Has Thor addressed slide issues?

[Giant Jeff]

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

[Indy1951]

Originally Posted by Giant Jeff

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

No slide issues on my 2014 33.2 Palazzo

[FLman2]

No issues on our 2014 Hurricane, seems like people who have no problems seldom post.

[OC Bill]

Took my 2013 Palazzo 33.2 back to the factory on Nov 18th to be updated to 2014 specs and the big slide has been fine since then. New for 2014, shorter top to bottom shafts made from steel instead of the longer aluminum shaft they started with, and new motors with a 500 to 1 gear ratio for more torque.

I don't know when the new setup got into the 2014 line but I think it was pretty early.

Bill

[Scarab0088]

First, CONGRATS to the OP on the new coach! The 34J looks awesome with that massive slide.

I believe the majority of the slide issues were in Palazzo models...but not all Palazzo's had the problem.
And the Palazzo is on a very different chassis than out gas powered RV's. Is that a factor? I don't know but I bet it is.

And, the massive slide in the Challenger 37LX (another gas rig) has not had any problems.

Finally, there has never been any chronic slide problems in any of the TMC/Damon Outlaws in over 7 years of the line-up over 4 models with single and double slides:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f120/i-lo...aw-102560.html

If I were the OP, I would operate the slide repeatedly during the PDI...have someone outside listening for any odd sounds and check for alignment each time while open and closed. The dealer shouldn't mind, since they will be on the hook for the fix if needed -right?

Best luck with your new coach!

[taylorgso]

Originally Posted by Giant Jeff

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

Jeff: I posted some info I got from a dealer tech. Good suggestions. Here's a link to that post. (#2636)
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f121/pala...ml#post1865349

[Palazzoblues]

Originally Posted by Giant Jeff

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

My September 2014 built 33.2 Palazzo had a major Schwintek failure causing the large slide out to twist and warp. Camping World had to send a tech out to get it back in. Then Thor sent a rep to replace all the Schwintek components. Then the coach had to go to paint and body to have everything repainted. There have been a ton of other issues. We are not accepting the coach back. We are waiting on a permanent solution from CW and Thor at this time.

[TheArnolds]

Originally Posted by Giant Jeff

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

No problems with my slide but it is not as long as the other models. We have owned our coach for 19 months.

Welcome, good luck and safe travels!

[New Hobby]

I was nervous too when I read all the slide problems. We have now had our hurricane 34j for a month and a half with the slide in and out about 20 times. No issues so far.
However we have had cabinets not properly lined up, gas line to water heater pinched under the kitchen cabinet, heater duct not connected, several outside compartment latches not lined up and some other things. All very simple fixes if you are handy and have a lot of tools.
Check very closely and check everything! We are still very happy so far. All the little issues have made us very familiar with the coach from top to bottom

[meffrig]

I also have just purchased a 2014 Thor Windsport 34J about a month ago. I have only used it a couple of times and haven't had any problems with the full wall slide. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[Palazzoblues]

I think the Schwintek slide out mechanisms are all fundamentally the same on all coaches whether they have a gas chassis or a diesel chassis. No part of the Schwintek system attaches to the chassis themselves. The gears, rails and bottom rollers are attached to the slide out box, inside the house side walls and the house floor.

[HDRoadking]

Originally Posted by Giant Jeff

I've been reading all the posts regarding issues with the slide outs on Thor motor coaches. It's very disheartening indeed. I take delivery of our new 2014 Windsport 34j next week. It as a full wall slide. My question is has Thor fixed this problem in new production coaches or I'm I just going to have to wait and hope my slide doesn't break too. Also how about some positive reinforcement from Thor owners who have had no slide issues!

We have had our 2014 33.2 with the long slide since the first of October. We have 5,000 miles on it so far. We have not had any slide problems.

[bigdaddy5120]

I have a 2014 37KT with 3 slides , no problems so far. I bought my unit in the summer of 2013.

[wa8yxm]

I drive a Damon (Which is a Thor) Brand, Had major problems with one of the slides snapping shear pins like toothpicks.. Till another forum member told me what I was doing wrong.. Now .. Well let's just say I don't buy nearly as many quarter inch grade 8 bolts as I used to.

All I changed was... My Mind (And the length of the bolt).

Recommendation, and this is for ANYONE with Power Gear Rack & pinion slides (These have long toothed rails under the slide)

Carry extra shear pins.. You may well never use 'em but they are nice to have just in cuss...

If they are quarter inch bolts, like mine, make sure the bolt is LONG enough that the non-threaded portion of the bolt goes all the way through the square shaft, Use thick washers to build it up so the nut (Nylock by the way) can properly tighten down.

If you don't have that kind of slide.. Carry a few grade 5 quarter inch bolts, Only this time carrage bolts (Different head) and nylock nuts.. These need to be like 2" as I recall (long enough to go through a 2x4 and a metal bracket and still take a nut).

WHY.. Well, .. Many times I've sat down on the end of a park picnic table... Picked myself up off the ground.. And installed one of my spare bolts.

(Though the ones I have are hex head.. I had to use a few Grade 5's till I figured out what I was doing wrong).