2008 Montana -- Slide Issue

[marcrusso]

Just purchased a 2008 Montana 3000RL with two slides. It has one button that controls both slides. When I extend (or retract) the bedroom slides out first, then the living room. The living room slide always stops just before full extension. I wait about 10 seconds then press the button again and it finishes extending. Same thing happens when retracting.

When we first looked at it it did this, but usually 2-3 times while extending or retracting. It was low on fluid and after topping off to about 1/2" from top (slides all the way in) it was much better and faster. Seller spoke with local RV shop in town and the service tech advised that low battery voltage may cause this as well. Batteries seem ok though. This only happens to the living room slide. I got underneath and slides seem ok, meaning lubricated and teeth align with gear wheels.

Any thoughts on what it may be?

Marc

[jimcol]

It's a pretty well discussed issue on this forum for many years. Pretty easy fix. Replace the auto reset breaker on the back wall of your battery compartment. Search this forum for "auto reset breaker" and you'll find a long list of post on this issue. This is just an example: https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=72657

[BB_TX]

Here is a picture of that breaker.

[Carl n Susan]

Yup, the auto-reset breaker is the problem as others wrote.
Point of fact: the lightest slide(s) always move first. The hydraulic system is shared by the slide rams. The lightest slide reacts first to the pressure. Once it is extended/retracted, the heavier slide will move.

[marcrusso]

Thanks so much everyone. What an awesome group of people. No where else could you get quicker answers. I'm away from the RV now but will check and replace the breaker next weekend. I'll report back.

Thanks again!

Marc

[marcrusso]

Happy to report that replacing the 50a breaker with an 80a fixed the issue.

[rohrmann]

Hopefully your wiring that goes through that breaker is #4 copper. If smaller than that, you risk overheating the wire if there is a problem. The 80 amp breaker fix was intended for the newer rigs that used the larger gauge wire along with the levelup system.

[Ttman]

I had the same problem on our trailer when we first got it. I simply needed to tighten the connection for the power wire on the auto reset breaker BB_TX posted. But while going through the problem I found the auto reset breakers are a common problem for failure so I carry two spares since our camper has two of them.

[Wheelhouse]

Keep in mind that you must fill the hydronic reservation with slides in.
If you fill it with the slides you may get to much back flow of fluid and a mess to clean up.