Slide outs jumping going in and out - Montana Owners Club

bobforest · 03-04-2017, 06:20 PM

Hi to all and looking for some advice on an issue that just started this year with my 2013 5th wheel (342R). I never had my sliders jump (or buck, not sure what the right term is) but after on trip where i broke camp and rolled in the slider i started to this jumping. It was an extremely windy day right of the back of the rig so I thought that may have had something to do with this issue. The big slider and the on opposite (second biggest) have this "jumping issue. I adjusted the cable tensions with some success but the problem still exists. I also sprayed all the rubber seals with silicon spray and the side of the sliders with no improvement. So I am at a loss. I don't want to get them to bind up or break a cable and hope that someone can offer some advice.
Please help, i am in the middle of a 4 month trip and no dealers are around.

mlh · 03-04-2017, 07:19 PM

Did you lube the bottom of the slide?
Lynwood

bobforest · 03-05-2017, 05:59 AM

Yes, several times with the same silicone spray that i use for the rubber seals.

phillyg · 03-05-2017, 08:33 AM

Perhaps you can observe from underneath the slide(s) while someone else operates it to see if something looks wrong. If the mechanisms are behind the underbelly, as I suspect, youre going to have to pull them down.

scattershot · 03-05-2017, 08:59 AM

I had that happen on a SOB, and it,turned out that some part of the suspension had broken,and was bumping on the frame when the slide moved. Sorry I can't be more specific, but it was a long time ago.

bobforest · 03-05-2017, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the quick response. I will try both ideas. Keep you posted.
Thanks
I welcome any others to advise!

cpfiver · 03-09-2017, 09:02 AM

I would suggest you have someone watch the walls beside the slide out on both sides. You may be experiencing what I and others are. The wall beside the slide is moving due to a broken wall stud weld. If the wall moves opposite to the slide direction my guess that is your issue.

Twopetes · 03-10-2017, 06:41 AM

@ cpfiver

I have the same issue with the wall by the frig. See the post "WALL DEFORMATION". Myself along with several others commented on this issue.

What model do you have? This issues appears to be a problem on the High Country 343 and 353RL's. Seems the residential frig might be too heavy for the design and it needs to be reinforced.

My slide has a little jumping issue also and it appears it is from this wall issue.

cpfiver · 03-10-2017, 06:54 AM

Ours is a HC 293RK 2016 mfg in 15. No refrigerator in slide, it has the theater seating by wall issue and a dinette next to it. Repair is scheduled for May at my dealer. I'm expecting a successful job based on talking the issue through with the service manager. Ansley RV so far has been great on the past. They plan to reweld the broken stud and add extra braces in the wall.

CT Wanderer · 04-13-2018, 07:04 AM

I have had the same problem with my slide. It started last October after I treated the seals with silicon. This slide has a nylon bearing strip under the slide instead of rollers. I thought the strip needed lubrication. Checked with the dealer and they said yes you have to regularly lube your slides. I went and lubricated the strip and the jumping got worse. Checked some forums and found that this is a known problem with this system. You can't get any silicone on the strip or the slide will start sticking and jumping. The cure is to remove all the silicone from the strip and the slide bottom and bottom seal (no easy task) and then lube with ZEP 45 Chlorinated lube. I'm getting ready to do the job and find that version of ZEP has been discontinued. I've searched the web and can't find any. Next step is to contact the manufacturer and see what is recommended in it's place.

If you have the same type of slide you might want to try the same thing.

If your wall is moving you definitely have to get that fixed but if this jumping is what caused the wall to break with undue stress in the first place you have to address that also.

With the number of broken walls I'm reading about I'm concerned the same to happen to me very soon.

cpfiver · 04-13-2018, 08:11 AM

I don't know about the Zep. I had also incorrectly felt silicone would settle the jumping down by application to the nylon/Teflon white strip and white rollers only to find it was worse. My dealer years ago had also found this was a bad idea. Apparently the slide needs some drag caused by just friction sliding on the strip with no additional lube. I used 90% alcohol to clean off the strip and rollers. It took a few times working on the strip from inside by lifting the carpet flap and the outside as it was moving on the rollers. I also wiped down the underside of the slide out black floor. Now with no lube whatsoever it moves pretty evenly with very little jump. I know it's all counter intuitive to not lube.

CT Wanderer · 04-13-2018, 08:15 AM

Thanks for that info. That's encouraging that just cleaning it will improve it. I'm going to go ahead with the cleaning and hope for the best. If I can get my hands on the ZEP 45 I would give that a try also.

CT Wanderer · 04-15-2018, 05:18 PM

I cleaned the bottom and the bearing strip with 90% alcohol. Tested and saw no noticeable improvement. I saw on another forum that after cleaning to apply WD-40 Specialist Dirt & Rust Resistan Dry Lube PTFE Spray. Don't use silicone. I immediately noticed an improvement. Except for jumping when it first started to slide in it ran smooth as new. I then sprayed behind the bottom seal, let it dry and tested. Except for sticking a little before beginning to travel it operated smoothly with absolutely no jumping. Others have said it will get better with use.
Glad to have my slide operating as new again.

cpfiver · 04-15-2018, 05:25 PM

Glad to hear CT, please update if anything changes from this. It appears you have found a solution. I believe that PTFE is a Teflon based lube.

Tennessee Tuxedo · 08-02-2018, 04:10 PM

Just a thought but you could try Gunk engine degreaser to
get that oil off.

CT Wanderer · 08-03-2018, 06:11 AM

In my case it was silicone which was causing the problem. I got the info from another post by someone who contacted the manufacturer and they recommended using alcohol. Don't know what if any detrimental effect Gunk would have on the bearing strip.

It's been several months and many cycles and my slide still works perfectly. Just for maintenance purposes I gave the bottom of the slide another spray last week and will do so every few months. I'm thinking this will also help with cutting down on the wear of the cloth that covers the bottom of the slide. There have been many who have posted a problem with it wearing and shredding.

Tennessee Tuxedo · 08-03-2018, 08:45 PM

Yes,I sprayed mine with some kind of long lasting oil based lube,but good idea with the
alcohol in the spray bottle.

cpfiver · 08-15-2018, 04:54 PM

Tried the PTFE today, I have to say the slide moves smother than ever!

CT Wanderer · 08-15-2018, 05:17 PM

Glad it worked for you. It's worked so well for me I now use it on all my slides, not just the kitchen slide with the nylon bearing strip.

MHChobos · 09-12-2018, 08:37 AM

Iis this your kitchen slide?

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