Community Forums

Nic_Amber · 06-07-2023, 09:34 AM

Hey all, we just bought a 1998 Overland by Odessa and pretty much immediately ran into an issue with the slide out. A bolt broke on the geared rail mount that attaches it to the front portion of the slide out (along the outer edge). I've been able to get the bolt out, but I'm not sure how to replace it. This appears to have caused an issue where the slide out won't close all the way as well, so I'm not able to get it to any shops just yet.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to replace bolts or fix the mounts attaching the slide out rails to the slide out itself. Here's a picture of the mount and missing bolt. As well as the broken bolt. Before we discovered the broken bolt, we observed that the slide out wasn't closing on top, it was sticking against the edge and staying out by a couple inches.

Gary RVRoamer · 06-07-2023, 01:27 PM

Are you able to identify the brand of the slide mechanism, e.g. HWH, Power Gear, etc.? I don't recognize it from the photos.

I can't tell from the photo angle whether the broken bolt is a stud mounted in the slide sidewall or in that angle-bracket. It would be poor design to put it thru the sidewall, but I've seen some really short-sighted RV stuff. It looks like the extender tube can be removed from the bracket and the bracket itself dismounted if necessary to install a new bolt, which appears to be a carriage bolt. Other than the rust, it appears to be a straight-forward remove & replace. I'd soak those threads with penetrating oil for a day or two and try a wrench on it. Use a 6-point socket for best grip on those old hex heads.

Old-Biscuit · 06-07-2023, 02:03 PM

Carriage bolt thru angle bracket for support beam adjustments

If there is no room between backside of angle bracket and slide out skirting to install a new carriage bolt (after punching remains out) you will have to remove the 2 short bolt nuts and loosen the 2 long bolt nuts on angle bracket (maybe even remove the long bolt nuts completely) so angle bracket can be dropped down (removed) to install NEW carriage bolts in support beam
Course that can create another issue...carriage bolts thru slideout floor NOT gripping when removed the nuts Or when reinstalling/tightening them

One thing for sure........lots of penetrating oil/wire brushing on those threads

Second thought:...Might be easier to remove skirting then try to remove angle bracket nuts
Then you could install new carriage bolts in adjustment slots on angle bracket/support beam

153stars · 06-07-2023, 07:20 PM

Not sure how to access the cartridge bolt into blind area . But I have drilled a hole in end of bolt and used thin bailing wire in the hole with epoxy. Fish the wire through bolt hole to where you can gain access. Then epoxy wire in drilled hole in bolt pull through the bolt hole. Leave son wire to help you hold and nut the bolt. Hope I explained it well.

Nic_Amber · 06-08-2023, 05:36 AM

Thanks for the advice so far!

Last night I ended up getting a regular grade 8 bolt, nut, and some washers and fed the nut and washer in where the carriage bolt head would have been. Then I followed instructions from Youtube on vertically leveling the slideout.

The corners seem to be just about perfect when pulling in, but the center of the slideout catches just a tad on the top of the RV-side railing before "popping" past that railing and coming in snug. It doesn't sound good, and I'm sure it stresses the slideout motors to keep doing that, but I don't know what else to do. I've adjusted the vertical bolt to the point where it's as close to the bottom of the slideout as I can get it, but it's still rubbing/catching on the RV when I retract the slideout...

153stars · 06-08-2023, 09:23 AM

You seem to be bottomed out on holes and to the top of vertical plate. Both could be trimmed /cut to drop it more. I suppose that slotted plate could of been welded on to horizontal tube too high ,since there is so much room to raise and none left to lower. Or maybe just a little more slot with a carbide cutter to gain more in bolt slot. You would have to support slide hand reel the mechanism back some. But are you sure no other adjustments to rail mechanism.

Nic_Amber · 06-08-2023, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 153stars

You seem to be bottomed out on holes and to the top of vertical plate. Both could be trimmed /cut to drop it more. I suppose that slotted plate could of been welded on to horizontal tube too high ,since there is so much room to raise and none left to lower. Or maybe just a little more slot with a carbide cutter to gain more in bolt slot. You would have to support slide hand reel the mechanism back some. But are you sure no other adjustments to rail mechanism.

None that I'm aware of, and I looked up underneath by the motor as well. I'm just going to bring it in to a shop in a couple weeks to see whether they can help me get it leveled and go from there. The other thing I've noticed is that the previous owners must've stuck some washers in between the plates to bring the wall out a bit so the slideout's flush with the outside wall, because now that I removed those washers I'm seeing that it's a bit too tight into the side of the RV.

Gonna have to take it apart again and add back a couple washers (around the bolt though, instead of just squeezed between the plates) to get it back to flush.

153stars · 06-09-2023, 01:23 PM

You can get some industrial or auto body shims and not have to take bolts all the way out. Search a bit high accuracy thickness ones for alignment are more expensive. I do think if you were to slot those holes deeper you could definitely get it to drop some more. You would just have to support the slide. The carbide tools for a drill or die grinder will work pretty quickly just wear glasses and long sleeves. Those little shavings get hot and sharp.