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04-05-2015, 08:08 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Clinton, Iowa
Posts: 41
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Opening the travel trailer for the year
I am getting ready to open the trailer for the year. Never had a slideout so not sure if there is anything extra I need to do. I am sure there is but I cant seem to find any videos. Help.
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2011 Chevy Silverado Z71 Crew Cab
2014 Keystone Grand Touring 2920BH
1994 Dutchman Classic
1976 Jayco
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04-05-2015, 09:25 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Only thing that I would recommend is to be sure that the battery is fully charged before trying to move side out. I usually try to be on shore power or attached to a running TV also. The higher the voltage the lower the amp draw and heating of the motor. JM2¢, Hank ...... check electrolyte level first
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Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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04-05-2015, 09:34 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Like hank said, good batteries. As you get ready for the camping season now is the time to inspect all the seals on the slide.
There will be bulb seals on the outside edge of the slide opening, and also on the inside on the wall. There are products made to lubricate and preserve those seals, and a good servicing will do wonders to make them last.
There are also wiper seals, and they need a good looking at too. They are inside the opening of the slide.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-05-2015, 11:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
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Chuckster:
In your experience, what is/are the best product(s) to preserve those seals?
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Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
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04-05-2015, 11:54 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Clinton, Iowa
Posts: 41
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Anything with the gears or tracks on the slide itself?
__________________
2011 Chevy Silverado Z71 Crew Cab
2014 Keystone Grand Touring 2920BH
1994 Dutchman Classic
1976 Jayco
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04-05-2015, 12:21 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
Chuckster:
In your experience, what is/are the best product(s) to preserve those seals?
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I like the spray foaming products. I can post names when I go back to the salt mine in the morning.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-05-2015, 12:30 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sivymp1
Anything with the gears or tracks on the slide itself?
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Keep them clean. I use WD40 to clean them and I don't use any grease on them as it attracts dirt/grit that can wear away gears.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-05-2015, 12:49 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert185
Chuckster:
In your experience, what is/are the best product(s) to preserve those seals?
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While chuckster57 is getting back to you, I use Aerospace303 on the slide seals. It seems to clean, protect and keep them flexible.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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04-05-2015, 12:51 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sivymp1
Anything with the gears or tracks on the slide itself?
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On the Cougar slide out mechanism, I use a dry lube spray --- not any particular brand - just what I can find at a reasonable price. As mentioned, don't use grease for the reason stated.
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2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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04-06-2015, 05:13 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Clinton, Iowa
Posts: 41
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Thanks for your help
__________________
2011 Chevy Silverado Z71 Crew Cab
2014 Keystone Grand Touring 2920BH
1994 Dutchman Classic
1976 Jayco
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04-06-2015, 05:23 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Manic Monday at work today so sorry no pics, we use Camco slide lubricant and foaming seal conditioner.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-07-2015, 04:22 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Berkley
Posts: 751
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Chuck, when you clean the cables and whatnot, do you spray the wd40 on a rag and wipe it down, or spray right on the cables/rollers/guides, etc?
Also I'm trying to picture in my minds eye where everything is located, I would think some access panel inside the trailer would have to be removed PRIOR to putting the slide out, to properly get at all the cabling and such? Is my thinking correct?
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2022 Ford F150 3.5 Ecoboost SCrew 4x4 MaxTow
2020 Salem Hemisphere Hyper-Lyte 25RBHL
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04-07-2015, 04:57 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Opening the travel trailer for the year
I don't have cable slides. I would leave them dry. The motor to operate the cables is located inside the trailer, above the slide in the middle. Often times you have to remove the top facia to see it.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-07-2015, 12:10 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Berkley
Posts: 751
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Have you ever serviced one that does have the cables? There must be some sort of lubricant used on them? I'll have to see what I have in my binder of manuals...maybe it says something in there. If I find something I will report back.
Thinking about it, if the cable rides on a plastic wheel, lubricant might not be the best option as it could attack the plastic or maybe there is something specific. I know mine has cables because when the slide is extended the cable is visible on the outside.
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2022 Ford F150 3.5 Ecoboost SCrew 4x4 MaxTow
2020 Salem Hemisphere Hyper-Lyte 25RBHL
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04-07-2015, 12:27 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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We have always left the cables dry.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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04-08-2015, 04:40 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Berkley
Posts: 751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
We have always left the cables dry.
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Ok thanks! I'm itching to get the trailer out and look it over...first trip in less than a month and lots to do...assuming weather isn't a factor.
__________________
2022 Ford F150 3.5 Ecoboost SCrew 4x4 MaxTow
2020 Salem Hemisphere Hyper-Lyte 25RBHL
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04-08-2015, 05:29 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 121
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Anybody using baby powder on the seals like this video ?
http://youtu.be/X701hbSO_ko
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16 Passport Grand Touring 2670BH
16 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7L Hemi
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04-08-2015, 05:44 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GT2400BH
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Be careful using baby powder. In past times (probably when the information for that video was produced) baby powder was made with talc. Now, talc has been found to be a health risk and for the most part has been removed from baby powder. In its place, corn starch has been used. If you look in any cooking book, corn starch is used to make gravy. So, putting the "wrong baby powder" on your seals would be as "productive" or "destructive" as putting gravy on them.
Read the contents before you use corn starch on your seals and wind up with a gooey mess !!!
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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04-19-2015, 03:11 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Quakertown, Pa
Posts: 67
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Here's some food for thought. I have a fiver with three slides. The older gentleman who delivered the RV told me to rub wax on the external slide cables and then melt the wax with a lighter. He said that melting the wax wicks it into the cable and prevents water from following the cable into the RV. I applied the wax treatment this weekend.....just in case he's right. No need to take chances.
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04-19-2015, 05:27 AM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
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Wax would probably work to help prevent water from wicking into the RV via the cables, but most candles are a mixture of wax and other substances and are brittle when cool. As soon as the cable "bends around the first pulley" the wax breaks and the protection decreases.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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