BILL SMITH - Home Built RV Slide Out

Bill Smith is a DIY person. People told him he could not build a slide out for his current RV which drove Bill to prove them wrong. He planned, cut, and did what others said could not be done.
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[@tinkertime7165]

The 11 thumbs down were the guys that tried and now just have a camper with a big hole in the side!!

[@dirtysanchez941]

LMAO 😂

[@kajala11]

They didn't count the cost in labor and commitment. :s

[@64maxpower]

@michel joannette I can't believe how many people give thumbs down period. The only good thing about is KZbin has so many douchebags I never leave nasty comments because I don't want to be one of them

[@jasonpayne6495]

🤣🤣🤣🤣✌🏽

[@LivingCoast2Coast]

A good portion of the population can not think outside of the box now. Which leads to the It can not do and there for you can not do it either.

[@oldschooldiy3240]

What a "Hold my beer" job! Outstanding!!

[@MrStingray186]

I'm a 65 yr old retired carpenter and I think you did a great job Bill.

[@ronvalley1973]

get back to work as you are too young to retire cause my dad was still building cabinets in his public cabinet shop when he was 81, but he died at 85 cause of particle board dust, ha, that is why i always stuck with repairing antiques and older furniture....

[@MrStingray186]

@@ronvalley1973 lol I just got done doing my kitchen with 100% solid maple cabinets each cabinet was flawless custom made with a hand rubbed lacquer finish equal to my wife's piano finish. I spent 3 mouths in just building and finishing. Problem is now 3 of the 4 subcontractors (Elec, Plumbing. granite ) I used in the remodel want me to build a set for them.

[@ronvalley1973]

@@MrStingray186 ah see, i did not think you were retired totally, yeah, i worked in my dads' cabinet for 26 years, 6 days a week, and he had two to three other guys helping him and all i do is still fix furniture, and just today, two customers came over and brought me wooden furniture to repair and refinish and i am on a farm out in the middle of nowhere 120 miles west of chicago, it never ends, i can't retire, i don't want to, i have seen about 3 dudes that hung out at dads' shop cause they were retired, and about 2 to 5 years later they were dead, hmmm, i thought, wow, i ain't never gonna retire, and you hear stories from people all the time, joe so and so retired and died only months or years later, i hear them all the time, those stories are all over the internet, so, i do know how to build cabinets and my dad and his helpers were all europeans, so they should me quite a few tricks on how to do and how to think wood and wood working and patience, and i have a million stories about that shop, and now that you are up there only a tad in age i know what my dad would tell you if someone asked him to build cabinets for them, cause friends want a lower price, he would say, just order pre made doors and make the boxes yourself, and what would i say, ha, i would say, go to lowes, they have a huge selection of already built cabinets.......

[@twodavid]

@@ronvalley1973 Great story Ronnie, thank you for sharing. I once towed vehicles for a living and towed a vehicle for a friend (I new the guy but not really closely). When the job was done and it came down to payment I gave him "mated rates". This gentleman gave me an extra $50 on top of my quoted price. When I refused to take his extra tip he said "fiends pay more not less, this is what friendships are all about"". This has stuck with me ever since. God bless you Ronnie.

[@ronvalley1973]

@@twodavid cool

[@chrislilly1463]

I truly hope you will do a “how I did it” video including parts and everything. This works amazingly well. You should be super proud of yourself, Sir.

[@robertclarkguitar]

I cannot believe how well this looks. In fact its better than factory. Your passion made it better. Good for you. Now come do my mallard. Lol

[@Vera-xu3xw]

This inspired me to trade in my old trailer for a new one with slide outs already built in...😜

[@Surf62]

No Kidding!

[@thomassohayda3375]

When you have zero support and the world is dead set against you, that's your time to shine and prove to not urself but all of them that anything I possible. Very positive and uplifting. Beautiful job.

[@tomgrvlen1100]

So they told you you couldn't do it huh... Well you realy showed them didn't you. Good man..perfect job, and a great inspiration! Tnx for posting

[@DualTasticToday]

What was the mechanism that drove it in and out. Fantastic job, impressive

[@kajala11]

He likely bought the slide out motor, slides mounts and parts from a demo'ed RV unit.

[@blakehendrix8697]

Nicely done! I need someone to build a custom slide out of the back of a fifth wheel for me! I've been looking for something like a Grand Design Reflection 30BH which they only made for a few years so they're hard to find! I don't know why more RVs don't have a slide out of the back... seems like the best way to add more bedroom space while still being easy to tow!

