Slide Broke, need helkp gettting it back in

[kozzy]

so stopped over just to get a few things out of the camper, and heard a clunk. The bracket where the arm from the motor attaches to, a weld snapped off. Motor and arm go in and out OK , but since the weld is broke, the slide is stuck out. I cant locate the manual over ride, unless its inside the sealed underbelly, any one know? Even if I do find it, I am thinking in this case it wont work, since the motor and arm are going in and out, just no longer attached to the slide. Lucky for me the camper is parked in storage so no big deal that the slide is out. I have the Good same ESP, not sure if that covers them coming out or not, its all under warrantee anyways, just got it in December. Any tips would be great, since I did not get a manual for the slide system, and I'm not really sure which Lippert system it is, makes it difficult to look on their website.

[WaltBennett]

Think you've hydraulic slides and the manual part is hooking a drill up to the pump, so that won't help anything. I'd try the warranty part first - but they'll probably say you've got to get it to a dealer first (that's why I hate them!). From what I've heard about ANY 'roadside assistance' plan, you may not get much help from GS either. You don't say which slide is stuck out. Can you get to the hydraulic lines?

[kozzy]

it is one of the main slides. I can get to all the lines fine, just cant get the slide in. The pump, lines, etc all work, including the arm that extends and retracts the slide. I watch it move in nd out.
I cant even find the manual over for the pump, no idea where it is.
Ill make Camping Workd drive to me tomorrow if I have to, this is brand new unit, only used it on one trip so far.

[jcurtis934]

That "arm" should be the round shaft that is part of a hydraulic ram. From what you wrote I am taking it that the bracket that is fixed to the square tube with teeth on its bottom has sheared off. If you took out one of the vertical bolts that go through the square tube and one of the horizontal bolts that attach to the bracket that attaches to the slide, you could use a thick wire cable and a saddle clamp to connect it together and pull the slide in. Also could use a steel L bracket, but hole spacing would probably be wrong. I would either cable it or call a mobile welder to do a fix. John

[Carl n Susan]

I don't understand. You say it is a main slide (whichever that one is) and the arm from the motor snapped off at the bracket. But the main slides are hydraulic and have a ram which pushes and pulls the slide in or out. I don't understand what this "arm" is.

Theoretically if the ram is not attached to the slide (which might be the problem?) you can push the slide back into the coach. Of course there is nothing to hold it there if you move it. You can easily make some braces to jam between the interior wall and the slide frame. That should hold slide in place until you get to a repair facility.

[kozzy]

Carl, I refer to my main slides as the 2 largest living area slides. They are hydraulic, and the hydraulic arm bolts to a hole on a bracket on the arm with the "teeth"
that bracket broke off at the weld, so now the hydraulic arm goes in and out still, but without moving the slide. I was thinking the same thing you were, about pushing it in, but 2 guys on that slide and it wont budge. its possible there is more going on, like it is hung up, which might explain why the bracket broke in the first place. not sure.

Jcurtis, you are correct, I though of calling a buddy to weld it, but unit not even 6 months old yet, I want this fully replaced, and don't want to hear the crap from the dealer about altering parts. I just want it retracted so I can get it to them. I'm going to call them tomorrow and go from there, wont hurt being extended overnight I guess

[DQDick]

My thoughts also. If the piston isn't connected you should be able to push it back in if you get enough dudes pushing.

[GA Mountaineer]

If this slide has the timing gears that make both sides run even. Then I would try a large adjustable wrench on that shaft. And if I could I'd have a friend on the other end helping turn too. As it comes in retract the ram so it doesn't pinch the hydraulic lines or brake a fitting.

[kozzy]

GA, me and a friend just got back from trying just that, large crescent and one guy pushing , went in slow, but it worked. The timing gears make it so it wont push in on its own. so you were right on with your idea...
I have it secured with as ratchet strap too, just to make sure it don't work its way out on the way to the dealer.

now why didn't I think of that solution earlier...

[DQDick]

That's the great thing about this forum. At least twice, panic has set in and the answers I got here not only worked but left me asking why I didn't think of that myself. Glad you got it in!

[1retired06]

Glad you got it in.

[dieselguy]

I too am all about replacing with new, but in this instance I'd just have the bracket welded back on. Waayyyyyy simpler than replacing the entire arm and re adjusting the cylinder no matter who does it or who pays for it.

[Artemus Gordon]

My slide went out and Keystone send out at their expense repair guy within four hours of calling. July 4, 2 years ago. They took care of everything! I was away camping. Sent guy 125 miles to help me. So do get on phone ASAP.

[kozzy]

I plan on calling camping world today. I really don't care which way the go as long as they fix it. If they want to weld it fine by me as long as it holds.
Luckily this happened while I was not away on a trip and camping world is only 20 minutes away. I leave July 1 for 2 weeks so they have some time to figure it out lol

[GA Mountaineer]

Glad you got it in. Now they just have to figure out why it broke!

[kozzy]

well they didn't figure it out, but they welded it back together, seems to be a good firm bracket now. lets see if it holds up now