Community Forums

Max Hubrich · 02-11-2009, 04:03 AM

Any ideas on keeping the slide seals "slippery and not folding under" as the slides move in and out? I am using "303 Aerospace Protectant" several times a year to keep the rubber soft and supple and polishing the slide surfaces. The inner lip of the seal still "folds under" in some places. The windows located on the ends of the livingroom slide don't help my concerns either.

"007" · 02-11-2009, 04:11 AM

Max have treated seals the same way you have, they will still fold, have found when folded, place the loop end of your awning rod under fold and flip seal so it rests flat against the side wall. Just something else to check when putting out awnings.

Gary RVRoamer · 02-11-2009, 05:37 AM

Those rubber flaps aren't the seals anyway - they are basically just "wipers" that clean off water droplets and debris that cling to the sides and top. The "seals" are the rubber molding on the inside edge of the outer skin (which form a tight seal against the sidewall when the slide is closed) and on the outside edge of the slide inner wall (which forms a tight seal against the inside wall when the slide is all the way out).

DriVer · 02-11-2009, 06:19 AM

Some manufactures will offer that a silicone spray lube be applied to the bulb sealing surfaces after a quick cleaning.

AFChap · 02-11-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

ideas on keeping the slide seals "slippery and not folding under"

I have found that the more "slippery" I make the wipe seals and slide walls, the MORE LIKELY they are not to properly flip. They need some resistance there to help them turn over. I have never "lubed" the rubber on my slides directly. I did use corn starch a couple of times (Winnebago recommendation) but as I said, that just made the no flip problem worse because it made things too slick!

BigSkyBob · 02-11-2009, 11:26 AM

Max, I have adhesive backed traction tape about 2" wide at each slide wiper. This is on the inner part of the slide and contacts the slide wiper just before the slide is in the full out position. This ensures the wiper is out and folds the wiper back in when the slide is brought back in. This material can be purchased at Lowe's in rolls that are 4" wide and can be cut to 2". Mine have been working well for a year and a half and are OEM.

dieselclacker · 02-11-2009, 01:06 PM

Good idea on the traction tape Bob, think I will do that to my slides, thanks for info.

Dieselclacker

geomar · 02-16-2009, 05:56 AM

The adhesive back traction tape helps much as stated above.

Max Hubrich · 02-16-2009, 02:45 PM

Bob,

How do you install this "traction tape".

Is the slide in all the way-- and then you put it on vertically to cover the first few inches on the inner most part of the slide?

Sounds like an easy solution to the problem. If this is correct it'll hide some of the full body paint job on the slides.