[@mycheallhamlet1603]

Bill just amazing craftmanship! Can you tell me what you used for your drive and where you sourced them. I am building a slide on my 2001 Van Hool and would like to do what you did. Thank you in advance.

[@LifeBetweenTheDash]

Hats off to you. Great job down to the wife's reading light and little table!!!

[@davebb36]

I would give you a thumbs down if I were jealous of you. Amazing job sir !!!! Your wife is very lucky.

[@tonywedding5987]

Excellent job, Bill. My late wife had a mobile home on the east side of the lake we now live on before we were married. She had a 12x20 screened in porch on the front exiting the living room entry door. At the time we were dating she wanted to enclose the porch, remove the living room wall, and encompass the porch into her living room. She asked a contractor to perform the job and he told her it was impossible. As she was telling me about it I explained that I had seen a similar job on HGTV and I could do it for her. I installed windows in the porch, insulated and wired it for outlets and lights, put wainscoting on the walls with sheet rock on ceiling and balance of walls. I then installed a beam to support both roof lines and tore the wall out between the living room and porch, moving her entry door to the opening where the porch screen door was. She helped me with all of it and was elated when it was finished and she had new carpet installed in the enlarged living room. I also built a false wall at one end that was removable and she could store valuables in the space. I think she loved that part most. After we married, she moved into our house on the other side of the lake and she was always right beside me on all our improvement projects on this house. Unfortunately, I lost her the day after Thanksgiving last year to lung cancer. I was as proud as she was of the project we completed on her house. We also added a 12X30 screened in porch across the balance of the front of her place.

[@davidpaterson6271]

Excellent work! One of the best things to me about creating something yourself is that you can fix it if it breaks. Knowing each small part of the bigger picture is great thing. Thanks for sharing your work!

[@JustPlainCommonSense]

That’s a FANTASTIC job at doing the impossible. I bet you can’t put an opposing slide out on the other side 😉

[@johnbearden8964]

Great job, I'm pretty handy but never would have tackled such a project, I commend you.

[@johnkinnane547]

G’day and greetings from Tasmania you have done a absolutely terrific job. Well done regards John

[@freddy9882]

Bravo, well done sir, may god bless you and your family 💪🏽

[@64maxpower]

Great Work my friend Make one on the opposing side now

[@98_ksxj]

Would love more info on the complete build. Does he have a KZbin channel or written a blog with all the photos?

[@gudfarfar]

What a great build you made! I am impressed with the quality and technology that went into this slideout. Good job!

[@paulmarshall7044]

That's awesome! Dude you go, that's wonderful! I'm glad you didn't listen to the naysayers.

[@Reserector]

Impressive workmanship. I appreciate that you built it how YOU thought it should be, instead of following the established methods. The only drawback I see is that it is so well done, others will assume it came like that, and never strike up a conversation about it. Then again, most RVers don't modify. Guys like us are the exception, and you sir, did an exceptional job.

[@quedeezy]

Reserector well is model sure as hell didn’t come with a slide but only true rv guys will no that awesome job

[@IamSpectre2020]

Great job, it took guts to cut that hole but I totally understand you. We have a 97 Holiday Rambler Motorhome (no slide) and even though we would like something bigger we just can't part with our RV. It;s been completely rebuilt and I mean completely and we trust it to bring us anywhere. Last year over 15K miles. At times I am just so tempted to that hole and do it but we are soon going to cave in a buy a used Newmar and re-start the re-building again just for a slide. Cudo's to you Sir.

[@Waveluth]

Next time when you make those radius boards. Make it easy on yourself. Rip the boards into 1/4” pieces and bend them into a jig and epoxy them together with West System. It’s about 2 hours work for them all. That oak does not like to bend that’s for sure. You could have made that trim piece in one continuous piece that way. Great job though!!!! Looks great!!!! ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@captsam54]

As a RV technician.. I am impressed.. Where did you get the slide motor action from?

[@skilltechbuildersinc.byrod7865]

Did Bill release where he bought the slideout rails from?

[@captsam54]

@@skilltechbuildersinc.byrod7865 No.. lol

[@johnvancamper1987]

Hi from the UK Bill. Fantastic job. Showed some guts there and got on with it. Inspirational ! Happy travels everyone. John

[@jmrichsonsr]

Creative. Excellent and beautiful. Lols like the factory did it.

