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Britbiker · 02-23-2022, 08:35 AM

It is looking like we will be leaving our new to us motorhome at a summer seasonal site on the Maine coast this year. It is close enough that we will most likely be there every weekend. My question to anybody else that does this, do you leave your slide outs extended or pull them in when you leave? It's a well maintained reputable camp ground, I just don't know if any problems can arise by leaving them extended and unattended.

Pointerman · 02-23-2022, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britbiker

It is looking like we will be leaving our new to us motorhome at a summer seasonal site on the Maine coast this year. It is close enough that we will most likely be there every weekend. My question to anybody else that does this, do you leave your slide outs extended or pull them in when you leave? It's a well maintained reputable camp ground, I just don't know if any problems can arise by leaving them extended and unattended.

The only issue I have ever experienced is having a seal leak. That might be reason enough to pull them in if you are going to be gone for extended periods of time. It only takes a couple of minutes to put them in and out.

Old-Biscuit · 02-23-2022, 08:42 AM

Our slides (3) were out 24/7 except for travel day for 7 yrs of FTng

Slides should SEAL retracted or extended....otherwise fix the seals

Col. Klink · 02-23-2022, 08:44 AM

My choice would be to put them in. It's better protected from the elements and such. My RV repair guy with 40 years experience says he finds some floor rot down at the corners of the floor where the slide extends. He says he see's that a lot. If you have slide toppers that would be better. Slides are great but often their not absolutely waterproof.

Pointerman · 02-23-2022, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Our slides (3) were out 24/7 except for travel day for 7 yrs of FTng

Slides should SEAL retracted or extended....otherwise fix the seals

Difference is that you are there to notice the leak as soon as it happens. OP is talking about being away from the rig for periods of time and the seals on the top of the slides leak a lot easier than the seals when they are closed.

I stayed in my RV for a couple of months during a move about a year ago and I went away for a weekend to wrap up some moving. Came back to a very wet floor and dinette due to seal failure. I had no idea there was an issue and I was away for 3 days when it rained.

2cyber71 · 02-23-2022, 05:18 PM

Put them in when you leave it.

MtCamper · 02-23-2022, 05:28 PM

They sit at dealers with the slides out for months at a time. At least they did before the RV shortage.

Dutch Star Don · 02-23-2022, 06:01 PM

The key thing that caught my attention is the Maine Coast. If you're near the ocean, I would bring in the slides as salt air can do damage quickly.

tombottcat · 02-23-2022, 09:38 PM

i would bring them in incase of high winds and its wear and tear on the slide out covers from the sun

DuaneMiller · 02-24-2022, 06:29 AM

I leave our coach on a monthly site in the NC mountains during the summer months... This will be our 6th year doing so. When we first placed our first coach there, I used to leave the slides out when we were not there. With the slide design of that coach, particularly at the floor level, there were spots only covered by a thin piece of rubber between the floor of the slide and the opening of the coach body....

We arrived one Friday evening for the weekend, and found that chipmunks had entered the coach between that gap in the floor. To make matters worse, a small snake, we think, followed the chipmunks inside as well. From then on, whenever we leave we retract all of the slides.

We have never experienced any more "critters" since...

jacwjames · 02-24-2022, 06:37 AM

I have awnings that pull out when the slide is extended.

Back ~5 years ago I was sleeping when a storm rolled through and a strong gust of wind caught the awning and broke the spring.

So stuff can happen. I'd recommend you bring the slides in.

Pointerman · 02-24-2022, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuaneMiller

I leave our coach on a monthly site in the NC mountains during the summer months... This will be our 6th year doing so. When we first placed our first coach there, I used to leave the slides out when we were not there. With the slide design of that coach, particularly at the floor level, there were spots only covered by a thin piece of rubber between the floor of the slide and the opening of the coach body....

We arrived one Friday evening for the weekend, and found that chipmunks had entered the coach between that gap in the floor. To make matters worse, a small snake, we think, followed the chipmunks inside as well. From then on, whenever we leave we retract all of the slides.

We have never experienced any more "critters" since...

Another excellent arguement for bringing them in. I guess chipmunks are better than rats though...

Tha_Rooster · 02-24-2022, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pointerman

Another excellent arguement for bringing them in. I guess chipmunks are better than rats though...

The snake can eat the rats, problem solved.

carybosse · 02-24-2022, 05:42 PM

In my neck of woods, hail storms would be enough reason to pull slides in.

Just as an example, this week in DFW area we have had hail, sleet and a thunderstorm with heavy lightning and thunder while temperature was in the area of freezing.