Moving 12 foot slide out without battery?

[Raven]

We live in a snow belt in Canada, but the snow will soon be melted enough to pay visit to our fifth wheel by walking up a trail. In a few weeks, it will be safe enough to put the slide out. Since we won’t be able to get our batteries hooked up until we can drive to the site, can we use our Honda 2000 generator to move the slide?

[JRTJH]

There's a "big red caution decal" right next to the slide switches that says,

"CAUTION, do not operate slides or other heavy load without a fully charged battery connected to the electrical system"....

The reason for that decal is to protect the power center converter/charger from the "heavy starting load" of the slide motor. The battery "absorbs the demand" by supplying the surge, protecting the converter/charger.

You "might" get away with it a few times, heck, you might NEVER have a problem, but, there's always the possibility that the first time you push the slide switch and hear the generator "ramp up" the slide stops, and you smell "something electrical" and see smoke coming from under the steps, next to the converter/charger.... If that happens, assuming you can do the work, you're looking at around $200. If you take it to an RV dealer to get it done, expect at least double that amount... If you're trailer is still in warranty or if you have an extended warranty and they find out how it happened, they probably won't cover the damage.

Short answer: I wouldn't risk it.... YMMV

IMHO, a GP24 battery or even a GP27 battery doesn't weigh that much more than a Honda 2000 generator.....

[rhagfo]

So where is the generator currently?

[Raven]

Thanks for the info & your advice. Much appreciated.

[Raven]

We have a small storage shed on our property near the trailer.

[jasin1]

Maybe you can leave a battery at the site with a small solar charger and use that battery for slide operation..even if you leave it in the shed and put the solar charger mounted to the wall so it doesn’t get snow accumulation on it

[Raven]

That is a good idea. I will look into a solar battery charger. Right now, we have a group 27 but plan to upgrade this summer to 2 6 volt batteries.

[bobbecky]

Besides possibly damaging the converter while trying to extend a slide, and I'm assuming this is a hydraulic slide at 12 ft long, you also risk damaging the electric motor driving the hydraulic pump, and a replacement motor if you can't get your failed one rebuilt, will run in excess of $1,000.

[Northofu1]

Hi Marcia,
I lived in Barrie for 27 yrs.
My trailer is stored in Mount St Louis / Moonstone.
At the end of the season I remove the battery and keep it at home. I keep it warm and check it regularly for charge and distilled water. I like to head up the first warm spell in April with the battery fully charged, to run the 12v system, I am also able to run 120v power to it from the house, which allows me to use 120 volt appliances and the converter to keep battery charged while using 12v appliances. Your generator will be the 120v source for your appliances and help keep the battery charged for the 12v appliances. That's when I start to get it ready for the season.
If you're using the battery more than opening slides a couple of times and wanting to use 12v appliances, you may want to ensure the battery is fully charged after use.
If I spend a day up there and use it to just check trailer I bring the battery home with me. If I'm working on the trailer for a few days I use a smart battery charger over night to keep it topped up and run that from the 120v from the house.
Good luck and happy camping

[Raven]

Thanks, Dan & Serena. Based on answers from fellow RVers, we will not use the Honda generator to move the slide so will now wait to install the battery. What size battery do you use?

[Northofu1]

We just have the dealer supplied 12v Interstate Group 24 battery.
We don't boondock.

[GHen]

I’ve seen dealers use a portable jump box like you use to jump start the car.

I’ve been keeping one in the rig just in case I need to pull the slides in when the batteries are weak. It’s a battery air compressor combo.

[Raven]

Thanks! Something to look into.