Support for slide outs

[WKN]

I have a 2017 Montana 3810MS. I was recently told that if you are set up for more than a week that you should use supports for your slide outs. I was even told that it says to do so in the owners manual. So I put supports on two of my slide outs. Now I’m being told not to support them because it will damage them.
Any ideas or suggestions?

[padredw]

The best advice, in my opinion, is NOT to use any additional supports for the slide out room. The coach was designed for the slide outs to be used without additional support. That is the positive reason not to use such supports.

The negative reason is even more important: if a tire should go flat, if the wheels settle in soft ground, if for any reason the coach shifts--the supports can put dangerous and perhaps damaging stress on the slide out for which it was NOT designed.

The best practice seems to be not to use slide supports or jacks.

[WeBeFulltime]

Originally Posted by padredw

The best advice, in my opinion, is NOT to use any additional supports for the slide out room. The coach was designed for the slide outs to be used without additional support. That is the positive reason not to use such supports.

The negative reason is even more important: if a tire should go flat, if the wheels settle in soft ground, if for any reason the coach shifts--the supports can put dangerous and perhaps damaging stress on the slide out for which it was NOT designed.

The best practice seems to be not to use slide supports or jacks.

Sound advise!

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by WKN

I have a 2017 Montana 3810MS. I was recently told that if you are set up for more than a week that you should use supports for your slide outs. I was even told that it says to do so in the owners manual. So I put supports on two of my slide outs. Now I’m being told not to support them because it will damage them.
Any ideas or suggestions?

Have you read the manual?

[K0LCB]

You will get lots of opinions. My advice is read your manual or contact Keystone

[mlh]

You don’t need slide support. Think about it, why would Montana make a camper that needed slide support when only one percent would use it?
Lynwood

[Dave W]

I use slide supports. Are they a good way to go - well that depends. In our case we set up in May then wander off for 5-7 weeks in August/September. Those supports are not used, and are left home.



Our HC does not have self leveling so what I do is lower the rear stabilizers, add a spare set of left over from an earlier RV BAL mechanical scissor stabilizers just ahead of the front wheels and make sure the landing legs are cribbed a couple layers of 4x4x18 high. All this is on a surface that is known to be stable. Additionally, in the unlikely case of a tire going flat, the added set of stabilizers will hold the 5er in place.


How tight do I 'set' the supports - to just contact the underside of the slide (the long LR slide only has supports) and a half turn, The top of the supports have a 2x6 spreading the load as well with the base cribbed up too again to spread the load on the ground.


How long have I done this - started in 2009 with the last 5er. These supports also take out some of the well known 5er wiggle.


Do I recommend these - no, not without a lot of thought nor do I recommend these suppports just for a n overnight or few days.


Obviously others do have their opinions but these supports can and do work but there are considerations.

[1retired06]

Never have used them.

[DQDick]

8 years of full timing and never used a single one. The main benefit is to the people who sell them and the folks who get paid to repair the damage.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by DQDick

------------ and the folks who get paid to repair the damage.

Please, by all means, find an actual reference to an RV that has been damaged in normal and proper use by using these slide supports and change my mind. I've looked and have seen nary a thing other then campfire tales

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by DQDick

8 years of full timing and never used a single one. The main benefit is to the people who sell them and the folks who get paid to repair the damage.

Originally Posted by Dave W

Please, by all means, find an actual reference to an RV that has been damaged in normal and proper use by using these slide supports and change my mind. I've looked and have seen nary a thing other then campfire tales

And this is why you need to read the manual

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by jeffba

And this is why you need to read the manual

There is NOTHING in my very general 2014 Keystone towable RV manual (Chapter 11) about supports not to be used. If it's in yours, fantastic!!

[mlh]

I can certainly see how a slide could be damaged by supporting it. If something lets the camper down say the tires go flat you have a serious problem. Heavy winds rocking the camper would put a lot os stress on the slides. That slide is not designed to support the camper and will not. But if you wont to put supports under the slides by all means do, it’s your camper.
Lynwood

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by Dave W

There is NOTHING in my very general 2014 Keystone towable RV manual (Chapter 11) about supports not to be used. If it's in yours, fantastic!!

Dave read the original post please. OP says it is required in the manual.

I have not weighed in on either side. I am just pushing the OP to read his manual and see where it stated they are required. And as you have pointed out the manual is silent on the issue.

[bshgto]

I really think the idea of slide supports came from and because a
W_H_O_L_E L_O_T of people live in their campers permanently and block the units up on cinder blocks so it would make sense to support the slides for long term or permanent parking, yep just another do-dad gadget one must have cause it sounds like yet another over thought idea . But I don`t know, I have 5 slides and 3 are pretty high off the ground, thinking it might look a little funny with 6 ft. poles running to the ground off the corners of them.
Our camper is heavy and I have noticed it has settled into the wet sand somewhat at the beach, so not sure, could be wrong but thinking that might put undue pressure on the slides at the top or change the rain runoff to the inside not to the outside which could be problematic in a thunder bumper.
Although at the one campground we frequent at the beach all the permanent rental units with 2 slides have the slides supported ( cinder blocks and shims)
looks a little back woods to me and the adjustable poles are just some thing else to carry and do when you get some where.

[1retired06]

None of the documentation that came with any of our four Montana units specified use of slide supports. 18+ years, 12 years as six month snowbirds, never an issue, and never used. But if anyone chooses to use them, my humble opinion, their rig, their money, their choice.

[BuilderBob]

Have never used slide supports and never will 4 diff 5er's and have never had any problems.

[Billhorn]

Just for anybody that says "nowhere does it say to support the slide outs"

[reinell30]

I use the slide supports on 3 of 4 slides for 7 months a year and have never had an issue. I have 2007 3500RL Montana. They reduce the rocking of the RV from side to side. I also use a King Pin Stabilizer.

[phillyg]

Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime

Sound advise!

I agree.