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Old 07-26-2020, 10:54 AM   #1
sourdough
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New Montana High Country - Problems

Just a heads up to anyone buying a new HC or similar trailer.

I had terrible trouble with my last trailer and the Darco covering the bottom of the slides, the wear bar and it tearing up the Darco. Swore I would not have another trailer with Darco under the slide unless they revised them and installed rollers as BAL/Norco recommends. That, I thought, ruled out a Keystone and the reason I was just about to purchase a GD, then....

Looked under the big slides of the HC 331RL and lo and behold they had installed rollers on them! Just what the doctor ordered I thought. Well, not so much;

We leave on Aug. 1 heading back to TX. I was out yesterday just doing a cursory look around before getting serious about loading and sorting things. As I walked around the trailer I just ran my hand down the inside edge of the kitchen slide. To my amazement, and horror, I felt frayed/shredded Darco! Oh heck no I thought!! This can't be - but it is/was.

The rollers are apparently either not rolling, crooked or sized improperly. They are just twisting, fraying and shredding the Darco the width of the rollers. The slides have been deployed about 5 times since I've owned it. Literally sickening.

Not sure what the answer will be since the Darco is wrapped around the floor with everything on top of it. I won't accept Darco tape because BTDT on the last trailer (came from the factory that way). The wear bar will eventually peel it off, trap it under the slide and wreak havoc with slide operation. So, it begins again...sadly. I have contacted the dealer and will let you know how it goes after I get back. In the mean time if you have that type of slide be sure and feel, or better yet look at, the bottom of them to see what's going on.
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Old 07-26-2020, 11:22 AM   #2
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Wow, sorry to hear about your mishap I was looking at one at one time but I decided on something else.

One thing for sure I don't like it when these problems come up I know they will so I deal with it and at the beginning of the camping season. I sure hope they take care of you soon but we know how they are, they meaning the dealer please keep us posted.

When I had my Denali I was impressed that when my slide wasn't working they call me.

I said to myself now that is what I'm talking about a CS that will stop in because they all will have some kind of problem.
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Old 07-26-2020, 01:00 PM   #3
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Be interesting to hear the dealer and Keystones reaction to this.
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Old 07-26-2020, 01:47 PM   #4
sourdough
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Originally Posted by gearhead View Post
Be interesting to hear the dealer and Keystones reaction to this.

Yeah, we're getting ready to leave (this Sat.) so we're pretty busy but figure it'll start Monday and get really interesting when I get back and get neck deep in it.
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Old 07-26-2020, 01:56 PM   #5
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I am seeing more high density polyurethane on both sides of your slide a permanent fix.
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Old 07-26-2020, 02:03 PM   #6
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Sorry to hear about your issue Danny. Very disappointing.
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Old 07-26-2020, 03:36 PM   #7
sourdough
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I am seeing more high density polyurethane on both sides of your slide a permanent fix.

You know, I thought about it all night long and I'm afraid you may be right. Had to do it on the last one and just don't want that kind of "patch" job on something brand new. On the other hand to fix it like I want they would literally have to replace the slide and we all know how that will go...
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Old 07-26-2020, 03:42 PM   #8
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Can you run the slide in a bit and feel the rollers? They may just be stuck with junk. With a couple of good 2X4’s and a floor jack, you may be able to lift the slide just enough to check the rollers.

Not sure you want to do that in the CG, but feel free to PM me and I can explain how to do it.
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Old 07-26-2020, 05:07 PM   #9
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Can you run the slide in a bit and feel the rollers? They may just be stuck with junk. With a couple of good 2X4’s and a floor jack, you may be able to lift the slide just enough to check the rollers.

Not sure you want to do that in the CG, but feel free to PM me and I can explain how to do it.

Thanks Chuck. We only have a few days and we head back cross country so don't want to get into a major overhaul. I do worry about deploying the slides 4 more times on the way home but we'll have to try to deal with that. Judging by the way the Darco is bunched, frayed and twisted it sure looks like the roller isn't rolling. I'll have to determine that when I get home....so I know what it is when I give it to the dealer.
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Old 07-27-2020, 04:46 AM   #10
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Is that the fridge slide?
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Old 07-27-2020, 07:19 AM   #11
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The edges on the LR slide are the worst. The back of the slide, under the recliners is really chewed up.
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Old 07-27-2020, 09:15 AM   #12
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I have rollers on mine on the seating side I don't know if they roll.
No rollers on the fridge slide, that was the one I had trouble with last year jerking. No chewing up of the fabric yet.
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Old 08-10-2020, 01:56 AM   #13
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I read this post. I have a Montana HC, but I have no idea what you are referring to. Darco??
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Old 08-10-2020, 02:24 AM   #14
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Moodman, here is a site that will explain what the material is. Not Darco brand but still pretty much the same.
https://www.recpro.com/105-wide-rv-u...All%20Products
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Old 08-10-2020, 02:40 AM   #15
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Quote:
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I read this post. I have a Montana HC, but I have no idea what you are referring to. Darco??
DARCO is the black plastic covered polyester netting (think cheap blue plastic tarp material) that is bonded (glued) to the bottom of the flooring under the slide. It's also used to "weather-proof" the wheel wells and even the underside of many "entry level trailers"...

Typically, higher priced trailers also have a Coroplast belly covering. Coroplast is a rigid corrugated plastic material, similar to a corrugated paper box, with hollow "ridges along the product". Those "ridges" act to provide a little insulation (emphasis on little). Being "more structurally sound" and made of layers of plastic, it is impermeable to water, unlike DARCO, which, when hit by rocks or sand (slung into it by the tires during towing), will be filled with tiny holes, making water intrusion through it, to the underlying wood, not only possible, but almost guaranteed to occur....

It's used because it's "cheap, light weight and easy to glue in place... It is, in many areas of a trailer, something that "looks good when new" and seldom lasts longer than the warranty.....
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Old 08-10-2020, 06:07 AM   #16
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I'm thinking of adding 1/8 '' thick polycarbonate sheet of plastic underneath my slide out but over the Darco. The 1/8 thickness would allow me to add some short counter sunk screws to hold it securely in place.
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Old 08-10-2020, 06:25 AM   #17
sourdough
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The problem with screws is that if they back out, and they probably will, if they are anywhere on the sheet that passes over the wear bar they are going cause havoc with the wear bar and underside of the trailer resulting in a hefty repair bill because the slide will more than likely have to be pulled. We put uhmw strips on my last one, secured the ends with countersunk screws (locations that did not pass over the wear bar) and applied adhesive to the rest of the uhmw. Worked fairly well for 3-4 years until I sold the trailer. This one will have to have something like that (will shoot for something better).

As big, or bigger concern, would be the Darco in your wheel wells. The WILL develop holes then collect/hold water. That water will then keep extending the damage it is causing to the flooring. There are several different remedies discussed on the forum for lining the wheel wells to prevent that problem. I will be doing the same if/when I can get the time.
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Old 08-10-2020, 06:49 AM   #18
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Spray on undercoat does wonders sealing non-moving parts. Saved the bottom of a Rockwood Mini Lite that way.
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Old 08-10-2020, 09:37 AM   #19
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What kind of adhesive can you use on the UHMW?
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