3400 rl

[knrt]

slide outs sluggish

[Driftwoodgal]

Are you connected to shore power, or are you using your batteries? We do have to pause when we put out our slides as the breaker over loads.

Hubby put the slides out with just the batteries one time by mistake and they did not slide out like they do when they are connected to the running truck or an electrical outlet.

I am sure someone smarter than me will be along and give you a better answer if the above isn't your problem.

Colleen

[Waynem]

I have found that one of the many areas that I used to neglect is the fluid level in the batteries. I now check them frequently (at least monthly) and always try to run the slides and anything with a motor with everything hooked up. Has worked for me.

If you are not tripping the breaker than you are not exceeding the 50 amp the breaker is capable of.

Also, try some dry-lube on the mechanical portions of the slides, track, roller, etc.

[exav8tr]

Rich, I have a '06 3400RL. I never operate the slides without being plugged into shore power or truck, NEVER. I have been fulltiming for over 18 mos now and have not had one problem with slides, either too slow, too fast, sluggish, tripping a breaker or anything else, (I should be careful saying this as I don't want to jinx my luck). I am not a fulltimer that is stationary either, we move every two - three weeks, so we have used our slides extensively. Finally had to add a little fluid in the last two months, but not alot. I'm not sure why people have the problems they have, I think our Tana was made on a Wednesday or something. Oh, by the way, I do use the dry lube every month or so. The DW uses the switch as I walk along outside to make sure al is OK. A knock on the wall tells her to stop. She usually keeps costant pressure on the switch until they are all out or all in. If she lets off, she must wait 15 seconds before pressing it again, just precautionary. Hope this helps somewhat and WELCOME TO "THE BEST DARNED FORUM ON THE WWW!!!!!"

[Jim Jarvis]

By gosh Phil, I just have to say that I am the opposite of you. I almost never have used the slides while hooked up. We dry camp 95% of the time and even when not dry camping we operate the slides only with battery power. Never had a problem Not saying I've never done it with being hooked up, but rarely. Whatever works I guess.

[bw2]

I have posted this in earlier posts. There are two 30 amp 12v fuses on the left side of the fuse panel in my 3400. I had one of those fuses blown. The slides operate sluggish and the 12v lights would dim while operating the slide. Replaced the fuse and all is well.

[daneboy]

My 2955 is a smaller unit, however I open and close the slides with just the batteries regularly. Also I use the slide lube on the tracks and gears.
Jerry

[exav8tr]

Jim, I guess that is like the propane on/off issue while driving, some do, some don't. Good to hear that you have been error free as I have been.

Bob, I just went and found those "unmarked" 30 ampers, what are they for??? Anyone know for sure??????

[bw2]

As I understand they split the load from the converter for the 12v system. Total of 60 amps across the two 30 amp fuses. I believe these are in place of the fuses that are built into other converters than the converter in my 3400. All I know, when I finally found that one of the fuses was blown, the slides worked properly and the lights did not go dim while operating anything else. I failed to measure the fuses, but just held it up to the light, looked good. So off I went to the battery, other in line fuses, converter measurements, etc.... I finally returned to the fuses, and actually measured continuity, and sure enough blown fuse. So now I first measure the fuses before chasing after anything else.

[exav8tr]

That's good to know, thanks Bob..

[TLightning]

I find it interesting that some use the slides while always plugged in to shore power, others use them primarily when not plugged in to shore power. I don't know how I use ours...when they need to go out, we put them out, when they need to come in, we pull them in...that's how they should work and that's how we use them. So far, so good!

[exav8tr]

There you go, Tom. That is exactly what they are designed to do. Move in and move out. Some use battery only and some use AC Backup. As long as they work is the important fact....

[kmh3212]

The voltage available to the hydraulic pump motor decreases when on battery power and the amperage required by the motor goes up especially on a weak or low battery which would explain the blowing of fuses. As the amperage goes up the heat produced in the motor increases. The higher the heat in the windings of the motor the shorter the life of the motor. I always try to either make sure I'm plugged into shore power or the truck when using high current devices such as the slide motor or the jack motor.

[richfaa]

I do like Phil and Kevin.Operate the slides when on shore power. I found that they are more consistent doing that. With the 3400 we almost never can get all four slides out without the breaker tripping. We bring out the bedroom and kitchen, pause, Bring out the opposing slide, pause, then the main slide. We need to replace the breaker but that system works for us.