What are RV slides?
RV slides are an important part of your RV’s overall design. They are a way to expand the amount of space in your camper, which makes it easier to move around and store things inside.
RV slides have been around since the 1950s and have been used by campers ever since. They come in many different styles, sizes and materials, so finding one that fits your needs can be tricky.
How do they work?
The most common types of RV slides are manual or electric. Manual RV slides use a hand crank that is turned with a handle to open them up or close them down.
Electric RV slides automatically open and close with a button or remote control. This type is more convenient than manual ones because you don’t have to touch them at all once they’re set up correctly.
Here are some different types of RV slides:
1. Hydraulic RV slides
Hydraulic RV slides are a great way to make your RV more comfortable, safe and convenient. Hydraulic RV slides can be used in travel trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes. The hydraulic system is easy to use and allows you to slide the door open or close with just the push of a button.
The advantages of hydraulic RV slides include:
Easy operation – You don’t have to use any manual force to open or close the door because it’s all done by hydraulics. The only thing you have to do is push a button on the inside or outside of your RV.
Safe – The hydraulic system prevents injuries from happening due to moving parts as well as helps prevent damage to your trailer if something were to get caught in the slide mechanism.
Convenient – With a hydraulic RV slide, you can open and close your door without having to walk outside of your vehicle, which means no more muddy feet!
2. Schwintek RV slides
Schwintek RV slides are one of the most trusted names in the RV industry. Schwintek has been manufacturing high quality RV slides for over 30 years and has earned a reputation for superior craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The company has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of slide products to the recreational vehicle industry. Schwintek’s slide products are designed to be simple, safe and strong – all at an affordable price point.
Schwintek’s residential products cover a wide range of applications including:
Slideouts – Slideouts are available with or without windows, with several different configurations, including:
In-Wall Slides – For easy access from either side of the trailer.
Bull Nose Slides – Designed for better maneuverability in tight spaces or when returning to an RV site.
Rollout Awnings – Create an outdoor living space for your travel trailer or motorhome without having to extend your roof.
3. Power Gear RV slides
Introducing the new Power Gear RV slides. These slides are manufactured by a company that is known for its high quality products and dependability. We believe these slides will be a great addition to your RV or motorhome.
The Power Gear RV slide comes in two sizes; 13′ and 15′. The 13′ model has an outside height of 84″ and an inside height of 47″. The 15′ model has an outside height of 86″ with an inside height of 50″. Both models have a width of 24″.
These slides come with an electronic motor for ease of use, but there are also manual crank options available if you prefer to manually operate your slide.
The Power Gear RV slide features easy-to-use hydraulic controls on each side of the unit which makes operating it from either side simple and easy. The hydraulic controls also make it easy for one person to operate the slide, making it great if you want more privacy at night or during inclement weather conditions.
4. Rack and Pinion RV slides
Rack and pinion RV slides are a great option if you have an RV with limited space or want to move your slide when you’re parked. However, before you can install these units, you must have the proper equipment for the job.
The first thing to do is remove your old slide from its track, which can be done with a wrench or a pry bar. Once that is done, remove the old track and replace it with a new one. The new track will be cut at an angle so that it can fit into the rack and pinion system.
Next, place your new slide into position on this new track and secure it in place with bolts or screws. You may also need to use clamps or other devices to hold everything together while you tighten everything down permanently.
Once everything is secured in place and tight, turn on your power supply so that it can engage the motor inside of your RV slide. This will allow you to move it up and down as desired without having to touch anything manually at all!
5. Cable RV slides
Cable RV slides are the most popular type of slide on the market, and for good reason. They’re affordable, reliable and easy to install. Plus, they come in a variety of sizes and colors to meet your needs.
There are many advantages to cable RV slides:
One of the biggest advantages is that they can be installed by anyone with minimal experience. Most people will be able to install a cable RV slide in less than four hours. Another advantage of cable RV slides is that they are lightweight and easy to handle when moving them around on your trailer.
The main disadvantage of cable RV slides is that they do not have as much room for error as some other types of slides. If you make an error installing a cable RV slide, it will likely require professional help from a technician at your local RV dealership or shop.
Cable RV slides are ideal for anyone looking for an affordable way to add space to their camper or travel trailer without breaking the bank!
6. Electric Motor Driving RV slides
As RV slide motors get older and the gears wear out, they can become noisy and not work as well as they should. The noise can be annoying and there is a chance the motor could fail altogether, leaving you with a broken slide.
If your current motor is noisy or slow to operate, replacing it with an electric motor may be the best option. Electric RV slide motors are quiet, easy to install and require little maintenance.
Electric RV Slide Motor Benefits:
There are several benefits of installing an electric RV slide motor over a hydraulic or pneumatic system. Some of these benefits include:
Quiet operation – Unlike hydraulic or pneumatic systems that make loud noises when operating, electric motors are much quieter. They will not disturb your neighbors or keep you up at night if you have young children in the RV.
No leaks – There’s no need for fluid leaks or spills because there’s no fluid involved in operating an electric motor. This also means less maintenance overall, since there’s no need to worry about keeping track of fluid levels or checking connections for leaks or cracks in hoses every time you take your motor out for use.
Easy installation – Electric motors are much easier to install than most other types of RV slides because they come pre-wired with wiring.
What is a flush RV slide out?
A flush RV slide out is a type of RV slide that has been built into the floor. When you are in the RV, there will be a door or access panel on the floor that will allow you to reach the storage area.
