RV Slideouts - the good and the bad
There are definitely down-sides to RV slideouts. But the "bad" may pale in comparision to all the good things about these popular RV space extenders for motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers.
By Bob Masters
We had sold our motor coach some time ago and thought we would just sit things out for a while. RVing, however, is very addictive. We missed being able to just go where and when we wished to (weather permitting) and all the friends we had accumulated during all our previous years of RVing.
Should we get slide-outs?
We had decided on a fifth wheel trailer having tried out several loaned by our dealer (he even loaned us the pickup to pull them) and were truly converted to this new (to us) type of RV. The one big decision remaining was the matter of slide-outs, -- those box like structures which were made to extend from the RV (when parked) and provided much appreciated additional space inside the vehicle. Our salesman had explained to us how they worked but would not give us any recommendations. He did, however, give us a list of folks who had bought fifth wheel trailers with slide-outs.
What we found on the Internet
First, we thought, we would just see what we could find on the Internet. It was overwhelming! Mostly, we found complaints -- the same complaints over and over again. How could anything be this bad and still be so popular?
The six major complaints
The more important complaints included:
*Leaking of water and dust around the gaskets that are supposed to seal the slide-out when extended or retracted.
*Accumulation of debris on the top of the slide-outs when parked under trees (which is where the shade is!) being pulled into the RV when the slide-outs are retracted
*Malfunction of the mechanisms responsible for extending and retracting the slide-out (a real problem if the're extended and can't be retracted)
*Additional maintenance cost (especially as the RV ages)
*Compromised structural integrity of the body of the RV
*Reduction of carrying capacity of RV due to extra weight of the slide-outs (500 to as much as 1000 pounds per slide-out).
After reading all this stuff on the Internet we were ready to say 'no' to slide-outs. We didn't have slide-outs on the MCI or Flxible; can they really be that great?
The salesman's answers
We went back to the salesman and he again pointed out that nearly all of their fifth wheels now come with slide-outs. Depreciation is much greater for units without slide-outs. He did have some rebuttals concerning the complaints we had gathered.
Water leakage
The cited water leakage problem is almost always due to lack of proper maintenance. There are lubricants which, when properly applied to the rubber-like gaskets, prolong the useful lives of the gaskets. And, like your automobile (or pickup truck) the RV should be checked out at the beginning of the season to reduce the probability of mechanical mishaps while traveling. If it appears there may be a problem with a slide-out staying properly retracted while the vehicle is traveling, mechanical locks can be fitted to ensure complete retraction is maintained.
Intrusion of debris
The problem of pulling debris inside the RV when retracting the slide-out is not a problem with the fifth wheels we had been considering because they all are fitted with special awnings which extend and retract with the slide-outs.
Maintenance of actuating mechanism
Proper maintenance by the dealer helps to assure the electrical motors and associated gears work properly when they are expected to but, if something were to happen there is a mechanical override to allow the slide-out to be retracted manually. He also said that most problems of this nature occur because the trailer wasn't leveled before the slide-outs were extended.
Additional maintenance costs
The expected additional maintenance cost only occurs in his dealership if something has to be repaired. The inspections, lubrication of seals, gears, etc., is done by his mechanics when the RV is brought in for its annual checkup.
Structural integrity
The structural integrity is more a function of the size of the slide-out. The fifth wheel trailers we were considering were not compromised by the inclusion of the slide-outs.
Reduction of carrying capacity
The matter of reduction of carrying capacity brought a smile to his face: "It's a matter of numbers. You can carry so much and that is the limit. So you have to decide what is important and stay within the limit. The slide-outs in the units you have looked at are on the light side (about 600 pounds each) because they are small and not moving appliances."
Again he encouraged us to check with other customers who had fifth wheel trailers with slide-outs. We hadn't wanted to bother his customers but decided that, as people complain more readily than they praise -- especially on the Internet, we should take his advice.
What other owners had to say
We did check with all the people on his list. Without exception, all were very happy -- not only with the slide-outs but with the trailers and the service they had received. We were convinced so we bought the 31 foot Cardinal with the living area plus front bedroom (and queen-sized bed) slide-outs. We've had our Cardinal over 2 years, so far, and expect to have it a few more.
Our decision
Slide-outs, good or bad? They're great! Ours change living in a hallway into enjoying our living room and being able to get into our queen bed from both sides.
So what if diesel is $5 a gallon... RVing is that addictive!
Bob Masters started RVing in a converted 1958 Flxible bus in the 1960s. He has traveled extensively throughout the 48 states and has written many 'travel logs' describing some of his journeys. Having traveled extensively with children, and, later, grandchildren, he has become very familiar with the best places to stop and enjoy what a local community has to offer. Recently he started the RV Guide project to make available to RVers a graphic directory of the locations of RV parks and campgrounds near the Interstate highways ( e.g., http://www.I-40-RV-Parks.com ) including locations of RV sales and service centers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Masters
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