[@Sailingdoodles]

Nice! Sure it was a Lot of work

[@kevincrowley5064]

Nice work Bill. I'll bet it's built better than some of the factory units out there...

[@coherantbliss3483]

My hat is off to you for doing what you did! You would be a proud member of the "doers club"...and the "doers club" has few people in it. I built a custom street rod from scratch... it took 6 years to complete, from the frame to the body and won many awards at car shows. I built another one and same thing...many awards including a "Best of Show"...and all done in my shop at home taking 4 years. Why? The first one because I knew I could if I tried and had patience...I didn't even have enough tools at first and as time passed I got more at garage sales etc. I was poor. The second one I built because I wanted to improve the design and like you, I like to work with my hands. I'm a retired cabinet shop owner. I see so many people now who are unbelievably lazy and most guys these days don't even know how to swing a hammer...sad. I've noticed over the years that most men don't have patience and would rather start 10 projects because they are "excited" for a few minutes but they lose interest within a few days and never get any of them done. I call these guys idiots. Edit: A note to all you idiots out there...If you start a project, finish it before you start another one...what part of that don't you understand? Don't be in the Idiots Club! Be in the Bill Smiths Club!

[@BR549DBH]

Awesome. the shelf inside could tear up stuff. I have a fail-safe idea. use the N.O. contact on a limit switch mounted on the shelf that will energize a diode protected relay. Put the slide out motor's ground across the wiper and the chassis ground on the N.O. contact on the relay. If the shelf if up the limit switch is open and the relay isn't energized and the slide out will not work until the shelf is lowered. However, when the self is down there will be a voltage draw. To eliminate the continual voltage draw, change the slide out switch with a double pole double throw switch (or a secondary push button switch near the slide out control switch.) Use the NO contacts in series with the limit switch. If you need a drawing contact me at thomasrl at SBC Global dot net. I hope this helps.

[@tinkertime7165]

Robert Thomas very cool. Or just remember to put the sheet down....OR, I HAVE IT, I HAVE IT.....attach the shelf by Velcro and it will just tear off.

[@nandito7021]

dear mr bill I hope you can get to read my comment before I engage myself on this project, so I can get some advice from you and I can get through with this project. I have a 2008 keystone montana it has 2 rooms, the main room its at the very beginning of the 5th wheel (it sits on top of the 5th wheel anchor) and the 2nd one its at the very end, now I have a situation with the 2nd room the very back wall its bad and I'm going to replace it but my wife wants me to make a slide out on the back wall and that terrified me because I dont know much about hydraulic pistons or energized powered hydraulics would please be kind and give me an advise on where to start and how to do it. i hope you can help a follower here sr i will appreciate it all my life, your truly friend Fernando Reynoso

[@TheGreatApostate]

You are a master builder sir.

[@egoldie22]

OMG! That’s freaking awesome!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@briandstone1able]

Nice work sir!

[@Thedirtylittletruth]

Awesome build!!!

[@bobvb]

Fantastic project

[@BlackRhyno17]

This man has skills that Napoleon Dynamite only dreams of.

[@anomyouslastname4904]

Hats off to you, sir.

[@pauldickie7158]

You Sir are my new hero. Congratulations on an amazing job. Just proves once again to not listen to the nay sayers and follow your heart!

[@westcoastbronco]

Great job sir!

[@fixinggrace]

A fantastic job with this trailer. This guy should be in the space program.

[@garyabc]

Very nice job. Great design. Thanks for sharing.

[@marcelocastro3780]

Awesome , I will build from scratch my motorhome in a sprinter or transit for the first time also, I have knowledge in carpentry but it will be a challenge, people like you are inspiring, Congratulations I'm from Sao Paulo - Brazil

[@Ainnem]

@Marcelo Castro E ae cara, terminou já seu RV? Contae

[@jimbobjimbob8275]

Outstanding job!

[@timshaw6653]

Nicely done.

[@mikewarner2285]

Nice work

[@JEDIAL9]

A brilliant display of hard work and perseverance! Excellent job!

[@pineappletop8751]

This is awesome Bill. I think aluminum prefabbed would work also. A bit lighter too Can I ask what type of motor you used? Thank you for the video.

[@Anne--Marie]

Great job! That slide might be only 32" deep, but it is very long. What a difference!

