Whether you’re setting up camp or packing up to head back home, there’s a chance that your slide outs will refuse to slide. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially since you can’t travel if the slides are stuck out, and you certainly can’t camp comfortably when the slides are all the way in. Don’t despair! We here at Motorhomes 2 Go have some great advice on what to do when the slide outs don’t slide, so you won’t be stuck in a sticky situation—literally!
Preliminary Checks
Before you go jumping to conclusions and imagining the worst case scenarios, there are a few things to check that may seem totally ridiculous for us to even mention, but these situations are completely possible and are easy fixes to help you find a solution to your slide out problem!
Charged Batteries
If you’re not plugged into shore power while trying to extend or retract your slide outs and they just won’t budge, check to make sure that your house batteries are fully charged. If your RV or motorhome doesn’t have the juice, your slide outs aren’t going to budge!
Slide Obstructions
If you push your slide-out button and nothing happens, double check to make sure that the path of the slide out is unobstructed. A stray item wedged in your slide out can be an easy fix, so go check before tearing your motorhome apart looking for the slide motor. You’ll definitely hear the motor laboring if this is the problem, so make sure to keep an ear out for odd sounds too!
Slide Locks
On a similar note, if you’ve installed aftermarket slide locks, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve removed them in the event that slide outs aren’t working. Although these are designed to help slides from moving around, this is not an instance where you’ll want them to actually be doing their job!
Troubleshooting
First, determine whether your slides are mechanically operated or hydraulically operated. This information can be found in your owner’s manual, or you can give our service department a call to find out if you’re unsure.
Mechanical Slide Outs
- Check to see if any fuses have blown, and see if there is any disconnected or loose wiring.
- Make sure the house batteries are charged completely, or if at all possible, plug your RV into shore power. This will indicate whether the problem may be the batteries or not.
- If you push the button for the slide outs and can hear the motor running but the slides don’t move, check the motor’s shear pins. Although it’s pretty rare, there’s a chance they could both be broken.
- If these tests don’t fix the problem, the control board may be bad. Bring your motorhome or RV down to Motorhomes 2 Go’s service department and our certified RV technicians can take a look and help fix the problem once and for all!
Hydraulic Slide Outs
- Check the hydraulic lines for leaks, and check the pressure of the pump to make sure it has enough pressure to work the slides.
- Make sure the hydraulic valve isn’t bad, which could prevent fluid from getting where it needs to go.
- Check the hydraulic pump too. If you hear a weird noise when you try to extend the slides, it could be the pump trying to work.
Manual Extending Or Retracting
If you just can’t seem to make those slide outs go in or out, it is possible on most RVs to manually extend or retract the slides. This will vary greatly from RV to RV, as different brands may use parts from different manufacturers, so check your owner’s manual for additional information. It is important to note however that if you choose to take this avenue, and you happen to strip the gears in the slide-out system as a result of overextending the slide outs, this will void your warranty, so proceed with caution. We hope that you don’t find yourself stuck with stubborn slides outs, as it can bring an enjoyable vacation to a screeching halt. Just follow these tips on what to do when the slide outs don’t slide and hopefully you’ll be back in business and enjoying your camping trip in no time! As we mentioned before, if you have any questions or are more comfortable with a professional taking a look, give our service department a call and we can arrange a time to take a look at your RV. Our technicians are specially trained and certified to handle all your RV maintenance needs, so don’t be shy about asking for help or getting a second opinion! Have you had issues with your slide outs before? What methods did you use to get them unstuck? Leave us a comment to share your experiences, or let us know if there are other tips we missed!
