Snow load on slide outs?

[Dreamsongs]

Greetings!

We have a key stone sprinter 31fls.

The owners manual says to not leave the slides out for more than 3 weeks.

I've had to leave them out for the last 4 weeks due to snow and ice.

Now we have a big snow storm heading out way.

Should I be concerned about snow load on the slides?

Thanks!

Dave

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[Dhuhn]

I think I would at least brush the snow off , snow can get heavy and I wouldn't think it would be good to put that weight on your slide.

[Dreamsongs]

Thanks for the reply!

I won't be able to get out to my camper for a couple of days at the least.

Guess I need to get there as soon as I can to get that snow off.

I hesitate to pull the slides in due to a thin layer of ice.

Thanks again!

Dave

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[antiqfreq]

You definitely need to get snow off as often as you can.

Also, never put your slides in with the snow on there. It just brings water inside the camper. Our friends thought they'd close up as there was only a little amount of snow. That of course lead to water in the camper when that snow melted.

We have the toppers & we can close the slide most of the way, dump the snow,
and open up again.

As far as not leaving slides open more than four weeks max. We have, as we fulltimed a year so they were open long lengths of time. Also our friends live in their fifth wheel and work kamp so they are open 3 months at a time.

Have a great day.

Jo

;)

[Dreamsongs]

Thanks Jo!

Slide toppers are on the list for this spring!

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[cabinfever]

Our local dealer leaves the slides out all winter and we get plenty of snow. I would try and not make it a habit, but getting caught like you have will happen. I think all will be fine.

[FullTimer]

If there was any ice on top at all, I wouldn't move it. It may chew the seal up on the way in.

[JRTJH]

Our local dealer leaves the slides out all winter and we get plenty of snow. I would try and not make it a habit, but getting caught like you have will happen. I think all will be fine.

This is unfortunately true... I say "unfortunately" because so many dealers don't take the time to properly care for models that are on their lots. I've seen dealers move trailers with the slides out, leave slides out for months at a time, open and close slides when the trailers were sitting at odd, obviously "unlevel" positions. Just recently I saw one dealer moving a fifth wheel with a forklift, all the slides were extended, the shore power cord was dragging the ground, all four tires were "almost flat" and the landing gear was sliding along the asphalt in the lot.

I suppose "some dealers" (certainly not all) have the mentality of, "I'm selling it in a month or so and if anything happens, Keystone will pay to fix it, so what do I care if it gets damaged."

I wouldn't do it just because I saw it done on a dealer's lot !!!!! Read the owner's manual and try to look for the rationale behind why the book is written the way it is. There's almost always a reason why things are done a specific way, sometimes not obviously apparent, but still, there's a reason why Keystone recommends things be done a specific way or on a schedule as outlined in the book.....

[cabinfever]

JRTJH...My point was if it happens unexpectedly it should be ok until the snow melts, but not to make a habit of leaving them out in winter. Sorry if I were not clear....... I have also seen our dealer moving units with the slides out. Makes you wonder sometimes if problems on new units was caused by rough handling by the dealer and not poor workmanship.

[mikell]

Were fulltiming with about too much snow and cold right now. Been in the unit 4 winters and just clean them off and run them in and out a few times a year. But were cozy


4757

[Jim2366]

I left my slides out and I had to clean off all three slides before bringing them back in. It was 4 degrees and cold.

https://ring.com/share/f904a425-c977-4cfe-aaff-3fda0c307741

[ewbldavis]

I wouldn't worry about leaving them out - especially if icy as you'll likely trash the seals when you bring them in.

We leave them out all summer at our seasonal site - occasionally bringing them in when we travel.

[ewbldavis]

Were fulltiming with about too much snow and cold right now. Been in the unit 4 winters and just clean them off and run them in and out a few times a year. But were cozy


4757

Man that pic is NOT my idea of camping! Glad you are enjoying full time! Stay Warm.

[Jim2366]

I brought it home from storage to pack and leave on a trip to Blanco State Park in Texas. I did want it to melt and and get water inside the RV. It looks like Texas is cold now too but should warm up next week.