[@neftalihernandez6299]

Bill Thank you for this video. Would you be so kind in letting us know what parts we would need to make this possible. Again Thank you for this video. You just gave me hope. Abundant blessings to you.

[@kajala11]

Fine job Bill. Will be doing something similar converting a gutted 35' Gulfstream down to its frame with two slideout for a Tiny House conversion. Gives me insight on the finish. Thanks.

[@LitoGeorge]

Thank you Bill for your encouragement. Also big respect for your single mindedness in getting the job done.

[@CliveWebbAustralia]

Hello from Australia. Mate,. perhaps next time you say that you're going to do something, your wife and others will give you the credit you deserve. You have done a great job. very inspiring. All the best to you...

[@KathyBacon-o4u]

We have the Scamp camper next to you. You did an amazing job on your slide out!! We love your beautiful RV!! Thanks for the tour!!😊

[@nelsonmotta5481]

Very very nice work!!! Congrats!

[@brysonwood8356]

Nice job. Looks great and fully functional

[@nancycook3733]

I've always taught my boys and friends that you never use the word "can't" , can not may be but never can't , why because you can do anything if you put your mind to it !! Anything is possible if you do not try, and people would be amazed just how much can be done and achieved but most importantly when you get stumped don't give in, take 2 steps back and think it out, talk it out, but never give up, I know from experience and some of things I've done and accomplished was said that I " can't do this or I can't do that !" Well I was a parapeligic was told I can't walk ever again that was 35 yrs ago I'm still walking, building houses, fixing vehicles, and more so never say can't but I can ! And do it ! Thank you for the video love it and beautiful job !

[@ajdrumsforgod]

Truly talented work Mr.Smith. My wife and I bought a 1980 rv and were looking for someone that did this without the super expensive manufacturers kit. Great job, if you can provide a list of materials that would also be a huge benefit...

[@CosmicSeeker69]

1:50 ABSOLUTELY THE BEST REASONING IN THE WORLD. Go Bill 💪. Edit. Twenty four years back I wanted the back cutting off a truck chassis to make a low level walk in garage for my step daughters mountain bikes. The guy in the garage said ' You can't do that! - so did it myself!

[@danielequihua9359]

Beautiful you're Heart was in the right place Looks factory made Very Professional Craftsmanship

[@stuarttalksstuff57]

that is brilliant

[@quocducnguyen]

Great job!!!!

[@markchristie5577]

Very nice job. Never say never!

[@mogensengerald60]

Great job Sir .

[@mrkrause3]

Awesome job…..I’d love to see more photos…..like your mechanisms….

[@andrewd2003]

Nice work! Had an old camper. I thought would have been awesome with a slide out. Never took on that challenge, though. Glad to see someone pull it off.

[@faze_buendia9514]

wow great job!!! I want to be handy like that some day; I only just realized my love of making things recently so I'm still a beginner builder/maker of things; but someday I would love love LOVE to build a slideout on my RV! thta's the goal :D

[@crazgirl80]

Looking at it, it looks factory made. Wow, you did it. What a great craftsman.

[@blackebl]

Thinking about adding one (preferably two) slide outs to my old 1970 Carriage 28’ camper. Doing a full rebuild and this helps immensely. Do you have any schematics or diagrams that you used that i can use as reference?

[@Twofiddymill]

Great build dude…better than many slide out companies. Some are too complex which is always a fail. Excellent!

[@neatpleats11]

That company should give you an award for excellence.

[@MrSparkums]

Words of wisdom "Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something, especially your wife." - Bill Smith 😆👏

[@KeatShadows]

It works smoothly and looks terrific.

[@keithnorris8982]

It's great to see so many people giving you the praise you deserve. I couldn't find one "dick head" remark. My hat goes off to you Bill. Happy camping my friend:-) -keith

[@lloydbrewer4229]

Awesome job Bill !!!! Thank you for persevering with the project AND thank you for posting on KZbin. You've got my brain working overtime. lol. Cheers

[@michaeljackman1746]

A1 top job Bill I am considering a build of an entire Rd Van and seeing how you did this and the seamless finished product just makes me want to plan and build.. Bravo sir I salute you and your finished product …well done ✅

[@funbrandi2603]

Will you marry me Bill?? Lol Nothing better than a handy man, Im lucky to have one. In fact he's ripping apart our tipout at the moment. Lol Hence why I was checking in on this topic.

