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04-02-2017, 07:56 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 195
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Slide out bars…
Never had a motorhome with slides that the slide out bars were still there…
Just purchased brand-new 2017 coachman Mirada 35 LS…
Found these two odd length, look like curtain rods bars... DW says I wonder if they're for the slides... so I got to thinking about it and sure enough the length is perfect to fit between the slide and the wall for each of the two slides ...
So my question is: Is there a specific location between the slide in the wall where it's best or preferred or recommended?
Of course I also realize with these newer coaches and slide mechanism's they're not really necessary ....
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04-02-2017, 09:13 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,435
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bargeman
So my question is: Is there a specific location between the slide in the wall where it's best or preferred or recommended?
Of course I also realize with these newer coaches and slide mechanism's they're not really necessary ....
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Not really necessary.... UNTIL; something goes wrong with the slide drive and the slide goes out in the middle of a corner.
My last 5er had the manual install bars, two for the single slide , manufacturer said to install the two bars at the top of the slide in the corners. If you only have one per slide , then I'd say in the center at the top of the slide.
Check your owners manual for details , if no info there ; call the manufacturer.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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04-02-2017, 10:28 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2000
Location: California Central Coast
Posts: 2,034
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When I saw the title on this thread I thought about serving drinks on the patio from a slide out bar "disappointment".
Glenn
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2006 Sea Breeze LX 8341 on a Workhorse W22 Chassis with 22.5 Alcoa Alum wheels,
2011 Chevy Colorado 4X4 with Ready Brake
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04-02-2017, 10:34 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wherever we are
Posts: 4,287
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You might do some checking to see if it is even possible for the slide to move without power/manual crank. I think it is a waste of time/effort, especially the first time you forget to take them out and open the slide.....
__________________
'16 40QBH Phaeton
'21 Sahara HA toad
'15 38RSSA Mobile Suites--traded
'05 36TK3 Mobile Suites--retired but not forgotten
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04-02-2017, 05:06 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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Whether the bars are a necessary precaution depends on the brand & type of slide mechanism in the RV. Power Gear rack & pinion slides have a self-locking electric motor that does the job, but other brands/types such as cable-driven or hydraulic slides may need the bars for safety's sake. For example, hydraulic slides are normally fine without them, but a leaky gasket or valve down the road could let the slide open while driving. I think early cable driven slides always had lock bars, but maybe they have been improved now.
Since its a new rig, doesn't the owner manual say something about the slide lock bars? Or failing that, ask the dealer or Coachman... You should at least know what they expect you to do, even if you choose to ignore it.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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04-03-2017, 05:35 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,164
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We have a three slide unit. The bedroom slide is impossible to put lock bars on because of space limitations. The living room slide has a factory installed lock in the center top position which must be opened/closed each time.
The full will slide does not have any locks. I use one at each end about 1/2 way from top to bottom. As long as it is, I don't think one in the middle would be effective and would be difficult to install each time. Is it necessary? Maybe not, but Winnebago was giving them out for awhile while they sorted out the well known slide failures they had with the schwintek slide mechanism.
I read many posts here about slides creeping out a bit when traveling which cannot be good on the gears. Peace of mind is a good thing.
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2014 Itasca Sunova 33C, 2019 Jeep Cherokee Lattitude Plus toad, Demco tow bar, SMI braking system. 20 yr USAF ret.
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04-03-2017, 06:53 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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OK, sorry to disagree with Gary, but the Lippert style rack and pinion slides may really need slide out bars. Those R&P slides operate and are supported only from the bottom and below the floor which in turn allows the top of the slide to be, for lack of another term, be free and with no actual method of holding them in place except that Class 3 lever arm. The cable types are supported higher up, about 1/3rd of the way up and also may benefit from slide bars but less necessary. The Schwindler slide operators have a mediocre history at best and would benefit most likely from the slide bars to prevent track damage from over the road hauling.
On our last 5er, we had Lippert slide operators. The slide with the reefer, stove and TV compartment tended to bounce open at the top while hauling. Ours along with many others that had the same make also had that problem. I fixed ours by making a couple since the P.O. or dealer had 'disappeared' them
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Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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04-03-2017, 07:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wherever we are
Posts: 4,287
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11 seasons with a Lippert R&P hydraulic slide system--never a movement without the in/out button being pushed. Have them again in newer Suites, no problem yet.
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'16 40QBH Phaeton
'21 Sahara HA toad
'15 38RSSA Mobile Suites--traded
'05 36TK3 Mobile Suites--retired but not forgotten
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04-03-2017, 02:18 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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Quote:
OK, sorry to disagree with Gary, but the Lippert style rack and pinion slides may really need slide out bars.
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No disagreement there - I specifically stated Power Gear rack & pinion, which is a different design than the Lippert system. Now that PG is part of Lippert, that may change, or maybe already has, but I was referring to the self-locking PG design of the last 15+ years. I hope Lippert doesn't screw that up, but their track record isn't too great IMO!
It's true the PG system only locks the motorized gear, but it is very effective. I've owned two coaches with multiple PG slides and never saw an issue in over 100k miles of travel on all kinds of roads.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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04-29-2017, 01:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 195
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So....
If I'm making a road trip, I'll put them in... though it may not be an issue, probably worth the insurance on a major trip...
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- 2017 Coachmen Mirada 35LS - Class A Gasser
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