Community Forums

APROTOmobil · 09-06-2022, 11:03 PM

We are on the road with our 2003 Itasca Sunflyer 39T which is still relatively new to us. We learned a lot about it over the last months and successfully did a few things ourselves already.
Now we are stuck at TT Verde Valley close to Cottonwood/AZ because our main slideout (HWH) retreated crooked when we wanted to leave from here on Saturday. We already sent Paul Maddox/azpete a private message and asked him for advice, but it did not get to him yet. And the internet and phone connection here is horrible, so we did not even try to call him.
Maybe somebody else knows what to do? And what NOT to do?

What happened: we retracted the slide as usual but it simply pulled in uneven on both sides. Behind the driver's seat it is still completely out, you can actually see a little bit of that nylon 'wheel' or 'roller' peeking through the rubber sealing if you look to it from the outside. But the kitchen side is retracted about 1 ft. We immediately stopped. Examined the situation from the outside and there seems to be oil/hydraulic fluid on the first storage compartment. What could explain the malfunction. Any ideas what exactly it may be and what repair is necessary when we got it in?
For now we are still stuck here as we did not want to do sth wrong, and did not want some not-so-experienced Mobile RV Tech do something, or anything, to push it back in and do sth wrong (and on Labor Day Weekend nobody answered the phone anyway).
Attached is a number of pictures. 1 and 2 show the situation behind the driver's seat. 3 and 4 the kitchen side. 5 and 6 the situation from the outside.
How to proceed without causing damage?

APROTOmobil · 09-06-2022, 11:17 PM

see attached now

ChristoRV · 09-07-2022, 06:29 PM

Have you tried contacting HWH -

(On I-80, Exit 267 South)
2096 Moscow Road | Moscow, Iowa 52760
Ph: (800) 321-3494 (or) (563) 724-3396 | Fax: (563) 724-3408

Link to their emergency procedures pages on HWH website -

HTH

PJStough · 09-07-2022, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APROTOmobil

see attached now

If you have oil in a compartment, you probably have a leaking hose or fitting which would cause the slide to go in unevenly. Also, you definitely have broken parts the one in the bottom pic where a part is hanging down looks like the part that is used to set the slideout at the correct height on the outside end. Not sure what the other broken part is.

There is a procedure to bring the slideout in manually using the long threaded rod on each end of the slideout, but I am not sure that will work with the broken parts.

PJStough · 09-08-2022, 01:17 PM

Have you been able to get any help yet?

APROTOmobil · 09-11-2022, 10:38 PM

Thanks, PJStough - we managed to get it in. Had a reply posted with THANKS and results, but seems to be lost due to bad internet. Will repeat it (saved it somewhere on the laptop, only need to find it) - hopefully can add successful research for place that can actually fix the hydraulic. Everybody we talked to is busy for at least the next 2 weeks. And the HWH website recommends Campingworld Stores that are closed since 2019 and shops that changed owners years ago, and the new owners don't know nothing about HWH slideouts. Btw.: the HWH customer service did not even TRY to call back after they promised to do so. Don't know yet how to find a reliable place for a repair. Any ideas?

AKIQPilot · 09-12-2022, 01:00 AM

You might give Rick at 3 T's RV Products in Havasu a call. Rich is a very experienced tech and knows a lot about HWH systems and Winnebago slide out systems. He is an authorized HWH and Winnebago Service center.

928-453-3040

https://www.3tsrv.com/home

bpu699 · 09-12-2022, 06:17 AM

Winnebagos come with a manual winch to pull in the slide if the hydraulics fail... I believe the info is in the owners manual

PJStough · 09-13-2022, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APROTOmobil

Thanks, PJStough - we managed to get it in. Had a reply posted with THANKS and results, but seems to be lost due to bad internet. Will repeat it (saved it somewhere on the laptop, only need to find it) - hopefully can add successful research for place that can actually fix the hydraulic. Everybody we talked to is busy for at least the next 2 weeks. And the HWH website recommends Campingworld Stores that are closed since 2019 and shops that changed owners years ago, and the new owners don't know nothing about HWH slideouts. Btw.: the HWH customer service did not even TRY to call back after they promised to do so. Don't know yet how to find a reliable place for a repair. Any ideas?

