What do you do when slides are wet and it's raining hard

[nellie1289]

So it's wet and rainy out and your are ready to bring the slides in and pack up. What do you do before or after you bring slides in to keep the wet inside at a minimum ?

[chuckster57]

I have a few thrift store beach towels just for this.
Retract the slide and then swipe the towel across the top of the slide.

Slide toppers would reduce/eliminate the need, but I'm not a fan of them. Easy to run the beach towels through the laundry, and how many times does it take to equal the cost of toppers? Just my opinion, but I've been doing it this way since my first fiver with a slide in '96.

[bsmith0404]

Typically don't have any water puddling on top of the slide, but if I do, raise the front end to drain it then bring them in and dry them with a towel like chuckster said...it's actually a good way to clean the top of your slide since they are usually in while you're washing.

[TheSweetLife]

Typically don't have any water puddling on top of the slide, but if I do, raise the front end to drain it then bring them in and dry them with a towel like chuckster said...it's actually a good way to clean the top of your slide since they are usually in while you're washing.

We do the same thing. If we are in a wooded area then I'll sweep the slides off and pull slides in immediately. Then use towel to dry off.

[GaryWT]

If it is still raining when we pull them in we put towels on the floor to catch any water that comes off the slides and then open them once we get home. If the rain has stopped we dry them before we pull them in.

[Tbos]

The slide on my new TT is about 12' long and there is little to no room to reach over the top from the front. I'm thinking of using beach towels tied to a rope to get from reach it all from front to back.

[Javi]

Slide toppers. .... and keep the wiper seals lubed

[tgpilot]

I, too, went to slide toppers after a few months. I've owned a lot of RV's in years past and almost always, put the slide toppers on them. Makes it a lot better. Now and then, Camping World has a big sale on them.

[theeyres]

Even in our fiver, I never had any significant moisture on top the slides when I brought them in, even in pouring rain. Doesn't yours have seals that goes across the top and sweeps most of the water off as they come in? Maybe I'm lazy but I just pulled them in and went. Never noticed a problem.

[nellie1289]

Yeah so I dried the sides and pulled the. I'm and there was very minimal water on them after the squeegee effect of the slides. No problem!

[rhagfo]

Even in our fiver, I never had any significant moisture on top the slides when I brought them in, even in pouring rain. Doesn't yours have seals that goes across the top and sweeps most of the water off as they come in? Maybe I'm lazy but I just pulled them in and went. Never noticed a problem.
X2! Never wiped they just don't have that much moisture on them once past the seals.

[phinner]

Slide toppers. .... and keep the wiper seals lubed
Interesting. Never thought of lubing the seals. What do you lube them with?

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[JRTJH]

Interesting. Never thought of lubing the seals. What do you lube them with?

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Here's four products. Seal conditioner is also available at any RV dealership with a parts department and/or at your local WalMart:

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=21224&rewrote&affiliateid=5193&gclid=CNGLouSXmskCFYM-aQodwvEOoQ
http://www.adventurerv.net/premium-rubber-seal-conditioner-p-6752.html?gclid=CPiBjOWXmskCFYM-aQodwvEOoQ&utm_campaign=partsfeed_ppc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Froogle
http://www.amazon.com/Thetford-32778-Rubber-Seal-Lubricant/dp/B000NJ6EZ8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447857047&sr=8-2&keywords=rv+seal+conditioner
http://www.amazon.com/3X-Chemistry-99032-Rubber-Conditioner/dp/B00B9DEDP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447857047&sr=8-1&keywords=rv+seal+conditioner

[phinner]

Thanks, John. That'll be on my next Amazon order for sure. I noticed the last time I was washing the tops of the slides that the seals on the big slide would be folded in on itself when the slide was out - like the seal didn't flip out all the way. I'd flip them out and everything was fine. I wonder if this would help prevent that.

[JRTJH]

Thanks, John. That'll be on my next Amazon order for sure. I noticed the last time I was washing the tops of the slides that the seals on the big slide would be folded in on itself when the slide was out - like the seal didn't flip out all the way. I'd flip them out and everything was fine. I wonder if this would help prevent that.

The first thing to do is to get them clean. Use warm water, Dawn and a soft bristle brush. Rinse the seals, clean them "top and bottom" with the detergent (using a brush) and rinse them well. Use a "sloppy wet" towel to get detergent water off the bottom (inaccessible side) of the wiper seals. Then apply a liberal amount of conditioner to coat the seals. Let it soak in and wipe off the excess.

Usually after a coating (maybe two) the seals will be pliable and will fold in/out properly. Be sure the TPO roofing material is also clean.

NOTE: You may find (as I did) that running the slide in about a foot, then cleaning the "underside of the slide seal" from the inside of the trailer is easier. I use a step stool and access the top of the slide from inside the trailer.

Good Luck !!!

[nellie1289]

great post john this is very helpful!

[mfifield01]

How often do you need to condition the seals?

[gtsum2]

Thanks for list above. Ordered some ronihht


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[UsTwo]

Not a 5er. But do have slides.. great post.. We also just pull the slides in and what ever the seals don't squeegee away, we do the towel wipe. But I use those industrial blue automotive towels you get from places like Wal-Mart. We use them to clean a lot on things.. And I use a silicone spray on my seals.. Have done so for appx. 9 yrs now.. Helps keep them pliable.. a good spray covering a couple times a year..does the trick.. plus I use that to spray latches and locks and a lot of other things...

[Tbos]

What silicon spray do you use? What about debris from trees, etc...? Do you just let the seal wipe that away too?

[JRTJH]

Some silicone sprays leave a "sticky residue" after drying. That is the reason using them on the slide "gear mechanism" (under the trailer) is not recommended. Dirt/grit can adhere to the residue and increase wear/damage the undercarriage of the slide. That same "sticky residue" can cause dirt, pollen and debris to adhere to the slide wipers causing them to not fold in/out properly. I can't "prove it" but I strongly suspect that the seal failure on my Springdale was a direct result of the silicone spray I used before winter storage. In the spring, when I extended the slide, most of the slide bulb seal tore away from its seat and was "fused" to the trailer side. After replacing the bulb seals and doing some research on proper conditioning and preservation of the seals, I found that "typical silicone spray" is not a "dry silicone" and that "sticky residue" is what I believe caused my seals to tear into pieces after storage.

Just my experience and my beliefs, yours may differ.

Most "RV Seal Conditioners are essentially a "dry silicone spray" some "foam" some don't, some have extra ingredients to help soften RV seals, some don't. But they are not the same as your "garden variety" silicone spray. I wouldn't recommend buying a "cheap can of silicone spray" and using it on your seals. You may find, as I did, that next spring, the seals won't move out with the slide, but rather are "stuck to the side of the RV" and tear into pieces when you extend the slide...