Changing slideout seal/wiper rubber

[Larry-P]

One of my seals/wipers on the slideout has completely discinigrated & needs to be replaced.
Is this something that a novice like me can do? Does the slideout need to be taken out to replaced this seal/wiper? If I need to take it in to have the work done, what sort of estimated cost do you think it would be?
Has anyone out there actually done this type of work?

Thanks, Larry-P

[1retired06]

I replaced a DS slide seal. Ordered thru dealer after failure to find on-line. Slide did not have to be removed, came with easy to follow instructions. Hardest part of the project was finding the correct seal. Keystone was no help. Cost estimate for a dealer?? Maybe three hours of labor at $100plus per hour, and if I remember correctly, was 2007/08 timeframe, paid around $125 for the seal kit.

[Larry-P]

Thanks 1retire06 for the information. I feel much better now.

[Larry-P]

1retire06, can I re-ask you about your seal replacement. Did you replace the wiper seal on the side of the slide out located on the body of the RV.
I keep reading that the slide out must be removed to replace this wiper/seal. My Monty is a 2011 3455SA model.

[twindman]

See my reply in another recent post - 'Slideout wipers.....'
I explained how to replace these. It is VERY easy if you know what to look for and I believe the cost for seals is $1-2 a foot.

[rohrmann]

Several months ago, I replaced all the horizontal wiper seals (the ones on the top of the slides), as well as the top bulb seals, as they were all rotten from sun exposure. I ordered from the Trekwood site. I needed 36 feet of both, which gave me less than a foot over when I was done, for our four slides. For the slide seal, they have a screw through the rubber at each end, and after removing the screws, the flap just pulls off the metal it clips onto. The bulb seals were a little more involved, but it just took removing the corner plastic pieces at each end of the slide on top.

The wiper seal is:
http://www.trekwood.com/products.php?product_id=139553

The bulb seal is:
http://www.trekwood.com/products.php?product_id=139567

The cost of 36 feet of both, plus shipping was $215.43, and I think replacing both took not much more than two hours.

[1retired06]

Originally Posted by Larry-P

1retire06, can I re-ask you about your seal replacement. Did you replace the wiper seal on the side of the slide out located on the body of the RV.
I keep reading that the slide out must be removed to replace this wiper/seal. My Monty is a 2011 3455SA model.

Yes, and did not have to remove the slide.

[Bigpapa113]

How do i find your post on slide out wipers i have a 2011 montana 3455sa

[jmill8]

Keeping with the slider sweeps/seals theme, I recently took my 03 3295RK fiver with three slides to local RV shop for annual roof inspection. I was told slide top sweeps/seals needed replacement as they do not extend from one edge of slide rough in to the other. Shop opined this will cause water to enter slide, however, I have not had water problem to date. I have had unit for several years and do not remember sweeps/seals extending the full length. Of course shop wants to charge arm/leg to do the replacement. Any thoughts on this situation.

[rohrmann]

If you are reasonably handy, it is fairly simple to replace these seals. There is a screw at each end of the seal, then the seal just comes of the metal tab that runs the length of the seal. Cut the new seal to length and push it on the the mounting tab and install the screws through the seal where the screws came out of the old seal.

[jmill8]

I figured it would be easy replace. Still wondering if new sweep has to go edge to edge of slide rough in or just to edge of vertical seal at end of slide? With screw at each end of sweep I can't see it moving or shrinking without tearing material. Shop tech opined leak would occur if sweep not to end of rough in opening.

[daveinaz]

Originally Posted by jmill8

I figured it would be easy replace. Still wondering if new sweep has to go edge to edge of slide rough in or just to edge of vertical seal at end of slide? With screw at each end of sweep I can't see it moving or shrinking without tearing material. Shop tech opined leak would occur if sweep not to end of rough in opening.

The side wiper seals are installed first and go up behind the top seal. After the two side seals are done, you install the top seal. I ran the side seals up to the top of the vertical channel. Then installed the top seal end to end.

[rohrmann]

Yes, all the seals must be installed full length or end to end, otherwise, water will get past the ends of the seals

[jmill8]

Interesting, apparently when my unit was constructed the sweeps were not installed end to end. Always something to learn.

[hopelessdiyer]

On my slideout the wiper does not fully deploy/extend when the slideout is extended. This happened before so I replaced that wiper but it appears that the fit is too tight on the wiper and its pinched so it will not slide out. I've applied ptfe silicon grease to it but that is not enough. I wonder if there is an adjustement down below that changes the ammount of pressure that's applied. It seems that there needs to be more opening to allow that wiper to pop out. To be honest this rv has probably had the problem since day one except it was not noticed until a heavy rainstorm and I had the RV tilted slightly the wrong way so lots of water came in.

Here is alink to a good photo.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...dXdGJzUXdGR0hn

Its not mine but it shows the problem. Only part of the wiper is deploying but toward the middle it is not extended. Its possible to reach under there and pull it out but of course you can't do that every time that you use the slideout. I think its pinched too tightly.

[PNW Fireguy]

One more benefit of going to the national rally. I was able to purchase 75 feet of bulb seal without paying the high shipping prices that Trekwood/TierraRV charges.

[hopelessdiyer]

thanks good to know.
the one I've got is less than a year old but the flap refuses to completely extend. Part of it wants to stay behind as if the slide is not extended. I'll post a photo later. I wonder if there is an adjustment on the bottom that can close or open that gap at the top.

[jimcol]

I had a side seal do that. I would just take the awning pull down rod and reach in and flip the seal out. If the top was doing that on mine I would extend the slide a foot or so, stop before the inside fascia blocks your view. From the inside with a yard stick or something similar, push the seal to flip it out. From there you can see if the seal is really bad enough to replace.

[hopelessdiyer]

Yep, that's exactly what I did before. To push it out from the inside I used one of theose paint stirring sticks. Problem is on top, you don't even know if its going out or not unless you can get up high and take a look. I put a new wiper on there last year something is either causing it to stick more than it should or the clearance is not adequate and it pinches too tight. I am going to have a look from the bottom to see what might make it tighter up above.

[jcurtis934]

With slide toppers I never have to worry about it. There should be no adjustments. The drag of the seal against the slideout top or sides is what flips the seals out or in.