Slide out tips out while driving

[Mel]

I have a 2009 Montana 3400 I purchased new in February 2010. On a recent trip twice I saw in my mirrow the top of kitchen slide out tip out at least a foot as I was going around corners. I about panicked. Took the 5th wheel to a dealer where I was vacationing and they checked it out and said everything is OK. Suggested I cut a board and use to block the top of the slide out and keep it from tipping. I can do this, but it seems like there should be a better solution. Anyone faced this and what did you do?

Thanks for any help.
Mel

[racerjoe]

I am not familiar with that model, but do you have valves at the hyd pump you can shut off when traveling?

[exav8tr]

I have an '06 3400 and have never seen that happen. We do have seperate valves and perhaps once the slides are in you could close the valve for that slide and see what happens. Doesn't seem normal to me......Perhaps a leaky hyd line for that slide.

[racerjoe]

My point would be then, If you shut off the valves to the slide and the slide still moves,it would be an indication of a bad cylinder. The oil is bypassing the piston seal. If the slide stays in place it would tell you that the pump is by passing internally.

[H. John Kohl]

Mel,
Based on your signature page I would think your unit is still under warranty. I would take it to another dealer and ask for their opinion. You have been given good advice on how to trouble shoot. I suggest you take a picture when it happens again with a tape measure and contact Keystone Service Center and ask for help. Best of luck. Let us know what you find.

[SlickWillie]

quote:Originally posted by racerjoe

My point would be then, If you shut off the valves to the slide and the slide still moves,it would be an indication of a bad cylinder. The oil is bypassing the piston seal. If the slide stays in place it would tell you that the pump is by passing internally.

I seem to recall someone (I think it was BSmeaton) that had this problem before. The slide is only attached at the bottom, so it allows the top to tip out, even if the hydraulic cylinder never moves. I would think if it is not a problem on every unit, the issue has to do with the rack gears. Seems mine have teflon rollers in the ends of them that run in a track. Perhaps the 3400 kitchen slide does not have these. My slide out drops down flush; seems Dale said that kitchen slide is different.

Upon searching, I finally located the thread I had in mind. It wasn't Brad's unit, but he did experiment with his slide, and found it would tip out on the top. Interesting to say the least.

[jjackflash]

I've had the same thing happen to me with the kitchen slide,that was 2 years ago and it hasn't happen again since than,this year I did have to replace two hydro hoses.
I'm thinking the kitchen slide because of the weight of the refrigerator.
Jack

[robb]

This happened to our 2007 3400RL. The top goes out and if your turning it can knock the micro-wave out of the frame onto the counter(ask me how I know) when it comes back in.
Keystone worked on it and added awnings to the slide and this stopped the problem.
This was one of the 156 items on our list when we took it back to be rebuilt, 8 weeks later we got it back!

[TLightning]

I had the refrig slide come out (top part only) while making a 270 degree right turn. In fact, we had the cat's bowl sitting on the floor, so while the slide was tipped out at the top, the centrifugal force sent the cats bowl under the tipped out slide. Therefore, when I came out of the turn, the slide stayed tilted out from the top. Several have suggested laying a board on top of the slide. Haven't done that, just go a bit slower during those long right turns.

[William H. Collier]

When the slide is in go inside and push at the top, you will see that is pushes out very easy. As far as I have heard they are all like that.
Bill

[TLightning]

They DO push out at the top very easily. To recover the cat's bowl, I pushed out the already partially tilted out top of the slide and the D/W reached in a pulled the bowl out from under the slide.