Failed slide out actuator

[KamperMike]

Has anyone else suffered a broken slide out actuator? We just lost the ram that operates a slide room.
The failure occurred on our 2012 Keystone Cougar High Country 321 RES with a loud “bang” as the kitchen slide out was being retracted, leaving the mechanism inoperable and the slide out room mostly extended. We wonder why the failure occurred and, if it is restored to the original factory delivered condition, will a replacement ram also fail?
Our HC 321 RES has three slide outs:
1. The BEDROOM slide is operated by a cable system that is powered by an electric motor, which is mounted under the bed. The room box rides on rollers. Operation is smooth and quiet.
2. The MAIN slide contains the dinette table and chairs plus two very comfortable, although heavy, recliners. This slide has both cables with no motor to drive them as well as an electric motor-driven horizontal ram. The actuator ram is mounted below the cabin within the underbelly. The room has no rollers for support. It apparently slides directly on the carpet of the living area floor. As the room is extended out or retracted in, it moves in very noisy jerks.
3. The KITCHEN slide houses a refrigerator/freezer appliance, a range, a microwave, an oven, some cabinets, plus a sofa that folds out into an air inflated bed. Another hybrid cable/ram apparatus (same as described for the main slide) operates the extend/retract function. The actuator ram is mounted below the cabin within the underbelly. This room also slides directly on the carpet floor with no rollers for support. This slide out room also makes loud noises and moves with jerks as it is operated. This is the room with the broken actuator ram. Note, Keystone has reported that no replacement ram parts to fit this model are supported.
Can someone tell me if all HC 321 RES models are built with the hybrid slider described above? Does anyone know of a remedy for the noise, jerky movement, and failure of the actuator ram? I am concerned that the similar actuator system on the other side of the coach will also fail in an inconvenient location far from home.
Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions about getting economically road ready again?
Thanks,
-Stationary RV-er

[KamperMike]

Originally Posted by KamperMike

Has anyone else suffered a broken slide out actuator? We just lost the ram that operates a slide room.
The failure occurred on our 2012 Keystone Cougar High Country 321 RES with a loud “bang” as the kitchen slide out was being retracted, leaving the mechanism inoperable and the slide out room mostly extended. We wonder why the failure occurred and, if it is restored to the original factory delivered condition, will a replacement ram also fail?
Our HC 321 RES has three slide outs:
1. The BEDROOM slide is operated by a cable system that is powered by an electric motor, which is mounted under the bed. The room box rides on rollers. Operation is smooth and quiet.
2. The MAIN slide contains the dinette table and chairs plus two very comfortable, although heavy, recliners. This slide has both cables with no motor to drive them as well as an electric motor-driven horizontal ram. The actuator ram is mounted below the cabin within the underbelly. The room has no rollers for support. It apparently slides directly on the carpet of the living area floor. As the room is extended out or retracted in, it moves in very noisy jerks.
3. The KITCHEN slide houses a refrigerator/freezer appliance, a range, a microwave, an oven, some cabinets, plus a sofa that folds out into an air inflated bed. Another hybrid cable/ram apparatus (same as described for the main slide) operates the extend/retract function. The actuator ram is mounted below the cabin within the underbelly. This room also slides directly on the carpet floor with no rollers for support. This slide out room also makes loud noises and moves with jerks as it is operated. This is the room with the broken actuator ram. Note, Keystone has reported that no replacement ram parts to fit this model are supported.
Can someone tell me if all HC 321 RES models are built with the hybrid slider described above? Does anyone know of a remedy for the noise, jerky movement, and failure of the actuator ram? I am concerned that the similar actuator system on the other side of the coach will also fail in an inconvenient location far from home.
Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions about getting economically road ready again?
Thanks,
-Stationary RV-er

Is this the only one? Perhaps the factory only shipped one lemon!

[kfxgreenie]

Originally Posted by KamperMike

Is this the only one? Perhaps the factory only shipped one lemon!

Lets hope they only did make 1 bad one. I personally am thankful you got the bad one and I did not. Sorry for your luck, but maybe you should buy a lottery ticket.