Just had to post this so hopefully it saves someone here from the same spoiled weekend I had! Went camping this past Memorial Day weekend in western Massachusetts. Upon putting the slides out (4) my cell phone rang, it was my Son-in-Law. Like a real dummy
I kept my finger on the slide button while on the phone with him thinking all things will go as usual putting the slides out. Then I heard my wife scream and a big "CRACK"
Needless to say my heart stopped. I had caught a recliner behind the entertainment slide flange and tore it to a 45 degree angle, molding flying to the floor and the corner cap already laying there.
If I had just taken my finger off the slide button when the phone rang, or just let it ring till the slides were out. What do they say about hindsight? Anyway, that is the way the trip started out. No damage to the recliner surprisingly, and just a small dent in the wall paneling. After getting home Monday, I started taking the flange apart. Turns out, no broken parts. There is a piece of 5/4 pine under the decorative face on the flange and the 5/4 is just screwed to the aluminum frame with 4 decking screws. The decking screws just pulled out of the aluminum frame. I just used a ball peen hammer to push back in the holes in the aluminum and re-attached the 5/4 pine. Then added 4 more new screws, and then re-installed the molding. After that, I noticed that the slide didn't close all the way on that side. Apparently the rack and pinion gear must have jumped a tooth or two so I put the slide in about 1/2 way, supported the slide on the outside with a jack and stand, then dropped the rack gear and bearing by loosening the rear bolt, and removing the front bolt, then pulling the pinion gear down to clear the rack. Then just used a large screwdriver to move the rack to where we thought it should be and put everything back together. Perfect!. All is fixed now and canceled my claim with the insurance company. I did not post pics of the damage as I guess I didn't want any lasting memories of this.
Bottom line, be extremely careful when putting out your slides, watch carefully and don't be distracted. My first mistake was not strapping down the recliners as it was only a short ride to the campground. You can bet they will be now regardless how short or long the trip is. I could say - Dang cell phone!, But the phone wasn't the problem.