WHY IS MY RV SLIDE SLUGGISH?

WHY IS MY RV SLIDE SLUGGISH? Experiencing issues with your RV slide-out? In this week's tech tip, we're addressing common causes of sluggish RV slides and how you can fix them to keep your living space functional and comfortable.
Ready to get your RV slide moving smoothly again? Hit play, leave your questions in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more RV tech tips and practical advice!
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[@donaldmorgan1773]

Thanks for answering my reverse polarity question Always follow your gut feeling...oh and your test equipment.

[@TP-vu3tc]

Hey, Todd. How about some tips on how to clean your RV floor furnace ducts, between the vents. Ours was full of wood chips and metal shavings left from the manufacturer. And you know a duster on a pole or vacuum won't make the narrow angle. I can only reach so far. Any cleaning tool recommended? Need something felixible like a plumbing snake. Thanks

[@sleahy4082]

I've learned a great deal from your tech tips. I'm extremely grateful. Ongoing thanks!

[@blinardy48]

Love your tips and academy I have a 2023 Heartland Bighorn and have had to have the landing jacks motor replaced. Now having trouble with auto leveling. It is in shop now and working with Lippert to see why it won’t auto level and slides come open when raising and lowering jacks.

[@cascade5]

Hi Todd. When we are watching tv & the refrigerator comes on the signal from the roof antenna gets scrambled. This also happens when you walk between the fridge & tv. Glad I found your site. Tips are great!

[@lancewulfers2502]

Live the tech tips. Just a note, I was looking up a replacement motor for a slide unit and found out the lippert rack and pinion slide mechanism uses a 12V 30 Amp motor. That's a pretty hefty load. You should make sure your motor connections are tight and not corroded, and also that your slide mechanism is lubricated. Great tech tips. Thank you.

[@Crin-dq5nj]

I purchased your course and wanted to know that if you wanted to become an inspector, could you get certified online ? Love your advice. Down to earth and an owner of a camera, I listen closely. Thankyou!

[@Roamwithahome]

Todd, I love all your videos and they have helped me a ton! Question: I have a 22 Alliance 36v11 valor that came with slide covers. How am I supposed to check to make sure the caulking on top is still good and how would I go about replacing it if needed?

[@GatorsRock0219]

Love your tech tips, I don't think there's a single one I haven't "Liked". On a motorhome, wouldn't you also get more power from the converter off shore power (or even the generator) than from the alternator?

[@Ryan-yi6su]

What do you do if you're at a campsite and your slide won't retract?? Is there a manual way to move it that way you could head home?.

[@mercywas]

We had the same issue with a reverse polarity issue. We found that the pedestal had a loose connection. All was well after the repair.

[@nickgleis5732]

can you talk about general maintenance on schwintek slides. The are generally fragile and it's a disaster when they fail.

[@chadsmith946]

Hey Todd, Thanks again as always for the great Tips, I love these tech tips. I do have a question though. You mentioned, in the past, changing from Leaf spring to independent suspension for the ride quality as an upgrade and I hear that a lot. There are also those who recommend upgrading just shackles, but do you any upgrade or maintenance tips for Torsion axles? I never anyone talk about them, is that because they are a better system then leaf springs or is just because there are less issues? Thanks Again.

[@goldeneye2112]

Thanks for this content. I watch every week and enjoy your knowledge and wisdom. Shortly after we purchased our motorhome which had a tilt a view articulating bed we upgraded to a Brooklyn Bedding mattress which is super comfortable. However, within 3 months after adding the new mattress the linear actuator on the bed failed. The gears inside it stripped. Was it a mistake to upgrade to the much heavier mattress? Are the linear actuators capable of lifting upgraded mattresses? Thank you!

[@daviddockstader1773]

lol ! I crunch it on the very first video I seen of you 👍

[@robertkoch2545]

I have a travel trailer with a TPO roof. I clean the roof annually with a mild soap (Murphy’s Oil Soap) as instructed in my owner’s manual. My question is, should I be conditioning or protecting the roof membrane with anything? If so what should I be using? Thanks, love your tech tip segments.

[@user-xh9oq1jx6b]

Is there anything about rv repairs u don’t know 😊

[@RVingwithBandit]

My class A requires the engine/ignition to be off for the leveling jacks to work. I usually will start the generator or be plugged into shore power while using the leveling jacks or putting in or out slides even though I have a sufficient house battery to handle the load.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Very true. This is why I said to follow the manual. Some do some do not.

[@Josh-on9ey]

Hi Todd and crew, love the tech tips, thank you for doing them. I have an odd scenario for you. I have a dc-dc charger for my truck alternator to keep my house battery (410ah LITHIUM) charged while the engine is running. My onboard generator will charge the house battery but at a much lower charge rate than the dc-dc charger. Do you see any issues with leaving the coach converter circuit breaker switched OFF and adding another dc-dc charger to the output of the generator so the battery charges faster? What about possibly adding some relays and using the currently installed dc-dc charger so it has two separate inputs that aren't active at the same time. The only time I would need to reconnect the coach converter circuit breaker is when the coach is hooked to shore power and not using the inverter. Any advise or insight to this matter will be greatly appreciated.