HWH can be very slow with customer service. Where are you located? If you are anywhere close to Lake Havasau, AZ I would second the recommendation of 3Ts if they can get you in. We received very good service from them when we had a slide out problem, but since then I have heard that their customer service has declined. The HWH factory in Moscow IA also provides good service if you can get in.

When we had our problem with a slide out we called Paul Maddox who who does troubleshooting for HWH and he helped us get into 3Ts, and even met us there to make sure things were done correctly. His number is 602 549 3638. Leave a message if he doesnt answer. Also, he is on irv2 as AZPete. Best of luck.

sbleiweiss · 09-13-2022, 07:55 AM

Affinity RV in Prescott Valley fixed our Schwintek slide, but I don't know how they would be with HWH.

gregoryd73 · 09-13-2022, 06:47 PM

This happened to me and I was able to find a mobile RV repairman with slide experience and he fixed the problem. Check the Internet and make a few calls asking for that specific knowledge.

doorguy · 09-13-2022, 07:31 PM

Agree with the option of contacting 3T's. Rick is very helpful.

azpete · 09-14-2022, 09:13 AM

sorry to be late responding. i was down with the latest virus for several days.
please call me at 602 549 3638.
the place i would recommend is nirvc in phoenix. they can fix it.

paul maddox
i work full time for hwh corp.

i do not solicit parts sales or service work on this forum

APROTOmobil · 01-30-2023, 02:03 PM

Hi everybody,
Short before AZPete posted his message we left for Europe. And very, very nice people we met, with exactly the same motorhome like ours, were willing to take care for next steps. Unfortunately, Lone Star RV (who they put in charge due to good experience with other repairs) did not do much beneficial to the slide, besides getting it out once 'to look for part numbers', but only, and after more than three months, to come up with the result that they themselves can't do anything ...
Wait, there was one thing, they actually did: they loosened, or even removed the front plate of the left ram (looking from the outside), explaining that this was locking the slide. After that, we've been told they have been able to move the main slide as well as the rear slide in and out. They kept refilling the hydraulic fluid tank because the system is leaking, most obvious behind the front plate of the ram on the right hand side.
So, the motorhome was declared 'livable' for now and we got it out of storage about a week ago after we traveled back from Europe. Stayed at our 'home park' (Thousand Trails in Columbus/TX) for a few days, moved both slides out after refilling the tank and putting drip pans under all leaking points.
When we left for Florida on Saturday we had a group of neighbors supporting the main slide retracting at about the same speed on both ends. Worked out pretty good.
We are now on our way to St. Petersburg, using the rear slide at night, keeping the main slide in at all times, strapped to the ground for security purposes. No dripping for now, but we took a few gallons of hydraulic fluid, just in case.
We have been in touch with Paul Maddox over the phone for recommendations who in the St. Petersburg area could fix the problem within the next three weeks (when we are NOT staying in the RV). Did not receive anything yet, but still hoping for his input. HWH themselves did not even try to call us back, as promised at the beginning of September 22. And the directory on their website seems to be kinda outdated. About half of the shops we have been in touch with so far seem to be gone out of business since 2019, at the time of their last update.
We know there's a lot of great people out there. YOU! And it would be just great if somebody would know somebody. (But not just anybody ;-) ;-))

We still did not give up the plan to get it fixed and actually enjoy traveling for another 3 weeks before Europe is waiting for us again on March 22nd. Do we really have to take a Winnebago to Spain, or Germany, to finally have it fixed?

Although we read a lot about that heavy machinery shops might even be more knowledgeable in handling hydraulic systems, Paul Maddox seemed to lean towards RV Service. What do you think?
Thanks for your help, we really appreciate it! Meike