Battery

[Lwalker2024]

I have a 2004 montana 2850RK we bought used about a year ago and have remodeled the inside. We are having issues with the living room slide out. The bedroom slide goes in and out with no problem. The hydraulic fluid is full, the motor sounds strong but the living room slide out will not go out or come in unless we help it by pushing on it. I was told to check the batteries. How many batteries are supposed to be on this unit? Right now it has 1 but I keep finding different answers some say 1 and some say 2.

 

[RMcNeal]

Number of batteries depends on the dealer if you bought new. In your case, it was the previous owner. One 12vdc battery is adequate if you don't boondock. If fully charged, it will operate your slides, lights and other 12vdc devices. If you need longer term 12vdc power, you could add batteries in parallel to combine their amp hours. If you do, you will want to replace your existing with new, like sized batteries as an older battery will prematurely kill a new battery if added.
Some, including myself, have opted to get 2-6vdc golf cart batteries that, when wired in series, will provide 12vdc and more amp hours at a cheaper price. Golf cart batteries have larger led plates inside and are more capable of providing higher amperage for longer periods with less deterioration.

 

[twindman]

I had a 2006 Montana, but don't quite remember - is there a little door on the side with switches for each slide? That is how my newer model is equiped and I think that has been the standard for quite a while. YOu can individually turn on/off each slide separately.

 

[Carl n Susan]

While the outside slide valves are often a problem, I think it is not in this case. The slide goes out/in if they push on it. This implies the seals in the Ram are leaking and not applying the pressure needed to move that big slide.

 

[scottandsusan]

Probably the hydraulic selector valve needs adjusted or replaced. Maybe the living slide is turned off. Not sure where it's located on that year. Ours is in a small access panel on the outside under the bedroom slide. Your's may be in the front storage compartment near the hydraulic pump.

 

[Daryles]

Make sure your room control valves are open. These allow you to turn on/off hydraulic flow to a slide if you dont want it to open/close.

 

[Mark77]

I have an '04 3295RK so I am guessing we have (had) the same OEM hydraulic system. If you check the valves mounted to the pump manifold, in my case in the front compartment and the valve for that slide is turned on, then I think Carl is on the right track with the ram seal thing, though I think that would be unusual.

The hoses they used for those hydraulic slides are junk.... All nylon braided. It could be you could have one that has burst, or developed a leak and that is where your pressure is going. If it is not catastrophic it could take a while for it to leak out of the coroplast, however you did not mention fluid getting low and that would obviously happen if you had a leak.

I replaced the OEM pump with a 3 circuit hydraulic pump so I now control my 3 slide out rooms independently with 3 separate rocker switches... so I got real close and very familiar with the plumbing to the main and opposing slides in my rig.

 

[Carl n Susan]

Make sure your room control valves are open. These allow you to turn on/off hydraulic flow to a slide if you dont want it to open/close.

View attachment 1116120

The 2004 models did not have an outside Lippert panel. It may well have the DeWalt hydraulic system as Montana was transitioning to Lippert around that time

I have an '04 3295RK so I am guessing we have (had) the same OEM hydraulic system. If you check the valves mounted to the pump manifold, in my case in the front compartment and the valve for that slide is turned on, then I think Carl is on the right track with the ram seal thing, though I think that would be unusual.

The OP has a 2850RK. I don't remember there being a manifold on the smaller (2850, 2950 and 2955) models. The only manifold I ever saw was on the larger Montanas (like the 3295RK). But it definitely is worth checking for a manifold under the pump. Maybe it was a DeWalt motor and pump?

 

[desertdog-MOC]

Back to the Battery question, I bought my trailer used from a dealership, they installed 2 group 24 batteries which failed to provide the power needed many times to operate the slides and leveling system. I upgraded to two group 31 batteries (Duracells 105 AH lead acid) for a total of 210 AH's. I'm told you never want to discharge this type of battery more than 50%. I have not had any issues since the upgrade. I boondock for a week or two at a time. I do run a pair of inverters on propane usually for 2 hours or so in the morning and again in the evening which seems to keep the 12v system charged.