2025 Jayco Jay Feather

[tbear711]

We have had Jayco campers prior to this purchase but none have had a bump out, what do I need to do to maintain the bump out as far as yearly or sooner maintenance issues?

 

[jimmoore13]

You don't say what camper. Consider adding a signature like mine, so we know what you have.

If you mean a slide, it depends on the slide mechanism. I have an X213, and it has a rear slide on a rack and pinion system. The rack and pinion system if very easy to maintain. I use a spray silicone grease on the large, heavy-duty teeth on the round gear on the shaft that turns, and on the teeth on the underside of the slide. Before applying grease, inspect for dirt and grime. So far, not a problem because the shaft and gear are inside, and the teeth under the slide are in a channel.
Next, inside, I examing the shaft and the motorized mechanism that turns the shaft. Use the same lube as needed. The location of my slide...high up...makes this particularly easy.
As for the motor itself, as far as I know that's a "works-or-doesn't-work" situation. I don't believe there is any maintenance to be done on the motor.

If you have a schwintek slide, you'll recognize it by two fine-toothed gear tooth mechanisms (rails) on each side of the slide. Since these rails are on the sided of the slide, greasing them might attract dirt and grit. Here are tips on maintenance. There is a shaft on either side of the slide with gear teeth that engage the rails on the side of the slide. Note that you need to learn about realigning a Schwintek if it gets out of alignment...a fairly common thing given that the gear teeth are so small.

The last type of slide typical on Jaycos is the through frame slide. This link should be helpful. These are typically on bigger rigs. Note that even a hydraulic slide will use an electric motor to pressurize the hydraulics, so all of these are fundamentally 12 volt electric first, but in the case of hydraulic slides, an electric pump pressurizes the hydraulic fluid that fills or is sucked out of the hydraulic rams.

There is another type of slide...a cable slide...that Jayco is not known to use, and you can thank your lucky stars for that.

Lastly, slides CAN run on your battery, but they are heavy loads. I usually setup my generator or connect to shore power before extending the slide. Another trick if that's not possible is to unhitch, but keep the tow vehicle close and stay plugged into the tow vehicle with the engine running so the TV can assist with supplying power to the slide. I also do this with my tongue jack. I use the TV's power connection to assist with that rather large load if I don't have 120 volt power available easily for some reason. (One of my favorite spots is challenging to set up on, and I can't get at my generator until the rig is completely settled.) Once on generator, I let the generator run the entire time I'm getting setup (EZ-ups and all) so the power used comes from/is replaced by the generator. Since most setups are on a Friday afternoon/early evening, I like to go to bed with a full battery bank. That's a bit of a digression from the question, but I like to mention this, because I seldom see others do it. The best thing is that the generator will actually supply the current for 12 volt loads directly. I notice that the slide goes out and in with far more authority when connected to shore power or the generator.

 

[tbear711]

Thank you for your reply. We have a 2025 Jayco Jay Feather 23 RK, The dealer said the slide was rack and pinion. So I will follow your instructions for that. Once again thank you