Slide Out Rollers

[Ron]

UPDATE We recently added the Lippert slide out rollers to our 3970 slides, wow what a difference, no more jerking movement in or out, then to seal up the areas where you have to cut out the original seal and plastic glide to install rollers, we installed a full length rubber wiper seal mounted on a aluminum slat, all turned out fantastic and very pleased with our efforts...

Here are the Pics of the installed components

1st picture is the roller installed
2nd picture down is new wiper seal install on aluminum slat and screwed to chassis with self tapping screws
3rd picture is the wiper seal with the 3m glue strip that was attached to the aluminum strip

[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[JRTJH]

Ron,

Pictures of how you installed the extra seal as well as the rollers and how they're installed would be most helpful for members considering the same mod.

[Ron]

Dang I thought someone would ask, LOL Will get them in a few days and post them,

[08quadram]

Yep. This thread is worthless without pics. [emoji16]

[Randall32749]

Thanks, going to do that to my 295RL

[Camping family]

Just seen this post after I posted some questions. Wanting to do the same thing. How do I know what brand slides I have n what type of rollers to purchases? Sorry for the double post.

[Dash1587]

How far apart did you place your rollers. I have a 12 ft slide
Thanks

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Dash1587

How far apart did you place your rollers. I have a 12 ft slide
Thanks

Here is a link to the BAL roller kit installation instructions... https://balrvproducts.com/wp-content...Bear-REV-A.pdf

In that pdf, is a chart with the number of rollers required for specific slides based on length of the slide. Here's the chart from that pdf:

[jxnbbl]

I've ordered 8 of the BAL accuslide rollers for my trailer (5 for the large slide, 3 for the small ) based on the the chart previously entered in this thread.

Question - when installing these...the rollers just roll over the 'woven' material on the bottom of the slides? there is not other protection put on that surface?

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

I've ordered 8 of the BAL accuslide rollers for my trailer (5 for the large slide, 3 for the small ) based on the the chart previously entered in this thread.

Question - when installing these...the rollers just roll over the 'woven' material on the bottom of the slides? there is not other protection put on that surface?

If you install the rollers only the then only roll over the darco fabric on the bottom of the slide. Many folks install wear strips on the bottom of the slide to keep the rollers from abrading the fabric. One member was searching for a source for uhmw strips a couple of days ago for the same project. I have seen quite a few slides with rollers that had really messed up the darco so just the addition of the rollers doesn't seem to be the ultimate solution.

[jxnbbl]

I wonder if the following would work as enough protection:

LINK

[JRTJH]

The tape will work, UNTIL it doesn't work....

Remember that any tape is only as good as what is under it that it is stuck to...

So, putting a strip of "very slippery UHMW tape on the DARCO will still "bunch up when the DARCO bunches up....

It's sort of like putting a Commando hook on old wall paper... Sure, the "super hold Commando adhesive" will stick to the wall paper, but if the wall paper doesn't stick to the wall, the Commando hook can only be as strong as what's under it.....

I'd recommend some "structural strength" for the rollers to roll over (or under)... Anything that's flexible and stuck to the DARCO can only work as long as the DARCO is intact.

Another way to look at it: DARCO is very similar to the "blue poly tarps" sold at WalMart. Those tarps are OK for covering a stack of firewood through the winter, but come spring, would you then "trust" that blue tarp to cover your "prized antique anything" ??? Darco is essentially a "dark gray/black version of that same "blue poly tarp".....

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

I wonder if the following would work as enough protection:

LINK

I would not recommend that tape. As John pointed out it isn't really any stronger than the darco you're covering. I always use 1/8" strips or sheets and others have used 3/16" strips IIRC. Attach them permanently, through the darco, with countersunk screws.

[JRTJH]

If you do use UHMW strips, if your rollers are 4" wide, then by using 6" wide UHMW strips, you can install the countersunk attaching screws "outside" the roller contact surface and eliminate most possibility of the screws damaging the rollers if they should back out... It's a "slim chance potential" that a screw or two might back out, but always a possibility.....

[jxnbbl]

Thanks, will do. One question - if I use the 1/8" 6" wide then I imagine on the install the roller is just snug against the strip and the bracket screw holes are 1/8" lower? Ordering now.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

Thanks, will do. One question - if I use the 1/8" 6" wide then I imagine on the install the roller is just snug against the strip and the bracket screw holes are 1/8" lower? Ordering now.

I think maybe you're missing the objective of the UHMW strips....

The roller brackets have a 90 degree angled bracket. They fit "flush against the trailer frame. (you need to order rollers that are the correct height to be "even with your current wear bar". You install the "angle bracket so it sits flush on the steel trailer frame, under the slide"... There's no means to install it 1/8" lower to compensate for the UHMW strips.

The rollers are installed on the trailer slide framework, just out from the existing wear bar. If that's all you install, then the roller will "roll under the DARCO, supporting it and eventually wearing/damaging it...

You would then (or as a preventive action, do it now) install the UHMW 6" strips ON THE DARCO, between the roller and the DARCO, so the rollers then sit under the UHMW strips, and the rollers roll on the stronger UHMW rather than on the DARCO fabric.

The UHMW strips are not installed "between the roller bracket and the trailer frame, which I 'think' is the question you're asking ??????

[jxnbbl]

Sorry, the confusion is due to the picture in my head which was the Lippert rollers. these don't have a 90 degree bracket.

But it is somewhat interesting in that rollers are either 1/4 or 3/4" based on the slide. In taking multiple measurements I believe mine are 1/4" but the measured distance between the frame and the bottom of the slide are 5/8" and just shy (below) 1/4", 1/4" etc (not consistent). So I guess it is just a norminal distance. Where the roller is 1/4"+ 1/8" of the new protective stip it will have more pressure than somewhere that is currently 1/4"+ and then the 1/8" protective stip.

I ordered these from interstateplastics.com cut to width and a few inches over length.

[sourdough]

Jay in my conversations with BAL they said the rollers needed to be the height of the wear bar - it has to be measured to determine which rollers to get; is that what you have done?

[jxnbbl]

I had watched this video -

LINK

and measured that way. In looking at it again...it looks like the rollers are 'lippert design' and not the 45 degree bracket. So we will see what arrives.

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Jay in my conversations with BAL they said the rollers needed to be the height of the wear bar - it has to be measured to determine which rollers to get; is that what you have done?

After going out to the tailer again and re-measuring. I've just cancelled the order for these rollers and will order the lippert rollers. I basically can visualize how these will work and not the Bal Accuslide ones unless my slide "gap measurement" is perfectly uniform, which it is not and will never be due to the way it was assembled.