Cold weather and slideout

Nytebyte · 04-11-2018, 04:11 PM

We picked up our 2018 Redhawk a month or so ago and thinking of getting it ready for the upcoming camping season in ND. Is there any reason to not operate the bedroom slide in 20 to 35 or so temperatures? Never had a slide on any of my previous owned campers is why I ask. Thanks, Jim

Grumpy · 04-11-2018, 04:23 PM

No, should be fine.

RVermont · 04-12-2018, 02:13 AM

While the slides work fine there are a couple things that popped up when using my unit this past winter. A quick snow storm put a few inches of snow on the slide topper. When I went to close the slide the topper did not recoil correctly. Not sure why but the mechanism was frozen. Had to spray it with hot water. Which then froze and had to reapply hot water to get it open. Wet slide seals can freeze to the side of your unit and can rip the seals when opening, I applied seal lube and that helped to prevent them from freezing but the potential is still there.

shadester · 04-12-2018, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVermont

While the slides work fine there are a couple things that popped up when using my unit this past winter. A quick snow storm put a few inches of snow on the slide topper. When I went to close the slide the topper did not recoil correctly. Not sure why but the mechanism was frozen. Had to spray it with hot water. Which then froze and had to reapply hot water to get it open. Wet slide seals can freeze to the side of your unit and can rip the seals when opening, I applied seal lube and that helped to prevent them from freezing but the potential is still there.

I think keeping those seals lubed is a good preventive. Especially when closing the unit up for an extended period. I had the opposite experience with heat during storage and seals sticking and ripping. In freezing temps there's probably a higher potential of something happening. I'd inspect the slide good and be a little more cautious when opening them. That's all you can do.

WaltW · 04-12-2018, 08:59 AM

With slide toppers keep the slide in when its snowing or very windy. In very cold weather pulling the slide in will conserve heat and propane - less space to heat. You will be surprised how fast you can run through your propane during sub-freezing weather.

**norty1** · 04-12-2018, 09:34 AM

I would be concerned about the rubber seals freezing to the RV side and doing some damage.

Grumpy · 04-12-2018, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

I would be concerned about the rubber seals freezing to the RV side and doing some damage.

Never had that problem with any slides (first one bought in the 90's). No different than car door seals.

**norty1** · 04-12-2018, 09:42 AM

I’ve had door seals and locks freeze up. Maybe a gremlin is following me around.

troutslayer · 04-12-2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nytebyte

Is there any reason to not operate the bedroom slide in 20 to 35 or so temperatures? Thanks, Jim

None i can think of. I've done it many times.

Jagiven · 04-12-2018, 11:57 AM

You do not mention if you have slide toppers or not. Especially if you do not, the only thing I would recommend is brushing off any debris that is on top of the slide. Especially in the fall of the year we get lots of twigs and leaves up there. How this year is going, just make sure there is no snow or ice up there when you go to close it up.

Slide toppers should keep the debris off the roof. But heavy snow and Ice can still be an issue.

Nytebyte · 04-12-2018, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the replys. No topper on the slideout so will make sure there isn't anything on top before bringing in. I guess I was more concerned with plastic gears and the such breaking.

cabinetmaker · 04-12-2018, 08:51 PM

Slides are not insulated very well. They are going to make the insides colder when out. We had a 4 slide 5er back in the day. Up in the mountains that dude was hard to heat at night in sub freezing temperatures.

I never had any issues with slide seals or toppers. Just got lucky I guess!

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