Another Schwintek slide issue

[Mogulite]

I have a new to me 2019 34pa. The bedroom/bathroom slide has been an issue since I bought it. I actually had the motor replaced recently.

My new problem is that when the slide gets almost fully retracted, it make a really loud thumping noice. And I mean really loud! It sounds like it’s hitting something. So, I’m not able to hold the button down until the end of the sequence like you’re supposed to so.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have a guess at what might be causing this? We leave on a two month trip in the morning so I don’t have time to have a tech look at it.

Thanks, Steve

[zombiewoof]

The load thumping noise is probably the motor gear chewing up the gear track. Your slide is binding to the point where the gear is jumping on the gear rack. You’ll be able to see the teeth that are getting chewed up. Quick and dirty is to lube the slide block and the mating slide surface on the gear track. Use a PTFE (Teflon) lubricant (recommended by Schwintek), or if you can’t find it use silicone based lubricant (recommended by me cause it helped mine). Long term you should get in the very long line for a VROOM replacement.

[TXiceman]

Look at replacing the system with a VRoom slide system.
https://vroomslidesystems.com/

Ken

[garykk]

Have you also tried to resync the slide?

[2cyber71]

Originally Posted by garykk

Have you also tried to resync the slide?

That’s the answer.
They get out of sync easy

[Gocats]

We have the very same problem. Same slide, same issue. Was diagnosed by Tiffin (on the phone) as a need to have the "H" column replaced. Rumored to be a $1400 job.
We are in the long waiting list to replace Schwintek with Vroom.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by Gocats

We have the very same problem. Same slide, same issue. Was diagnosed by Tiffin (on the phone) as a need to have the "H" column replaced. Rumored to be a $1400 job.
We are in the long waiting list to replace Schwintek with Vroom.

It’s more than that, the H column alone is around $1500 plus labor. Ours went out on the large rear bedroom/ bathroom slide on a trip in 2019. It was $2500 to repair that I had to pay before the dealer would release our MH. It was reimbursed shortly after.
I replaced that side with a Vroom, no problems since.
The H column comes in one piece and has to be shipped by truck. We were stuck in Utah for over a week

[thegats1]

Had all 3 of my Schwintek slides (systems) replaced with Vroom at the end of May. They seem to be much beefier (is that a word?). My only hope with Vroom is they continue to expand with qualified service centers (techs) across the country. There aren't too many trained on these from what I understand. I'll continue to enjoy having them perform for me, but like anything else, they too will fail at some point (like most systems like this, the motor is the most likely). The motors are covered with a 1 year warranty while the mechanism is 10 years. Brian confirmed with me that if on a long trip and if after all troubleshooting (manual override controller, verify motors plugged in etc...), the motor disengage process (they walk you through it) can be done and the slide can be "easily" manually pushed in and out so you can continue the trip and still use the slide. This is better than having to get help from others moving the slide in and not getting to use it again during the trip until fixed. Of course it needs to be locked in place when retracted and driving. They suggested I get a couple of adjustable cargo bars from Harbor Freight and keep them onboard to lock them.

[SamKVA]

Originally Posted by Mogulite

I have a new to me 2019 34pa. The bedroom/bathroom slide has been an issue since I bought it. I actually had the motor replaced recently.

My new problem is that when the slide gets almost fully retracted, it make a really loud thumping noice. And I mean really loud! It sounds like it’s hitting something. So, I’m not able to hold the button down until the end of the sequence like you’re supposed to so.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have a guess at what might be causing this? We leave on a two month trip in the morning so I don’t have time to have a tech look at it.

Thanks, Steve

As many others have noticed, these slides get out of synch easily. Attached is the synch procedure from LCI. If your slide is already FULLY retracted and you synch from that position, you will need to reverse the procedure as stated. It's not hard at all but read the procedure carefully so you don't stumble through the process; maybe even re-type it in reverse if you are doing it while slide is fully retracted. Zombiewoof's recommendation to lube the slides should be done on a regular basis.

