Main slides ram corroded

[Helpful Dad]

2021 3231CK anyone have corrosion on slide rams in less than one year?

[1retired06]

Never and we are Florida snowbirds

[mhs4771]

All I can say is WOW, never seen a hydraulic ram look like that, and I grew up on a farm with second or third had equipment and never saw a ram like that.
Something must have gone wrong in the manufacturing process.

[jcurtis934]

My two slide rams look just like that and have caused no issues at all in almost ten years. Mine were caused by weather in southwest Florida where we are extremely close to the peace river and weather patterns here give us periods of ocean smells as well as lots of mold and mildew.

[Hblick48]

My Dewald manual says:

If rooms are out for extended periods, it is recommended to spray exposed cylinder rods with a silicone lubricant every 5 to 7 days for protection.

If your vehicle is located in a salty environment (within 60 miles of coastal areas), it is recommended to spray the cylinder rods every 2 to 3 days with a silicone lubricant.

Retracting the ram with ram, you can damage the rubber seal, thus compromising hydraulic action. I would try to remove with steel wool or other abrasive to smooth and polish the rusted areas until the entire ram is smooth and clean.

I just had to have my main slide ram rebuilt because it was leaking internally. Cost me $155 for the rebuild and gallon of hydraulic fluid. Took me a total of about 5 hours to remove cloroplast, remove cylinder, re-install and bleed, replace and seal cloroplast, and make final adjustments for slide open and close limits. Probably would have been close to $1,000 if I had to pay someone else to do.

[ChuckS]

Since this is a new 2021 unit I would be insisting on a replacement cylinder for that slide out..

My 2014 doesn't have that rust and such... You an try some steel wool and very lightly clean it but that's going to return again.. the surface of that piston rod will continue to give you issues...

I would clean it and use until the cylinder actually starts to leak.. which it may or may never..

I don't believe the hydraulic slide out cylinders can be rebuilt now because the ends are welded on... mine are welded on and are the older steel ones and the new Lippert cylinders are also welded

When the time comes that you start to develop a leak then order a replacement cylinder and replace it

[Scottsjeeprolet]

I had one like that and it destroyed the cylinder seals. Got a nes one on Amazon cheap. I’ve replaced all three.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07...b_b_asin_title

[Mikelff]

Originally Posted by Helpful Dad

2021 3231CK anyone have corrosion on slide rams in less than one year?

You can spray them with Fluid Film, which will penetrate and stop the rust and corrosion. Spray it well and let it sit awhile, then wipe off excess with a clean rag. Stuff works great on rust and corrosion. Anything that has rust can be sprayed with this stuff and will stop the rust on most anything. After you have sprayed it and wiped it down you can take some copper wool (steel wool fibers that might remain will rust) and remove rust and corrosion residue. Spray again when done, wipe off excess and you will be good to go for some time. This stuff is non toxic and made from lanolin. I use it on my boat trailer, an RV at least once a year, boat trailer twice a year. Find it at Home Depot, Low’s, Amazon, and most hardware stores.

[jpwhite]

My dinette slide hydraulic ram had to be replaced within the first year. It was leaking. Fortunately for me, I noticed the leak 3 weeks before the warrantee period ran out.

There was no rust. It should not have any rust. I'd be concerned the rust patches would degrade the seal over time.