The primary advantage of this type of RV slide is that it is completely hidden. Most RVs with flush slides have doors on one end of the vehicle that open up and allow you to access all of your stored items. You can also use these doors as access points for camping purposes if needed.
Another advantage is that they typically have more space than other types of RV slides because they don’t need to be as tall. This allows them to store items like bicycles and kayaks as well as other large items that may not fit into an overhead system or under a bed storage unit.
The main disadvantage of this type of system is that it takes up valuable space inside your vehicle at all times. If you are looking for more room inside your motorhome or trailer, then this may not be the best option for you.
Can you drive an RV with the slide out?
One should never drive with a slide out open. The reason is that it creates an aerodynamic disturbance at the front of the RV and can cause your vehicle to sway. This is particularly true if you are traveling at high speeds in windy conditions.
If you’re going to be driving at high speeds, then you need to make sure that all of your windows are closed and locked so that they don’t blow out from the pressure difference between inside and outside.
All RVs come with a window lock switch on them, but some newer models have this feature built into their dashboards as well.
If you have an older RV or one where the window lock switches aren’t working properly, then you may want to invest in some heavy-duty tape or some other sealant product that will keep your windows from blowing out into traffic when you’re driving down the road at high speeds.
Are slide outs worth it?
Slide outs are a great way to make the most of any living space. Whether you’re looking to create more room for entertaining, or just need more storage space, these handy additions can help you out.
But not everyone has the same needs or wants for their home, and that means that some people have a love/hate relationship with slide outs.
The answer depends on your specific situation and needs. If you’re looking for more space, then yes, it could be worth it. However, if you’re just looking for more storage, then it might not be worth it to you. Let’s take a look at some scenarios that would be good reasons to invest in a slide out:
You want more room
If you’re hosting large parties in your home and need extra seating without having to worry about where guests will sit on your regular furniture (or if there’s just not enough seating), then this is a great solution!
You can easily add another table or two into your living room area by using the slide out as extra seating when needed. This also makes cleaning up after parties much easier because everything is right there, ready to go!
Are RV slide outs a problem?
The RV slide-out is a great feature, but it can cause some problems in your RV. Here are some of the more common issues:
The slide-out will not retract. The problem could be with either the motor or the control panel for the motor. You should always inspect the motor before spending money on it.
If you find signs of water intrusion in this area, then you need to replace it before it fails completely and leaves you stranded somewhere.
The motor is broken and needs replacing. The most common reason for this is that someone may have tried to manually operate the slide-out when they shouldn’t have, thus damaging it beyond repair.
Another possible cause is if something was dropped on top of it while it was extended, causing damage to the gears inside, which would make it very difficult to retract without help from a professional mechanic or service technician who knows what he’s doing.
Your RV has been damaged in an accident or storm and needs repair work done on it before you can use it again safely and comfortably as it was designed by its manufacturer to be used under normal conditions of use, such as driving down highways or parking lots without having any major accidents or bad weather conditions.
Do all slide outs leak?
All slide-out systems leak. I have a friend who has had his leaking for years and it is driving him nuts. He tried many different things to stop the water from coming in, but nothing worked.
The way that the slide-out is made makes it impossible to eliminate all of the leaks. There are several types of slide-outs, but they all have one thing in common: the seams of the panels are not waterproof. This means that when water gets under the panels, it will seep between them and leak into your RV.
There are two ways that you can stop this from happening:
1) Seal the seams with silicone caulk or similar sealant compound before you leave on your trip. This will help keep water out for a while, but eventually it will wear away or get washed off by rainwater or snowmelt and need replacing again.
2) Use heavy plastic sheeting over each seam so no water can get under them at all (this is what we do). This works extremely well as long as you don’t use any pressure on the panel for any reason (like opening doors or attaching stabilizers).
Are RV slide out awnings necessary?
RV slide out awnings are a great addition to your RV. They can provide shade and protection from rain and wind. They also add a touch of class to your RV, so it doesn’t look like you are camping in your backyard.
The main purpose of an RV slide out awning is to provide shade while you’re traveling. A lot of people forget that they need to protect themselves from the sun when they are driving around in their RV. Solar radiation is dangerous because it can cause skin cancer and other health problems over time.
The second most important reason for having an RV slide out of the awning is to protect yourself from rain or snow while traveling on the road. You don’t want to get wet while driving down the road, so it’s good to have something that will provide some protection from the weather conditions.
A third reason why many people like having an RV slide out awning on their RVs is because it makes their vehicles look better than if they didn’t have them installed at all.
There are many different types of styles available for these types of accessories, so you can find one that fits into the style of your vehicle perfectly without looking out of place at all.
Can you put a slide out in an older camper?
The answer is yes, you can put a slide-out in an older camper. But before you get excited, let me explain the limitations.
If your RV was built before the mid-1980s, it likely has what’s called an “inboard” motor home chassis — with a longitudinally oriented engine below the cab and a single axle on each side of the truck. This type of setup requires a different type of system than newer vehicles.
There are two ways to go about this project: Buy a brand new slide-out or retrofit your existing chassis with one that fits your needs.
The new slide-out systems are called “underbody” or “underslung” systems because they sit under the trailer and are held up by brackets attached to the frame and then bolted onto the tow vehicle (i.e., truck).
These are relatively easy to install and don’t require any modifications to the tow vehicle itself; however, they do require some modifications to your RV’s floor when it’s time to remove them for storage or travel (more on that later). They also cost about $3,000-$4,000 each — not cheap!