[@nancyjones6784]

What if you are camping with a generator instead of shore power should you hook up and run the generator to open the slides?

[@martinhyde9663]

Hiya. I have learned a lot from your tech tips and other videos. Here is a question for you. Why does my Suburban SW6DE water heater sometimes light off (when running off propane obviously) after 2-3 'clicks' of the ignitor with a worrying 'thump' or 'pop' and immediately shut itself off? This happens on the first cycle of ignition attempts and after multiple 'resets' by cycling the on/off switch. I've had a look at the burner tube, propane orifice and the electrode. All appear to be in good condition. I have blown everything out with canned air. I've had a look inside the combustion chamber(?) behind the metal shield and there is no obvious obstruction. It happens at altitude (7800 feet in Yellowstone) and at close to sea level. Full propane tanks or part empty makes no difference. Dead calm or some wind again make no difference. The stove top and furnace work fine.

[@gardnetbush9768]

Hey Todd can I change my 30amp to a 50th amp on my camper?

[@bobbobobob5100]

my motorhome needs the parking brake on and the key in the accessory position for the slides and landing gear to work

[@johnstangel8918]

Todd, you are awesome!!! Now that we have all the good stuff out of the way My 2012 Georgetown has hydraulic slides and a hydraulic leveling system both are independent of each other you said on zrinzo's tip that the engine should be running on mine I only run the engine to deploy the leveling gear but have to turn the engine off to put out the slides is this correct or should I be concerned? Thanks again for the help.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So prior to answering his gas engine question I prefaced it by saying read your owners manual as each mfgr on different models will tell you to either leave the engine on or in some cases you can’t reply the landing gear with the engine on.

[@RVingwithBandit]

Love the tech tips! I have been watching some KZbin videos on inverter/chargers. Seems to be a trend out there that people are using a 48V inverter charger vice 12V. Is a Victron 48V inverter/charger really more efficient and save money vice going with a 12V? If you have a 50 Amp setup, do you need two inverters to run everything (AC's)?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So 38 volts is what is used in homes. Homes do not have 12volt needs. Yes the inverter would be smaller and more efficient but your batteries will be 48v so those are 4 times bigger and if you want more then it’s another big battery. Now you have to step down from 48 volts to 12 to run your 12 volt needs or you would leave your existing 12volt battery. Bottom line, it’s all about your preference. Not much reduction in weight or cost. Possibly you would have 94% efficiency over the 90% efficiency you get from 12volt.

[@tammyscott9664]

Regarding slides: our 1998 Winnebago 35 WP has recently started to have the slide move out up to 4-5 inches on its own. Even when the manual clamps are tied down. Our mobile rv tech thinks it’s air in the HWH hydraulic line and had us move the slide in and out several times a day for several days which helped (not as far out, maybe 2 inches) and we changed the air filter. It seemed to be resolved for a week or so but now is almost as bad as it was originally. No leaks, plenty of fluid. Any suggestions what could be causing this? Thank you! Love all the tips!

[@DeboraHardy]

Hey Todd, I have a class C rv and shore power at my house when I am not on the road. Can I leave the rv plugged in all the time? Someone told me it is not good for my rv house battery. Thank you, Debora

[@shamusmcgee7584]

Hey Todd, I am in the process of installing a 400 watt solar system with lithium batts, is there a problem using my 2000 watt inverter to power my towable coach by connecting my inverter to my coaches shore power receptacle. Thank you

[@SteveSzekeres]

Hey Todd, I have minor issue. We have a 2017 Heartland BigHorn 3160 EL 5th wheel. When extending or retracting our 2 main slides they will go either in or out sometimes a little or sometimes most of the way and stop. When this happens I hear a clicking near the hydraulic pump area. If we wait about 10 - 15 seconds we can move them again. I have replaced the solenoid switch already and that did help some. Could the 50 amp fuse that goes to the hydraulic pump be going bad? I have your home study course and this has helped me greatly with other things that have come up but I just don't want to start replacing things that aren't necessary. Thank you.

[@amop33]

Oh oh… I know the answer to the thumbnail question! It’s a schwintek. 😂😂😂

[@mikewatkins978]

It's too bad someone hasn't come up with an adaptor that could reverse polarity so correct polarity to your RV.

[@edzapiain413]

Wouldn’t the reverse polarity create a hot skin?

[@sconcrete]

Top of slide doesn’t go out at same time as the bottom, on a cornerstone.

[@otiskey166]

Too funny - "only 110,000 from 200,000".

[@bubsmp]

3:43 Hey Todd here’s my 2 second host tip Tuesday….Dont be a condescending ass hat to your viewers. You’re welcome.

[@feraxks]

Humor is subjective, but just because you didn't find it funny doesn't mean that's true of other viewers. Follow your advice and don't be an ....

[@bubsmp]

@@feraxks You think that was meant to be funny? 🤔 Also, I can’t be a condescending ass hat to my viewers…..I don’t have any, besides you of course. Thanks for watching!