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Old 10-15-2006, 07:51 AM   #1
Steve and Brenda
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Entry assist handle - lessons learned

My first lesson learned on our new 3475 happened today. While showing off the new RV to the kids I opened the slides and neglected to swing our the entry assist handle. Fortunately the sequencing of the slides go bedroom, small living room then large living room and our son noticed that the handle was still stowed.

Imagine that if he were not there the hydraulics would have certainly been strong enough to rip out that handle and our less-than-24-hour-old dream RV would have a huge hole next to the entry door!!!

I'm considering a warning note on my control panel to remind me to extend the slide. Anyone not get lucky as I was and rip their handle off?
 
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Old 10-15-2006, 07:56 AM   #2
txkrumm
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well, I can tell you I have forgot, Mine just swings right around with no damage. whew. Steve
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Old 10-15-2006, 08:06 AM   #3
boat391
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we place the handle over the door thatway if you open the door to enter the handle is clear of the slide it swings both ways
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Old 10-15-2006, 08:09 AM   #4
Craig A
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I also place mine over the door instead of the slide. That way handle is clear when operating the slides.
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Old 10-15-2006, 08:27 AM   #5
rrheik
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Thank goodness no damage. We also place ours over the door. I only have two slideouts on my 3000RK, but place handle over door just as an added doorstop, in event I forget to lock the door. Although, I did leave my antenna up for about 280 miles. I pulled into the KOA her in Fredericksburg, TX and Dick, the owner, asked how te TV reception was along the way. Looked up, and sure enough it was up. Fortunately, I stopped only once for diesel, and the pump didn't have a overhang. Would not have been too happy putting a hole in my to week old Monty..

Enjoy that new Monty to the max..

barb and bob
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Old 10-15-2006, 08:38 AM   #6
Steve and Brenda
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Thanks guys for the door comment, never would have considered that one!!!

B&B, next time y'all go to Fredericksburg, Texas there's a city RV park that puts the KOA to shame. Look at the Lady Bird Johnson park, has golf, swimming and has the neatest 1940's club I've ever seen in an old WWII hangar turned hotel.
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Old 10-15-2006, 09:19 AM   #7
Parrothead
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Actually the slide just pushes the handle to the open position. Want to guess how I know? The way the handle is designed it doesn't take much pressure to push it open. Still I like the idea of putting it across the door. Will have to try that. Of course then there is one more thing to think about when stopping for potty breaks. We've forgotten steps a couple of times and once left the pump on.
Happy trails.................
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Old 10-15-2006, 12:58 PM   #8
snfexpress
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We also put the handle across the door. Have since we bought it, but we do have a replacement handle - want to know why? While at the dealer's having some warranty work done, the trailers were parked so close to one another that one of the techs put the handle the other way, towards the side of the opened slide. When the slide was retracted to put it away for the night, the slide destroyed the handle...
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Old 10-15-2006, 01:07 PM   #9
Mrs. CountryGuy
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well, I am curious,

Have they changed the way this handle works??

Ours works the way Sue (Parrothead) states hers does, if I leave it in the travel position, and forget, and open the slides, the kitchen slide pushes the handle, it goes up a bit, then drops into the position, ready for use.

Steve R and some of you that have new rigs, that had 2002 -04 rigs, has this changed??

Curious minds want to know. Will it rip off now, as in Steve and Brenda's concern??
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Old 10-15-2006, 01:10 PM   #10
Steve and Brenda
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Well, I looked at the RV again and this model prohibits placing the handle against the door because there's a awning brace blocking it so against the slide is the only way to stow it. I though Keystone would have designed a break away handle but as I pulled against it in the stowed position it looked as if it would break off the side of the RV instead of coming out of the stowed position. Good to know that it'll come loose out of stow but I'll remain cautious - thats the engineer in me, always looking at the worse case scnario - and post a warning on my slide panel.
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Old 10-15-2006, 01:27 PM   #11
Gonfishin
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Steve and Brenda, I have an awning brace in the way on my coach too. I can tell you I have done the slide thing before the handle thing a few times and have sustained no damage so far. I try to remember but sometimes my brain is on vacation before I am.
Rick.
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Old 10-15-2006, 01:43 PM   #12
Parrothead
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Duh, I just realized we can't put the handle over the door - awning. Must be why I never thought of such a clever idea! LOL
Happy trails...................
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Old 10-15-2006, 02:13 PM   #13
boat391
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my awning brace is on the other side of the handle wonder why they put yours that way makes little sence to me but I just buy them don't design em
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Old 10-15-2006, 02:26 PM   #14
rrheik
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Brenda and Steve, thanks for info on LBJ park. Have driven by it a couple of times and looks really nice. Next time in the area will have to check it out. Good luck on the door handle..

barb and bob
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