Slide Cover Disaster

[ftiernay]

While bringing in the wall slide for departure the slide angled in leaving the top on the outside sticking out about 3".
We happened to be fairly close to Tom Johnson Camping World in Marion NC & they were able to accommodate us for a repair.
As it turns out, when the slide was retracting it caught the slide cover & pinched it into the coach preventing the slide from fully retracting & the locking arms to close.
It had rained the day before & the water had depressed the slide cover causing it to be caught into the slide.
This is not our first coach & I had never heard of this potential problem. Apparently the dealership said that the slide cover was within Newmar's spec. on the height above the slide.
Costly mistake. I was curious if anyone else has either heard of this problem or unfortunately experienced it.
To prevent, I was instructed to bring the slide in slowly to allow the water to drain off so that the slide cover does not sag.
Wow!

[Mr_D]

Yep, correct instructions from the dealer.

[DAJO]

Had it happen on ours and broke the rear slideout lock actuator. This was on the drivers side front slide. When the slide comes in the cover and the slide are almost rubbing and leave no extra room for water sag. Learned this the first week we owned the 2008. At least we don't have to worry about the passenger side doing this.

[bargeman]

So what is the answer????

Don't retract the slide if it's raining or had heavy rain recently???

Sweep the water off of the topper before retracting the slide?

[DrPhil]

on my old rig, I would use the leveling jacks to tilt the coach high front or rear to drain. haven't had to try with the new DSDP

[britcon]

On our full wall slide, have found that water will drain off front and rear when retracting. If there is a lot of runoff, we stop for a minute part way in, then continue until tight. First time we pulled wet slide I was standing by drivers window - took quite a bath !

[FatChance]

What was the damage that needs to be repaired? One time last year I attempted to close the curb side living room slide on our MADP when there was a thin (less than 1/4") rind of ice on top of the slide (no topper). The slide racked rather dramatically. With great trepidation, I ran the slide back out, removed the ice and retracted the slide back in. There was no apparent damage or problems since then after opening/closing that slide a couple dozen times. I hope yours comes out as well.

[ftiernay]

There was not damage. We were unable to take the slide out or in.
As I mentioned, the top of the slide was sticking out by 3''s. Blew a couple of 20 amp fuses.
We were more fortunate than Dave in this thread who lost a locking arm. We were told by the dealership that those take about 3 weeks to get.
It rained last nite so this am we slowly brought the slide in stopping it to allow the water to run off. No problems.

[winniman]

Originally Posted by bargeman

So what is the answer????

Don't retract the slide if it's raining or had heavy rain recently???

Sweep the water off of the topper before retracting the slide?

When you are pulling in the slide, if you see large amounts of water coming off the ends, stop and wait momentarily for the water to drain. Pull it in some more and repeat until no water comes off.

[DAJO]

Originally Posted by ftiernay

There was not damage. We were unable to take the slide out or in.
As I mentioned, the top of the slide was sticking out by 3''s. Blew a couple of 20 amp fuses.
We were more fortunate than Dave in this thread who lost a locking arm. We were told by the dealership that those take about 3 weeks to get.
It rained last nite so this am we slowly brought the slide in stopping it to allow the water to run off. No problems.

The actuator is available from the manufacture, cost $109, 12v, 150lb, 4" stroke, Newmar about $300. Have replaced three of the eight now. Last one because someone put one of the cheap ebay ones in. Ebay actuators do not have internal limit switches like the Firgelli units have and are built very light. If the actuators break on the road you can disconnect the wires to the actuator and slide still works good with out the the paddle of course. Paddle must be moved to the retracted position and left there.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/product...y-rod-actuator

[edgray]

Originally Posted by bargeman

So what is the answer????

Don't retract the slide if it's raining or had heavy rain recently???

Sweep the water off of the topper before retracting the slide?

Extend the front OR rear jacks to create a slope and let gravity do the rest. [emoji16]

[Jager]

I'm a bit lost in this thread. I am not sure I understand how the slide topper would have water on it? My slide toppers are pulled pretty tight by the spring loaded roller. There is a 15 or 20 degree angle on the canvas. I have been in some pretty heavy rain and have never had any rain (water) build up on my slide toppers. Unless the spring in your roller is very weak (or broken) I'm not sure how you would get rain up there?


FatChance -- WOW! I wouldn't have seen that coming. You didn't notice this happening as the slide was coming in?

[DGBPokes]

I have been told, if you want to put wood flooring down, cut a couple of 2 x4s three inches shorter than the extended slide, place them on top of the slide, run the slide in the 2x4s will stop the top and the bottom will angle up a few inches, allowing you to but new flooring under the rollers. Sounds like you tested it.

[artman1913]

Freaked me out when it first happened to me.
Either side of the topper is tight but water gathers in the middle.

Did some looking and and number of "fixes"
Beach ball under the middle of the topper ( rope to pull it in and out )
PVC frame under he topper.

Another post about toppers flapping in the wind had buckets on each end of the slide with a rope connected to each and going over the topper to make the topper touch the slide out from one end to the other.
Figured that would work well for keeping water off as well.