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flyboyg · 06-27-2010, 03:24 PM

We have a brand new 2010 Phaeton 40QTH waiting for us next week.
There has been no dealer prep just yet. However, when the salesman invited us to see the motorhome, he pushed out the slides and the front, driver side slide went out, made a clunk and and stopped working.
The dealer has time to fix the issue I assume, but I am wondering if anybody else has had this happen and if so, did the issue ever raise its ugly head again? Thanks.

paz · 06-28-2010, 06:57 AM

flyboyg, welcome to iRV2.

Congrats on the new coach, although it's a little disappointing you had a malfunction at your first viewing. I'm sure the dealer will get the problem corrected, but I understand you are concerned this may be a recurring problem.

We have Power Gear electric slides on our '05 Allegro Bay. Periodically, the front 12' slide will break a shear bolt on the drive mechanism. I carry spares and can change one out in about 5 minutes, but I have to climb under the slide to do it. This problem didn't start until the coach was a couple of years old.

If I recall correctly, Tiffin uses a combination of electric and hydraulic slides on their 3 and 4 slide floorplans. Therefore, the shear bolt may or may not be the problem depending on whether it's an electric or hydraulic slide. When the shear bolt fails, the motor will continue to run and one end of the slide will continue to move.

The problem could also be a faulty relay, although I don't think this would make a loud clunk. Relays interlock the slides with the ignition switch so the slides can't be actuated while driving down the road.

Good luck, and let us know what the dealer finds.

flyboyg · 06-28-2010, 07:58 PM

Paz,
Good advice. I was told by the dealer that the slide was fixed today. They claim that periodically the shear bolt comes loose somehow and they have fixed this issue before on Tiffin's and others by drilling a hole in the bolt and placing somewhat of a cotter pin in the hole to hold the bolt in place.
Sounds like good advice to get a few spares!
The issue was on the 12', electric slide indeed.
I will wait to see and hear the final result. Many thanks.

historyljc · 06-29-2010, 09:25 PM

flyboyg,
If the shear bolts are properly installed with washers in both sides and lock washers used, the bolts should not break. What happens in most cases is that when they're replaced a new bolt is put in with a couple of washers and a nut. Traveling over some of our roads will tend to loosen them, the bolt slips down to where pressure is applied on the threads, and that breaks the bolt.