Hope this helps!
Sam

[LDK1]

Originally Posted by thegats1

Had all 3 of my Schwintek slides (systems) replaced with Vroom at the end of May. They seem to be much beefier (is that a word?). My only hope with Vroom is they continue to expand with qualified service centers (techs) across the country. There aren't too many trained on these from what I understand. I'll continue to enjoy having them perform for me, but like anything else, they too will fail at some point (like most systems like this, the motor is the most likely). The motors are covered with a 1 year warranty while the mechanism is 10 years. Brian confirmed with me that if on a long trip and if after all troubleshooting (manual override controller, verify motors plugged in etc...), the motor disengage process (they walk you through it) can be done and the slide can be "easily" manually pushed in and out so you can continue the trip and still use the slide. This is better than having to get help from others moving the slide in and not getting to use it again during the trip until fixed. Of course it needs to be locked in place when retracted and driving. They suggested I get a couple of adjustable cargo bars from Harbor Freight and keep them onboard to lock them.

Hello. Seeking clarification related to what happens after the screw is removed to disengage the motor. Are you saying after you manually retract the slide that we can't reinsert the screw to re-engage the motor, thus locking the slide in? I have a July 26th install date. Thank you.

[garykk]

Originally Posted by LDK1

Hello. Seeking clarification related to what happens after the screw is removed to disengage the motor. Are you saying after you manually retract the slide that we can't reinsert the screw to re-engage the motor, thus locking the slide in? I have a July 26th install date. Thank you.

The motor is not disengaged but the driveshaft is by a nut on the bottom of the slide. Once in, you’ll have to use something like thegats1 described.
Very simple procedure that they’ll show you during the install.

[LDK1]

Originally Posted by garykk

The motor is not disengaged but the driveshaft is by a nut on the bottom of the slide. Once in, you’ll have to use something like thegats1 described.
Very simple procedure that they’ll show you during the install.

Thank you. It appears your saying after removing the nut to disengage the driveshaft, we will be unable to reinsert the nut to re-engage the drive shaft? That we will have to return to Tucson to fix the system?

[garykk]

Originally Posted by LDK1

Thank you. It appears your saying after removing the nut to disengage the driveshaft, we will be unable to reinsert the nut to re-engage the drive shaft? That we will have to return to Tucson to fix the system?

Not quite, the nuts loosens up and drops the drive shaft down thus disengaging the drive motor. You don’t remove the locking nut, just loosen it. It can be retightened to engage the driveshaft. I’ll see if I have a picture of it.
https://vroomslidesystems.com/vroom-slide-system/

[dmctlc]

I've had nothing but problems with my bathroom/bedroom Slide since I bought my current 2016 Tiffin Phaeton 44OH last February. Been back at least 3xs since then when the front motor will stop as I'm pulling the slide in. Usually I can push it in the rest of the way but October it failed completely. First time replaced the controller, 2x the motor & 3rd time (complete failure) in Pigeon Forge TN. No mobile tech a/v for 2 weeks, Tiffin's Brett and then Schwintek couldn't help after hrs. on the phone. Ended up popping the screw and lifting the motor. Pushing it in and securing it with 2x4s cut with a saw I had to buy from a local HD store. Got the rest of the trip in though the slide didn't come out until the dealers in Nov.. After several weeks in there and lots of info I supplied along with input from Tiffin and Schwintek to the dealer they claimed it was fixed. I had my doubts b/c conclusion was it was a pinched wire. I argued that it could not have caused this problem they need to pull it and replace the harness and look deeper in it. Well took several small trips with it no issues. At home brought it in and out a dozen times no issues. Head up to NE for the summer third stop same issue as before. Got to be something with the wiring and rough roads. Thinking of VROOM and sent a request for a call to discuss the system last week no call yet. If nothing by next Monday I'll call them. Couple of questions I have was in reading what they do I can't tell if they replace the wiring harness if you option to go with their motors and the entire upgrade! Do they check the entire system out for opens/shorts, etc. to assure there isn't hidden issues. I wouldn't be happy investing in this system only to take the long trip back to Florida to have the same issues with the old system and this time no place to get them repaired. One last question how much does it cost to replace one and/or both slides with the VROOM system. I hear upwards to $10K! We like our Tiffin but it's frustrating to deal with this slide issue constantly. I have no issues spending it if this problem is behind us.
Thxs