Oh Sh......- Dang

[bobsals]

Just had to post this so hopefully it saves someone here from the same spoiled weekend I had! Went camping this past Memorial Day weekend in western Massachusetts. Upon putting the slides out (4) my cell phone rang, it was my Son-in-Law. Like a real dummy I kept my finger on the slide button while on the phone with him thinking all things will go as usual putting the slides out. Then I heard my wife scream and a big "CRACK" Needless to say my heart stopped. I had caught a recliner behind the entertainment slide flange and tore it to a 45 degree angle, molding flying to the floor and the corner cap already laying there. If I had just taken my finger off the slide button when the phone rang, or just let it ring till the slides were out. What do they say about hindsight? Anyway, that is the way the trip started out. No damage to the recliner surprisingly, and just a small dent in the wall paneling. After getting home Monday, I started taking the flange apart. Turns out, no broken parts. There is a piece of 5/4 pine under the decorative face on the flange and the 5/4 is just screwed to the aluminum frame with 4 decking screws. The decking screws just pulled out of the aluminum frame. I just used a ball peen hammer to push back in the holes in the aluminum and re-attached the 5/4 pine. Then added 4 more new screws, and then re-installed the molding. After that, I noticed that the slide didn't close all the way on that side. Apparently the rack and pinion gear must have jumped a tooth or two so I put the slide in about 1/2 way, supported the slide on the outside with a jack and stand, then dropped the rack gear and bearing by loosening the rear bolt, and removing the front bolt, then pulling the pinion gear down to clear the rack. Then just used a large screwdriver to move the rack to where we thought it should be and put everything back together. Perfect!. All is fixed now and canceled my claim with the insurance company. I did not post pics of the damage as I guess I didn't want any lasting memories of this.
Bottom line, be extremely careful when putting out your slides, watch carefully and don't be distracted. My first mistake was not strapping down the recliners as it was only a short ride to the campground. You can bet they will be now regardless how short or long the trip is. I could say - Dang cell phone!, But the phone wasn't the problem.

[Bill-N-Donna]

Unfortunately those kinds of things do happen. Glad you were able to fix everything yourself; I know that can save a bundle. The pictures would be a good reminder for the rest of us to avoid that kind of mistake. I can appreciate you wanting to put it behind you though.

[CORattler]

Thanks for the reminder. When moving the slides in any direction, DW is inside watching and I am outside watching and operating with the remote. Distractions can always happen though. Glad you were able to fix the damage.

[scductman]

Bobsals I did the same thing the first yr we had it. the sink covers were left laying on the counter and fell behind the refrig slide. the sound made me sick but soon found out like you that mine was an easy fix and no problem with the slide. BTW the covers have never been able to go camping again.
Bobby

[snfexpress]

I've never used the remote to operate the slides and can honestly say that in the last 5 years have only used the inside switch less than twenty times. Kat is the one who packs up and operates the slides. She knows what goes where and she can also shimmy around the slides (she's a lot smaller than me) if necessary.

[nosticks]

Bummer Bob Ill have to watch that. Recliners are a tight fit to.begin with.

[KSGirl]

We had a small incident when Camping World left some tools on our counter after installing our Satellite on the roof. It crunched our entertainment center also but was a easy repair. Now we put out the main slide a little first,I go around and quickly look behind each slide inside before we go any further. After the all clear Ray turns the switches so we can proceed on all the slides. Even when we get our new 3700 we will still follow that set up plan.

[richfaa]

That is called a mistake and we all make them. I am sure you will have learned something from that mistake and it will never happen again. There are however other mistakes to be made..

[Parts Ed]

We learned our lesson the hard way, when we picked up our new trailer/5th wheel in January, the dealer went thru all the PDI/info but neglected to check to make sure the drawer under the fridge was full latched. Of course, on our model you can't even get back to that area until you move the slide(s) out. The drawer had come open during our travel and ended up getting caught in the slide. Luckily the wife was able to move the drawer back so we could open the slide fully, but the dealer ended up buying a new drawer complete with all the brackets. And we now have a child proof catch on that drawer.

[bobsals]

After seeing your posts, I can see that the same basic thing happens more than I imagined. The sink covers I never thought of but even those have the potential to jam a slide if they bounce out or are left unsecured. Yes, I will be more aware now and will not be distracted during that critical operation. Thanks for the replies