Slideout Hydraulic Hose advice

[RRman]

On my old 2005 Montana Big Sky 3670 It may be time to replace my slideout Hydraulic Hoses OR else the Pump and Reservoir are going bad.
I already replaced one leaking Bedroom Slideout Hose.

For the "main" or "opposing" slideout (per the Manifold Shutoff Valves) - is it safe to assume there is ONE Hydraulic Ram for each slideout?
Before I start dropping the Coroplast and insulation...
Would those Rams be Closest to the front of the RV where the Hydraulic Pump is located or elsewhere?

Anyone having done this to their old Montana's please advise!
Thanks!

[twindman]

I had a 2006 and am pretty sure all slideouts except the bedroom slide have cylinders that are visible underneath. So you can see where it goes under the coroplast. I think these older models still had bolts holding the coroplast up. However they are probably rusted on and may break, so you can just get new self threading bolts to replace them. I wouldn't attempt a replacement tho, as I think the pressure in these is high - like 4000 psi, but I am no expert by any means.
Edit: by the way, I had 2 go bad when almost new and was going the Goshen rally. Got an appt. at Lippert on our last day when leaving. They knew where to cut holes and just cut some flaps out in the right spots and put in new cylinders and we were on our way by noon.

[Carl n Susan]

There will be a hydraulic ram for each slide out (including the bedroom). They are located near the slide they operate. The main and kitchen slides are under the corplast. You can see the rams sticking out from under the frame. The bedroom slide ram is under the bed. Remove the plywood floor under the bed to access it.

[ChuckS]

The hydraulic cylinders for the main slides will be located end to end ( just about ) and simply look under the slide and you will see cylinder rod end.. the other end will be attached under coroplast to a frame bracket.

This will be about in the middle of the underbelly (In Line) with those two slide cylinders..

The operating psi is max of 2200psi... simply crack open a line fitting to bleed the pressure off and then remove and replace the line from end to end.

** Lines are not gonna help if you have a hyd pump motor or the pump itself that is aged and failing..
** on the pump manifold there are two QD fittings that a pressure gauge can bet attached to so you can verify system pressure during operation and also check for bleed down leaks..

** Hoses can be made at any NAPA parts store that builds hydraulic lines -- your lines use JIC37 fittings

** TIP - if you have to replace on of the slide out lines ( either extend or return ) attach a string to the old one at the end and pull hose and string through ... then attach new hose end to string and pull back through ( make sure to cover the open ends of the new line to avoid getting crap in them when pulling through the underbelly )

Wife and I changed two hyd main slide lines ... took us about 45 minutes to remove the old line and install new lines.. Of course we had to stop and drive down to local NAPA to get new lines made.. and we made then about 5 feet shorter then original because those were too long and found coiled up under the coroplast

[RRman]

Thanks!
I wonder why the Hydraulic Rams have to be at the rear so far from the Pump...and now understand the need to attach a string!
But on further cleanup and investigation it looks like my Hydraulic Pump tray puddle is likely the "traditional" Tank leak getting worse... But a lot of Black Plastic Sheathing has fallen off the hoses near the Pump Manifold.
But wiping them down found no evidence of fluid.
Level in the Tank is down a little over a Inch. Will top it off (to 1/4") with Sten's Hydraulic Stop Leak and Seal Conditioner vs Trans Fluid.
The slides have been cycling OK.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by RRman

Thanks!
I wonder why the Hydraulic Rams have to be at the rear so far from the Pump...and now understand the need to attach a string!
But on further cleanup and investigation it looks like my Hydraulic Pump tray puddle is likely the "traditional" Tank leak getting worse... But a lot of Black Plastic Sheathing has fallen off the hoses near the Pump Manifold.
But wiping them down found no evidence of fluid.
Level in the Tank is down a little over a Inch. Will top it off (to 1/4") with Sten's Hydraulic Stop Leak and Seal Conditioner vs Trans Fluid.
The slides have been cycling OK.

The design of the thru the frame hydraulic slide is such that "one arm" is driven and the other is simply a follower.. the actuators could have been installed on the non driven side instead but that is only a few feet difference in distance.

With the age of the unit when was the last time the reservoir was siphoned and fresh fluid installed?

On my 2014 the OEM fluid is AW32 instead of ATF and I change very 3 years... I dont use any additives for stiction.. still running all 3 original hyd slide cylinders and all 6 levelers...

the seal between the pump motor and reservoir can be replaced.. also there is a seal on the drive that fits into the motor itself... either of these can leak..

[Legend1958]

I have a 2018 3820FK. I noticed when i put the bedroom bed slide out that a shoe was caught under the bed slide. I tried to bring it back in and it wouldn't move so i tried it a few times. My Monty doesn't move from a RV pad i won so i didnt think too much and then noticed some hydraulic fluid on the ground by the rear slide. How do I look for the lines and pump? Are they under the bed?

Thanks

[Legend1958]

I meant to say own! not won. thanks

[twindman]

As for the shoe, I would take the mattress off the bed and remove anything in the storage under it. Then try to pry the foot of the bed up and inch or two.
While you have the mattress off, remove the plywood sheet inside (as mentioned above) and you can see the hydraulic ram, etc.

[Legend1958]

Thank you, I didn't think I should pry on it or not, I think the leak will be in the return line as the slide went out ok but will not move in now.

And I see your Glacier Park pic, we are at Flathead Lake in Polson MT!

[twindman]

We almost always spend a week at Kalispell somewhere. My wife is a quilter and there used to be 4 stores in the area but now down to 3.
One of my favorite places is Dubois, Wy. Small town but near there is Union Pass over the mountains to the south. Listed as a 'dangerous' road. I have gone to the top twice (never all the way over). It is all dirt/gravel and a pretty gradual slope up BUT it has washboard places and if you have driven on dirt roads in the mountains, you know even empty the truck axles bounce when given the least little gas. But at the top you have a great view of the Tetons. Small streams and grass platueau for maybe 10-15 miles at the top. One time the road had a snow bank covering it and others had made a path onto the grass around it, so I just got a run and ran thru the path! Wish I could get my rig up there!

Harrellsprec (Lynwood) spends time up there almost every summer I think. He also loves Wyoming wide open spaces!! LOL

[Legend1958]

What a great story! I have not been on that road but I have been on a few like it. Going to Yellowstone in a few weeks, that still may have some snow on the top of the passes. Thanks for talking.

[mlh]

Harrellsprec (Lynwood) spends time up there almost every summer I think. He also loves Wyoming wide open spaces!! LOL

Sadly I have been up there in a few years. And yes it’s my favorite place to visit and camp. It’s snowing up there today, May 6. It’s a different world up there.

If you would like to see the real Rocky Mountains Union Pass is hard to beat. If you want to experience the western prairie Shirley Basin is impossible beat. It’s 440000 acres of BLM land that you can camp on. Do a Google search. GPS will take you to an abandoned trailer park that is between one and two miles from the road. It’s easy to get to and you won’t see another person for weeks at a time. Either place take a pair of binoculars or better a 60 power spotting scope. You will need them and on Union Pass a winter coat.
Lynwood

[mlh]

Legend 1958. If you won’t to go up Union Pass it’s about 10 miles out of Dubois towards Yellowstone. Take a left at the cement plant and don’t be surprised if you can’t make it to the top. I’d be surprised if you can make it to the top before the first of June.
Lynwood