Slide out cables

[RLCJAH]

We have a 2019 Montana High Country 344RL. We have used our rig only four times and each time something is wrong. Today the kitchen table slide out has a wire cable that is almost sheared in half. And another cable in the recliner area found to be loose. Has anyone else had trouble with the cables? Isn’t this unusual breakage for the age of the RV?

[1retired06]

Our 2015 bedroom slide is cable driven. No issues to date.

[DQDick]

It's not uncommon. Many folks have had issues over the years.

[sourdough]

I've had cable slides for years and never had a problem with the "cables". I have adjusted them a couple of times when I thought they might be a tad loose. I have read of issues like you are describing and I believe (memory) that they generally come from the cables being out of adjustment/misaligned so you might check that.

[socoinc]

Same as above. I’ve been adjusting cables for 25 years. It’s easy.

[mhs4771]

Sounds like the cable became loose and jumped out of a pulley causing it to fray and fail.

[RKassl]

OK, please tell us when you know its time to adjust the cables and how do you do it.


Thanks

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by RKassl

OK, please tell us when you know its time to adjust the cables and how do you do it.


Thanks

Read page 8;

https://www.nexusrv.com/fckimages/pd...ice-manual.pdf

[Ting3]

Do you have instruction on how to adjust cables.. I've got a 2016 MHC 310RE, my big slide has one side rubbing the linoleum just before it's all the way in?

[sourdough]

See post 8

[1retired06]

BAL has a Detailed user manual on line with step by step instructions. We got one for both the cable slide and Lippert slides included in the material that came with our rig.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by 1retired06

BAL has a Detailed user manual on line with step by step instructions. We got one for both the cable slide and Lippert slides included in the material that came with our rig.

I tried pulling that up today and it just kept sayin "oops, not able to connect" or something like that.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by m.tingley@att.net

Do you have instruction on how to adjust cables.. I've got a 2016 MHC 310RE, my big slide has one side rubbing the linoleum just before it's all the way in?

Here's a link to a video that might prove useful if you've not seen it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we0z3iVD9Uo

[Creeker]

I had to replace two cables on our unit within the first few months of ownership. One completely broke and the other was so frayed it was stuck between the rollers and would not allow the slide to move. (That one was a royal PITA to change)

The cause for both failures was the employees at Montana simply did not align the slide out brackets with the holes the cable travels through in the metal frame. As the slide moved in or out, the cable rubbed against the hole in the frame and destroyed the cables.

I actually found two other brackets misaligned after moving the first two that destroyed our slide cables. I moved four of the brackets (two of them being several inches out of alignment). Have not had any problems since. I highly advise you to change that frayed cable now before it gets stuck between the rollers.

[Ting3]

Thank you..

[tom woodward]

If it were as easy as watching the video. I have a 2015 353RL HighCountry and we had problems with the slides going part way out and stopping, popping the motor relay. When the motor relay reset we could go in further. A call to the local shop said, "put a larger CB, 80 amps, in the front bay. Still did it and then eventually a couple of cables broke. I replaced two by watching the video but the CB kept popping. I took it to 2 service shops, both said they couldn't fix it (or didn't want to knowing how big a job it was) and finally took it to the local Keystone dealer. Two of the larger three slides had to come out. The factory put the slide in catty-wompus and they were binding and the only thing they ride on is a plastic wear strips, not rollers. $5000 later they finally work right and stopped breaking cables. Nine months later and only two trips the slick material on the bottom of the slide that runs on the slide strip is starting to tear again. Dealer says parts are warranted but not the labor. If they have to take that slide out to find what is tearing the material it will cost another 12 hours of labor at $165/h. Frankly I'm repulsed at the poor quality of build (and repair) these vehicles.

[StageCoachDriver]

Check out My RV Works video at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we0z3iVD9Uo

. I carry one of the $30 repair kits the guy mentions in the video. Your problem sounds like an alignment issue which is talked about in the first few minutes of the video.

Also, check out the many other vides My RV Works has put on YouTube. If you do have a problem with your RV, hopefully you'll be somewhere near Port Angeles, WA where these guys have their mobile RV repair business.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by tom woodward

If it were as easy as watching the video. I have a 2015 353RL HighCountry and we had problems with the slides going part way out and stopping, popping the motor relay. When the motor relay reset we could go in further. A call to the local shop said, "put a larger CB, 80 amps, in the front bay. Still did it and then eventually a couple of cables broke. I replaced two by watching the video but the CB kept popping. I took it to 2 service shops, both said they couldn't fix it (or didn't want to knowing how big a job it was) and finally took it to the local Keystone dealer. Two of the larger three slides had to come out. The factory put the slide in catty-wompus and they were binding and the only thing they ride on is a plastic wear strips, not rollers. $5000 later they finally work right and stopped breaking cables. Nine months later and only two trips the slick material on the bottom of the slide that runs on the slide strip is starting to tear again. Dealer says parts are warranted but not the labor. If they have to take that slide out to find what is tearing the material it will cost another 12 hours of labor at $165/h. Frankly I'm repulsed at the poor quality of build (and repair) these vehicles.

In my experience the cable slides themselves and the concept haven't really been problematic. The Keystone execution of that concept is what is deplorable.

The cable slides would work fine if installed per BAL's suggestion; rollers (and the proper number). They told me that they do NOT recommend Darco fabric and the wear bar use with the more or less floating cable slides yet Keystone continues to install them and they continue to tear up. It is extremely frustrating.

On my last trailer I had to have uhmw strips installed under the slides to stop the deterioration of the Darco and all the jumping and it worked. Cost $2xxx out of my pocket.

Fast forward to today; bought a new 2020 Montana High Country. Looked at the slides and saw rollers - GREAT! I thought. Wrong. Keystone only installed 2 rollers on the slide. My last slides were approx. the same size as these and BAL recommended at least 4. The 2 rollers are apparently too small for the slide. They won't roll because they are compressed too much. Consequences? The Darco is now literally shredded the width of the rollers front to back - one trip. It's in the shop now. It will be interesting to see what they suggest as a solution. I told the SM to tell them I want the slides pulled and some sort of poly bottoms placed on them along with the proper number of rollers. We'll see how that goes...

[jtcurbo]

Look on YouTube. I saw a demonstration on adjusting the cables.

[pitman44]

Originally Posted by RLCJAH

We have a 2019 Montana High Country 344RL. We have used our rig only four times and each time something is wrong. Today the kitchen table slide out has a wire cable that is almost sheared in half. And another cable in the recliner area found to be loose. Has anyone else had trouble with the cables? Isn’t this unusual breakage for the age of the RV?

There are a number of good videos on adjusting and replacing cables. Here's a good one from a factory rep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQWBI0gnhpI