2014 Mountaineer 375 FLF slide problem

[donhov]

The factory installed sofas/queen sleepers with the p leather or whatever finish they supplied are horrible. They continued to peal and/or de-laminate until they were almost barely cloth. So wife decided to change them out. When removing the curb side sofa and removing the carpet to install some laminate under the new sofa discovered that the floor was rotted through almost all 3 sides. Surprised me that the floor is only 1 layer of 3/4 plywood with some type of plastic pan under that and it is only 1/4" thick. Got the old out completely and replaced with some all weather 3/4 and cured the caulking leak using some Dicor sealing tape then putty tape (there was non apparent on the factory install) and carefully caulking all around. Hopefully this will stop further damage, The roadside had no damage so just installing the laminate and new loveseat and all is well. Just surprised at how cheaply this is made and that there is absolutely no type of insulation anywhere in the floor of the slide in the front of the unit (living room area). We full time in this so it became a critical repair quickly. Any thoughts from anyone?
After seeing how this is made I'm surprised that someone hasn't fallen through to the ground. The only thing holding the floor in is a group of screws from the bottom up into the side wall bottom plates. In my case nothing was left other than the sofa holding the floor up.

[donhov]

No comments or thoughts on this?????

[beeje]

All it takes is a pin hole leak that goes un-noticed and you end up in your position. This is the reason ALL roof joints on our unit are Eturnabond taped. Around every everything. Also all joints around the 4 slides are taped.
We are not full time, and our unit spends its down time in a enclosed pole building out of the weather.

[donhov]

OK, but this slide did not appear to have any type of product to seal out the water, Definitely no putty tape and possibly the tape but it so very narrow. Just thought it was very cheaply done and no insulation of any type under the floor. Expected at least some 3/4 foam or something like that. Oh well guess that is what you get for your money spent.

[beeje]

Did the leak occurred where the trim piece is screwed on to the bottom of the slide out on the side. ?

And yes most if not all slide-out floors are not insulated other than the Astro foil which virtually does nothing

[donhov]

As best as I could tell that seemed to be the problem. Entire 3 outside sides at the wall junction was rotted out. Barely anything holding the floor up as far as I could tell. Glad we had to replace the sofas otherwise someone might have sat down and fell through the floor to the ground below. I really think just the sofa was keeping the floor from falling out. Rot came in 3-4 inches from the wall area on the 3 outside sides. Thank goodness I was able to remove and replace without having to do much jacking up of the slide out. Was able to force new wood under the one area where there was contact without much effort.

[BandBmalin]

My 2018 3820FK had the opposing slides with the sleeper/sofa in each of the slides. In an attempt to make an office, we took one of the couches out and put a small table with chair in the slide. I was very concerned each time I would step on the floor as it felt very thin/soft. Thanks to your post, I now realize that the floor material was just really thin. Ultimately put the couch back in and now have a 385BR. Took the twin sleeper/sofa out of the bonus room and noticed that this floor seems MUCH more sturdy. The slide is not as wide, but still the floor feels much thicker and solid. I would have thought that the Montana would have the thicker floor than the HC due to weight, but I guess not?

[DebNJim B]

We removed one sofa in ours and extended the floor a foot further into the l/r to have room for a recliner. I used the platform I removed from the bed when I reduced that from a King to a Queen. The floor in that slide is nice and firm now although it seemed quite solid before the mod.

[donhov]

Thanks, that's kinda what I had to do. We extended about 8" but I left the extension not attached. It appears attached but can be removed if necessary.

[psomers]

I know 3/4 plywood is thin but necessary if you want your slide floor to be on same level as main floor. What ever the thickness of slide floor is the amount the slide has to be lifted to come in. My 1996 Sunnybrook had slides but they didn't drop down to be level with main floor. You couldn't feel any give in that slide floor.