Question about slide that uses a cable system

tld · 08-21-2021, 07:20 PM

I'm looking at a 2021 Eagle that is using a cable system for the large kitchen slide. Dealer said that Jayco is starting to move away from the schwintek system on the large slides. Does anyone have any experience with the cable system. This is the first time I've encountered this type of system.

Grumpy · 08-21-2021, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld

I'm looking at a 2021 Eagle that is using a cable system for the large kitchen slide. Dealer said that Jayco is starting to move away from the schwintek system on the large slides. Does anyone have any experience with the cable system. This is the first time I've encountered this type of system.

Never had one, but it's been in use for years.

RogerR · 08-21-2021, 07:47 PM

Popups have been using cables to raise and lower the roofs for a lot of years. Simple and light weight and rarely fail.

EBCTrekker · 08-21-2021, 09:33 PM

We have a a 2021 Eagle HT with the cable system on the kitchen slide. So far, so good! The mechanic at our dealer was very positive about the change when we were talking with them. .

**norty1** · 08-22-2021, 06:59 AM

They have been around a while on other brands . Seems like I saw a Greyhawk with a cable slide in a dealer lot last year when looking around.

I believe the cable systems have been around longer than electric or hydraulic?

kirkelli · 08-22-2021, 08:01 AM

I remember years ago my Uncle had a large Motor Home that had this type of system on the slides. So they've been around for awhile. Interesting that Jayco is gong back to older technology. Some of these slides are moving a lot of weight. In my mind, the cable drive would be much more dependable and a lot less prone to self destruction. Are they using the system on all slides or jut the larger slides?

tld · 08-22-2021, 08:32 AM

Of the 3 slides on the 2021 Eagle HT 28.5 RSTS, the bedroom is still a Schwintek, the large slide with dinette and couch is what I think is called the rack and pinion system, and the heavy kitchen slide is the cable system.

tld · 08-22-2021, 09:01 AM

EBCTrekker, Like many traveling in the TT, come lunchtime we find a spot to pull off and open one slide so he can eat lunch. I know that you should always try to be level when using slides, but it's not always possible to be completely level. Have you had any experiences with using your cable slide and not being completely level? I've done this for years with the rack and pinion slide system with no problems.

bstannard · 08-22-2021, 09:12 AM

Always heard that it was rugged and reliable. However, in our group we travel with one had a cable break on two month old Montana and another lost the gearbox for the big slide on their Georgetown (learned a lot on that one as he found a gearbox but no one could come replace it-not all that bad a job).

kirkelli · 08-22-2021, 09:20 AM

My kitchen slide is the Schwintek and i cringe every time i deploy it. I inspect clean and lube mine almost ever use. I've noted the kitchen slide is showing more wear than the bedroom and dinette slides. I'll probably end up replacing the ketchen drives in another year or so just for precaution. I understand it's close to a $500 job.

**norty1** · 08-22-2021, 10:40 AM

My Schwintek is on the small br slide and works well with recommended maintenance.
I have mastered repairs on the other in floor slides.

kirkelli · 08-22-2021, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

My Schwintek is on the small br slide and works well with recommended maintenance.
I have mastered repairs on the other in floor slides.

Have you actually replaced the rails? It doesn't look to bad per attached video.

https://www.qwant.com/?client=brz-br...%3ABE8TzyNQ08k

eow · 08-22-2021, 07:41 PM

My experience with a cable slide on a previous different brand TT was NOT positive. Pulley brackets pulled off the wall, cables rubbed on the aluminum frame of the slide and the rubber pads covering the hole for the cable had to be replaced every season due to being destroyed from the pressure. The bottom seal/ wear pad also failed. Other owners who did not stay on top of things, had to deal with frayed and broken cables. Following model years had an oil leak in the gear box mounted above the slide that resulted in damaged slide roof EPDM. The fix on new units was a ethabond patch and a tray under the gear box to catch the oil.

I liked the simplicity of the design, but it was very poorly executed. Hopefully Jayco does better than Keystone.

BTW: there are multiple posts on the issues with cable slides on the Keystone forum.

tld · 08-23-2021, 01:29 PM

I just found out that the kitchen slide in the 2021 fifth wheel that I'm looking at is not a BAL Accu-slide cable system. It is a new cable design that BAL recently started producing. It is called a BAL Exact-Slide with Emforce (that M is not a mistake) Technology. It uses a motor mounted on each side and the cables are only on the sides. In other words, no cables running across the top like you see with the Accu-slide. Has anyone used one of these yet??

Jopopsy · 08-23-2021, 01:34 PM

Winnie has moved a lot of their product to the newer Slim Rack system. I have 2 in my coach - so far so good. Time will tell !

kirkelli · 08-23-2021, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld

I just found out that the kitchen slide in the 2021 fifth wheel that I'm looking at is not a BAL Accu-slide cable system. It is a new cable design that BAL recently started producing. It is called a BAL Exacta with Emforce (that M is not a mistake) Technology. It uses a motor mounted on each side and the cables are only on the sides. In other words, no cables running across the top like you see with the Accu-slide. Has anyone used one of these yet??

found a video on how to replace motor but it shows how system works.. Actually not a bad design.. i like this better then the system with motor and cables hidden away on top

https://youtu.be/SOWpsQBTvt0

**norty1** · 08-23-2021, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkelli

Have you actually replaced the rails? It doesn't look to bad per attached video.

https://www.qwant.com/?client=brz-br...%3ABE8TzyNQ08k

I have only had one problem with mine and it was a disconnected cable on one side, inside bottom. Flawless but I would not want one on a larger slide due to what I read and hear about.

kirkelli · 08-23-2021, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

I have only had one problem with mine and it was a disconnected cable on one side, inside bottom. Flawless but I would not want one on a larger slide due to what I read and hear about.

My large Kitchen slide has the system.. I don't want it but it's what i got. Ill probably buy a stand-bye motor for the likely event one fails. I keep an eye on all the rails and the kitchen slide is showing most wear. Not sure what will go first, the motor or the actual rail, I'm thinking the motor. I'll keep my eye close on it, when i see the rails going to hell, i'll replace them.. I actually like the new cable design.

wwgilstrap · 08-28-2021, 01:23 PM

I had a 2016 Open Range FW that had cable slides throughout. I went through 4 gear boxes in three years. I will never own a cable system again, it was a horrible experience. I went to a Jayco Pinnacle and I’ve so far had trouble with a swintech ( spelling ) also. It was simple to correct though.

RipinSC · 08-28-2021, 05:45 PM

I had the same experience with my Open Range. 3 gear box failures in 2 years. Constantly adjusting cables. When the gear box fails, your slide is stuck and it will not move. Most people carry a spare gear box with them. If and when a cable beaks, that is a complete nightmare. That is why I bought a Jayco in 2019. No cable slides. I could not believe it when I saw Jayco using them in 2021.
They may but OK on a light small slide but will not hold up on the large heavier slides.

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