Community Forums

chunker · 08-30-2018, 06:03 AM

I posted this on an owner's forum but very few people there so I'll try the old standby, here.

I am strongly considering either the Vilano 320GK or Beacon 34RLB as part of my short list for purchase this fall. Do the slides work off a single switch where the slide with the least resistance goes out/in first, or are there individual switches for each slide? We travel in our RV, not full time but longer trips and don't stay parked. Sometime an overnight stay won't allow some or all the slides to be deployed so individual controls is preferred. On some brands you can close a valve on the manifold in the front/hydraulic compartment, but that is a PITA when making a quick stop. Girlfriend's 5th wheel, a Crusader has 4 individual controls but the slides are electric.

CarolynanBob · 08-30-2018, 06:23 AM

We have a Vilano 375 FL. The living room slides operate off of one switch and move at the same time. The galley and kitchen table slides operate on one switch. The table slide closes first and then galley. Galley opens first and then table. Bedroom has it's own switch and the vanity has its own.

Ours has the valve you can close but I haven't used it. Ours is a bit of a pain when stopping and you want to open it up for the bathroom.

Probably the same for the units you are looking at. You could call Vanliegh and ask them. The lady that answers the phone is named Ashley and is very helpful.

chunker · 08-30-2018, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolynanBob

We have a Vilano 375 FL. The living room slides operate off of one switch and move at the same time. The galley and kitchen table slides operate on one switch. The table slide closes first and then galley. Galley opens first and then table. Bedroom has it's own switch and the vanity has its own.

Ours has the valve you can close but I haven't used it. Ours is a bit of a pain when stopping and you want to open it up for the bathroom.

Probably the same for the units you are looking at. You could call Vanliegh and ask them. The lady that answers the phone is named Ashley and is very helpful.

Thanks I'm considering the 320GK or Beacon 34RLB. Same floor plan and frame, different amenities. I'll be calling them with a list of questions but some of this I figured the community can help. Also planning a factory tour late in September but by that time hope to know most of the answers. The 320 has opposing slides for the living area and in many similar models accessing the kitchen is impossible with the slides in. Being able move the kitchen out some allows access to the refer and stove/micro while stopped for lunch or an overnighter at Walmart or such.

redhooker · 08-30-2018, 09:28 AM

Just an FYI, if you have the multi slides operating off of one switch you can simply have someone stand outside and push on the slide you don’t want to open. As soon as the other slide is open let go of the switch and you’re done. Not a perfect solution but is highly effective and fast.

traveldawg · 08-30-2018, 09:32 PM

Really, how big a deal is it to have to turn one valve before deploying?

I came from a class A to a fifth wheel this year and have had to make the same adjustment to my set up process whether at a campground (I don't bother with Walmarts) or in my garage.

A little of topic maybe.... but we now plan ahead for lunch/snack stops and keep something in a thermos and/or cooler to eat in the tow vehicle or, if at a nice rest area, at a picnic table. It's a change from walking to the dining table in a coach but we find to be not bothersome and allows for a bit more of a restful stop. But that's just the DW and I.

mobilemike · 08-31-2018, 09:17 AM

If the manual valves are inconvenient electric valves could be installed with wires run to a panel with toggle switches. Marked for each slide on/off it would be very easy to select which slide you want deployed.

chunker · 08-31-2018, 02:58 PM

Assuming the hydraulic manifold is in the upper corner of the front compartment, getting to it to close one of the valves while hooked up could be a real problem. I have considered adding my own solenoid valves to the lines to isolate the slides hydraulically. Maybe as simple as an A-B switch. But if they had separate switches from the factory that would be best.

5er2life · 08-31-2018, 08:04 PM

But if they had separate switches from the factory that would be best.

Totally agree. A rig in this class should have individual slide out controls. The same control screen can accommodate 4 different slides depending on the floor plan, why not 3 individual as standard?

2Yung2 Quit · 09-01-2018, 09:56 AM

If the two slides are on one switch, couldn't you add a switch and separate them? I don't know, maybe it's not that simple.

mobilemike · 09-01-2018, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Yung2 Quit

If the two slides are on one switch, couldn't you add a switch and separate them? I don't know, maybe it's not that simple.

Generally if two or more slides are on one electrical switch that means those slides operate of of one hydrolic pump and share all the same fluid tubing. Push the switch and the pump is moving fluid to all the slides at the same time. Usually the slide closest to the pump will move first or faster until it is extended. The the fluid will hit the end of the ram and stop, allowing the pressure to travel to the next in line. The only way to separate them would be to control which slide the pressure is routed to.

2Yung2 Quit · 09-02-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilemike

Generally if two or more slides are on one electrical switch that means those slides operate of of one hydrolic pump and share all the same fluid tubing. Push the switch and the pump is moving fluid to all the slides at the same time. Usually the slide closest to the pump will move first or faster until it is extended. The the fluid will hit the end of the ram and stop, allowing the pressure to travel to the next in line. The only way to separate them would be to control which slide the pressure is routed to.

I knew it couldn't be that simple.

chunker · 09-02-2018, 04:12 PM

In the Solitude 320x for example the hydraulic system is in the front compartment, upper right side. Down stream of the pump is a manifold for the 2 rear slides plumbing. Just downstream of the manifold there are manual valves for each slide. Closing one would prevent hydraulic fluid from moving that slide. Possibly installing solenoid valves that you could close would solve the issue.

I'll deal with that issue depending on which 5th wheel makes the final cut.