[@VictoryMC]

@Scott Whiting, any idea how to ask "Bill Smith" questions? Mostly about the process of purchasing the slide-out gear.

[@ForgivenBob]

Great work Bill.. How many times did you wipe out that little fold down shelf, before you put a limit switch that would stop the slide if the shelf was left up.? Lol.. No, seriously.. Great Craftsmanship !

[@mdrew44628]

"for the guys whose wives say you can't do that......yeah you can". Let's face it Bill, a lot of people would not be able to pull this off.....😀

[@judichristopher4604]

"WOW" Fantastic...

[@ghostrider564]

Hi Scott just saw this great job. A couple of questions as looking at making one for a mini trailer for a motorbike. How did you figure out the weight the slide could take? Next your boat type curved areas you have to bind as you described you just cant cut the curve out of timber? Regards Mark

[@NYVET48TFW]

I would have put the switch (or a second switch) for the slide-out inside the trailer. You never want to put controls like that on the outside, in case of malicious people or weather, you should always have control from the inside. I DO like the switch on the outside for making sure you won't hit anything, but I'd have a locking cover (which you may have for all I know) and a secondary switch inside. You have inspired me, however, to install a secondary slide switch on the outside of mine for just the advantage I mentioned, as we always camp in wooded areas. That's a nice touch, thanks for the idea (now go put another switch inside LOL). Hats off to you for this undertaking, you certainly have more guts than I would have had to do that, and your attention to detail was amazing, looks like it was there from day one. Nice job.

[@alvashoemaker8536]

OMG...! Totally AMAZING!! GREAT job...!! 👍👍🤓🤓👣

[@ambersewell8966]

Hey Bill.... I am like you. Where there is a will.....I will beat thyself in the head until a way is found. I also plan never to NOT have a roof over my head again after losing my hearing aid business during Covid and free falling through the cracks involved in an interstate pile up at the same time. I am blessed and have managed to buy a 1999 Trail lite 5270 in perfect condition at a very low price but fighting my way among others who could actually make it there to look at it....the only way I could have a chance was to buy sight unseen and I didnt even think to ask if it had a slide. Sadly, it does not and claustrophobic since the car wreck...I may have to just cut a big hole in it anyway...lol If I can put a slide there all the better. If I had your shop and tools I would figure it out. I do not intend to "travel the states" however the ability to move it 3 or 4 times in the next couple of years is a given until I can recover the settlement from the wreck . I need to convert this to solar as well because I see a river in my near future where I can finish healing from the trauma and write about my journey so that I'm able to turn a "baddie" in to a "goodie" and rise to a higher place. My email is Hearingyourlifeagain and I use gmail. I have some questions for you if you can spare the time. Thank you so much

[@mdsign001]

You cannot, and I can't emphasize this enough because it's impossible, you cannot build me one ...

[@Ntyler01mil]

I wasn't expecting the slide function to be automated like that.

[@joyce7892]

Amazing! I don't have the knowledge to do it, or I would on my 23' TT. It would make all the difference as it did for you.

[@1stinsightpro101]

Nice one Bill you've inspired me I live in the UK and was wondering how I could put a slide out on my caravan now seen yours I'm going to try and make an attempt wish me luck quick question the slide out Motors you put underneath are they generic

[@robertdunn1545]

I'm sure your wife will never doubt you again!!💯💯💯

[@robertcollins7515]

Awesome! I am smiling with you.

[@manojkumar-mn8hn]

amaaazing work.. genious work.. you should have a made million dollar bet to those people who said you cannot do it. you definitely proved them wrong - please keep up the great work..

[@jaynedoe1959]

Hey attach your wifes fold up shelf TO the slideout. Then you can have a bigger shelf & never worry about having to remember folding it down before closing the slide.

[@iselili2]

Super proud of you looks amazing! Please share a more detailed video on how you did it.

[@Sp1der44]

Looks fantastic. People saying that you can't do it is the best reason ever to make such a great feature on your trailer. Where can someone get that gear driven track you showed expanding under the slide out? Great video.

[@istoa22]

Is it necessary to make it electric? Could you, if you wanted to, make it like a big pull out drawer? My DIY is much smaller and I need to shed weight.

[@DaxxTerryGreen]

Outstanding friend. I'm in Asheville, NC and want to add some Slid Outs to a school bus.