My Neighbors New RV..

[Route 66 Traveler]

I have a neighbor who has a new Coachman travel trailer with one slide out. It is his first RV and as such is very inexperienced. He is storing his trailer at his house and has the slide only extended about 4-6 inches...not fully extended or retracted. He insists that's how the dealer told him to store it so that the seals wouldn't be "flattened" over time. Is there anyway I can convince him that what he was told by the dealer is wrong and that he is risking leaks due to dried out seals?


How do store your RV, slides in or out? Mine are always fully retracted.

[Woodworker]

My slide is always retracted while it's at home unless I need to open it up for some reason.

[Greg58]

I would suggest he check with the manufacturer for their advise, since they built it they should know how to store it.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Greg58

I would suggest he check with the manufacturer for their advise, since they built it they should know how to store it.

X-2 and also tell him to look at all the rigs on the dealer's lot....Bet they are fully open or fully closed.

[Nature Ist]

I have never seen a Mfg. recommendation other than the slide should fully retracted or fully extended, particularly if that slide has a Schwintek mechanism. For storage, I have always seen recommendations that the slide be retracted fully. A partially open slide is also more likely to leak when it rains because the top seal is not fully seated until the slide tilts as it extends fully.
Tell him, as Greg said, to check his manufacturers guidelines .

[Lake Huron]

Mine are fully closed while at my house, unless I need to go in and get thru it. Since 4 of 5 slides in mine are Schwintech, it's either fully open or fully closed. Also, if you keep the seals sprayed down with a seal conditioner to keep them from drying out they will stay pliable and keep making good seals for a LONG time.

[Screwby]

All the way out or all the way in. Usually slides are in unless there is a stretch of good weather and she’s been sitting. In that case I’ll open it up and air it out and do my walk around inspection. Seals get conditioned with 303 every 6 months or better. That rational would be like leaving all your car doors, trunk, and hood partially open so the seals didn’t get flattened.

[norty1]

Sometimes they are left in, other times they are left out both for extended periods, especially lately. If they are kept lubed with a dry lube, I see no difference.

If you have mentioned it to him, I would let it go.

[Marcm157]

Just another fully retracted when stored at my house. I cringe at the thought of a partially open slide...

[Danno]

I'll never understand where people get these ideas? The seals flattening?Really? LOL
In that case I'd better make sure the doors on my car as well as the trunk lid is kept open when I don't use it.
We're not talking space shuttles here, so it really doesn't matter too much whether it's stored fully open or closed. Not sure what seal design Coachmen used, but storing halfway open I'd be concerned about water leaks.
FWIW, I store my trailer with the slide out closed during winter and keep it open through the summer months while in storage.

[Jagiven]

He had to have heard something wrong! The seals are made up of similar materials as car doors/trunks.

From what I have seen, all slideouts have two seals. A large "pad" on the frame of the slide out. It is only used when the Slideout is in. The second "Wiper" seal along the TT's wall. The big issue I have seen on mine, and has never been an issue. The wiper seal, folds in on its self when the slideout is in, and gets pulled out (via friction) when the slideout is opened. What I have noticed, this change of position does not necessarily occur as soon as I change the direction of motion. I have seen mine partially twisted/wrinkled through half of its motion. I would think this would be extremely bad, across the roof, if a rain storm came, as water could easily get past the seal at the twist.

Opening it up part way to gain access to something, generally speaking OK. Leaving it open in the driveway OK. Keeping it closed excellent, best water protection (double seal). But leaving it partially open could cause leaks if the wiper seal has not fully reseated.

[Siamese]

If you've already told him, that's all you should do on that subject.

And, if you've already directed him to this forum, you've done what you can for him to acquire a general education. One of the things he's likely to learn, is to not rely on the dealer for reliable information.

People are peculiar, and I'm routinely amazed at some people's lack of interest or ability to educate themselves. I remember those dark days before the internet where we sat around the cave and banged a couple rocks together.

Now, with the internet, I'm a member of multiple forums for RVs, guitars, motorcycles, and sailboats. People...the information is out there, and it's easy to access the precise information you need for the task at hand.

Still, it's the nature of some to stumble along on limited information. Baffles me.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by Siamese

If you've already told him, that's all you should do on that subject.

And, if you've already directed him to this forum, you've done what you can for him to acquire a general education. One of the things he's likely to learn, is to not rely on the dealer for reliable information.

People are peculiar, and I'm routinely amazed at some people's lack of interest or ability to educate themselves. I remember those dark days before the internet where we sat around the cave and banged a couple rocks together.

Now, with the internet, I'm a member of multiple forums for RVs, guitars, motorcycles, and sailboats. People...the information is out there, and it's easy to access the precise information you need for the task at hand.

Still, it's the nature of some to stumble along on limited information. Baffles me.

Lol, yeah the words “have you even heard of Google” is on the tip of my tongue during many conversations I’ve had.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by Siamese

If you've already told him, that's all you should do on that subject.

And, if you've already directed him to this forum, you've done what you can for him to acquire a general education. One of the things he's likely to learn, is to not rely on the dealer for reliable information.

Thanks guys. In addition to giving him my opinion I will copy your responses and let him read through them and maybe it will help to change his mind. I will also direct him to this forum...good suggestion. Then he can read what the real experts have to say.....

[Route 66 Traveler]

Quick update...his slide out is now fully retracted. He asked me to come have a look before he put it in. The wiper seal is pretty dried out and in some places wasn't even contacting the side of the slide. I used some of my seal conditioner on both the wiper seal and the bulb seals. Not sure if it will improve the wiper seal. We had a heavy rain 3 days ago and that's what convinced him because there was a lot of water on the floor adjacent to the slide. Live and learn......

[Screwby]

Kudos for being a good neighbor!

[Murff]

Dealers will lie to you. The only thing worse than lies are the idiots who "know" it all and dispense bad advice.

Your neighbor is lucky yo have you for neighbors, Lee & Kathy!

Murff

[GraftonGuns]

This is why we pm our slides/seals to keep the rubber pliable. They should be either fully extended or fully retracted. Critters, dirt,weather etc.

[JFlightRisk]

I congratulate you for being neighborly, and helping him in the right direction. It's so comforting to a newbie, to have someone to go to.

[drew2fast]

Noobs should never have slides....there is enough to learn without dealing with that too.