor down and from the wheel well back was replace. Was the damage that extensive don't know. When I was initally looking at the unit...the slide was retracted and the fiberglass started to bend about a foot up from the bottom before we stoped it. So at least it was weak at least at that point.



___Did I read right that part of it is boxed in and you have to relace the inner wood inside the box. ....Don't know about a box? The darker wood just below the floor is original, the vertical 2x2 on the right is also and is part of the wall that extends to the roof of the slide. The section at the bottom, I don't believe is original....just different wood and believe wasn't pressure treated, go figure...



This picture shows the outside, they chose to cut the bottom of the wall out and repair the skirt and put the fiberglass back on.....If given the option, I would work from the 'inside' out and repair/replace the wood and leave the glass in place and not have to install a trim to cover the cut as on mine. I have repaired several sections on mine this way and it's just as easy to do.





This is the trim section that was referred to that caused the damage to the bottom of the skirts.....I drilled holes in mine, as suggested, when doing the repairs to the front and rear skirts and caulked it well.





___As long as I don't have to mess with anything on the siding I should be Ok fixing it on my own. ....the slide room sits on the slide assembly and is only attached with the bolts and screws. Don't see where the slide assembly would be affected. Might have to take off the rear slide flange trim and fender depending on damage.




If you buy the unit and need assistance, feel free to ask.


workhorse

[Doo]

I think I am going to buy it. It is priced too well to turn down. I looked at it tonight and when the slide out is operated it doesn't move or give at the wood area. It does have some wood rot starting. It feels like a piece of rotting plywood then behind it, it is hard. Did the factory put plywood over the top of 2x6 boards. The tires were throwing water up on the rear outside corner of dinning table sofa slide (big slide on driver side) fllor and the wood show slight sign of this but is not soft or rotting. The owner but mud flaps on this trailer and stopped the water problem a there all together. These are the only two places I found any where on the trailer. There is NO spots anywhere on the inside with signs of any watert leaking in. The rubber roof is like new, just alittle dirty from sitting in the barn all winter. A little elbow greese will solve this problem. I'm getting ready to call the guy and confirm I will take it. I can work on the small problem through the winter. In south central Kansas we have several good days through the winter I can work on it. Thanks for all the help so far, but I know I will be asking for more. This has been a good site I have loged onto all you all have been great and it makes me proud to be an Excel owner.