What Comes First?

[WeBeFulltime]

1. Check power & water at source. 2. Make sure all slide outs have clearance to deploy. 3. Level fiver. 4. Deploy slide outs.

[pduddrid]

Originally Posted by beeje

With fifth wheels, always level first.
However with some class A,s, they state in their manuals to but the slides out first. I have seen that first hand from someone I know that had a Entegra aspire bus.
I do not understand the reasoning behind that, but that is what his manual stated.

I just sold my 2007 HR Endeavor motorhome and I used to put the slides out before levelling. I was told that because of the airbag system, you put the slides out first and then you levelled. I used to put the slides out, dump the air from the airbag system, and then level. Dumping the excess air lowers the chassis and causes the levelers to have less distance to travel. I always positioned blocks for the levelers and chocks for the wheels before levelling.

When leaving it is the opposite of course. Levellers up, start the engine to refill the airbag system, turn off the engine when air is full, then retract slides.

Never had a single problem with the slides.

[Cbrez]

This question was asked during a Keystone plant tour I attended last year. The plant manager said it didn’t matter. Folks follow two different schools of thought and they both work just fine.

Having said that, last month I pulled up the jacks before DW retracted all the slides and door side slide would not come in. Re-leveled and slide came in fine. I think I’ll stay with moving slides while rig is level.

As others have said, perhaps class A’s are different

[Rondo]

Well Josh, you have asked a good question here. I myself after pulling into a site, walk around the unit before unhooking and make sure there is plenty of clearance for the slides sides to side and top to bottom( branches and bushes can cause problems with the slides, then I pull out the surge protector and plug it in to make sure I have a good power post, then turn on the water faucet to see what the pressure is like and if the water line is clear of debri. When that is all done, I hit the level-up system and raise the unit to take it off the truck and once it is clear I hit the auto level and level the unit. The last thing done is bringing the slides out. Then I hook up the water and sewer line if needed and we're set to go!
Your Class A neighbor was told wrong because by putting the slides out first and then leveling the unit will put more stress on the slides than leveling first and then putting the slides out.

[Carl n Susan]

My hydraulic slides will not retract if way off level. I learned this the hard way The Schwintek slides are even more picky about opening and retracting when not level. MH slides are built differently and may be moveable when off level. Not something you can or should do in a Montana.

[Ram Montana High Country]

Ok, after dealing with several dealerships, IMHO-don’t always trust what dealerships say are FACTS.

EXAMPLE: Montana FW only needs one battery. Or, one solar panel can run the whole coach.

IMHO - do your own homework and develop your own plan of operation.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Rondo

Well Josh, you have asked a good question here. I myself after pulling into a site, walk around the unit before unhooking and make sure there is plenty of clearance for the slides sides to side and top to bottom( branches and bushes can cause problems with the slides, then I pull out the surge protector and plug it in to make sure I have a good power post, then turn on the water faucet to see what the pressure is like and if the water line is clear of debri. When that is all done, I hit the level-up system and raise the unit to take it off the truck and once it is clear I hit the auto level and level the unit. The last thing done is bringing the slides out. Then I hook up the water and sewer line if needed and we're set to go!
Your Class A neighbor was told wrong because by putting the slides out first and then leveling the unit will put more stress on the slides than leveling first and then putting the slides out.

^^^^This.

[BiggarView]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

Oh ... to go off topic? Which came first? The chicken. Why?

In the Bible, God created all the animals first. After he created the animals, he said, "Be fruitful and multiply." The egg is a result of reproduction (multiplying). "Multiplying" came second. But it doesn't matter anyway, because I sure do love to eat them .... yep ... both chicken and eggs!

In Science... eggs came first because egg laying creatures evolved long before chickens(or humans) ever walked the Earth. And yes, I'll eat chicken and their eggs. I don't discriminate. Why does everyone presuppose the chicken/egg argument always involves "chicken" eggs when that is never mentioned? Chickens have only been around for 7-10 thousand years, egg laying creatures for millions of years.

Meanwhile back to the question at hand, level first, then slides. On a Keystone Montana. That's what the MFR recommends. Can't speak to what some Class A MFR recommends. They may have different procedures for all I know.

[phillyg]

Lynnwood is too kind. Those who put slides out first are wrong.

[Foldbak]

Level before opening the slides. Especially a Schwintec!!! I am OK opening a rack & pinion or hydraulic while connected the the truck to access the trailer at a stop. But NEVER the Schwintec!

[WhatExit?]

Best thing I learned in this thread is to caulk the wheels - I've never done that before but now I know

Originally Posted by DadsHemi

I level first, it’s a routine for me, caulk the wheels, disconnect and pull out and then level. Then I connect shore power and slide the 3 slides out and turn on the AC and go from there.

[AnArky]

Originally Posted by WhatExit?

Best thing I learned in this thread is to caulk the wheels - I've never done that before but now I know

What grade of Dicor?

[mhs4771]

I want to know where to put it, in the tread, on the bead, where?

[jeffba]

if you put the self leveling dicor close enough to the rounded edge, it will caulk the wheels

[WhatExit?]

Wait, is there an auto-caulk feature?

[Hit The Road]

The first thing we do is to measure the distance from the rig to the pedestal. (We use a marked pool noodle). Then chock the tires, unhitch, then level. After that the slides go out.