2005 Keystone challenger 29rpk

[Vretl82]

We have 2005 Keystone challenger 29rpk 5th wheel, has anyone on here installed plank or linoleum in the kitchen or living room floor ? Will the slideout scar the floor when it's retracted ? Also where can we get a pre-owned washer splendide at?

 

[JRTJH]

Several members have removed the carpet and/or vinyl floor covering and installed plank vinyl or even laminate flooring. There are some threads that do a pretty good job of explaining what they did, issues they encountered and even photos of the results. Do a forum search for topics like "Floor covering" or "replacing the carpet" or "replacing the vinyl/linoleum".

Whether the slide will contact the new flooring and possibly damage it is more an "individual trailer/slide issue" than an overall "yes it will or no it won't" statement. Every trailer, especially one that's 20 years old, has wear, slide alignment changes and potential swelling/water damage to the OEM floor decking. Then there's always the chance of "frame twist" that may have damaged or changed the way your floor decking sits "flat or bowed" on your specific trailer that make any "statement about slide contact with the new floor covering" a "best guess in your situation".

After that many years, the chances of significant changes in the trailer's OEM clearances and configuration are just too great to make any blanket statement about slide/floor contact.

The best way forward is to get down on your hands and knees and watch the slide (from inside AND from outside) to see how much clearance you have on your specific trailer. When doing that, make sure you stay clear of the slide (especially while outside, under the trailer) as the force of the moving slide can injure or crush you, so watch what you're doing as well as watch what the slide is doing to the floor.

Probably some of the "still active posters" who have done such a mod will post, giving you their experience with such a modification.

 

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

 

[wiredgeorge]

I have a 2002 Cougar 278EFS. I removed the carpet from the cabin and replaced it with luxury vinyl tile. You have to use 1/4 round along the edges. My "super slide" did scratch the tile and I now use four pieces of thing plywood (about 2 1/2' long by 12" wide) under the slide when it is extended or retracted. The LVT flooring is supposed to be installed where there are not extremes in temps such as when the camper is parked and thus I would recommend linoleum if doing it again. Why they ever put carpet in a camper is a mystery. We left the carpet in the slide and upstairs area. In the slide, I use an office chair clear vinyl under our table/chairs (I removed the dinette) and that works fine.

 

[Mikelff]

If you need a little clearance, you might consider installing UHMW slide strips on the bottom of your slide. Most people use 1/8” thickness. This will let your slides go in and out smoothly, extend the life of your wear bars, and add 1/8” clearance. Not sure if the plastic would minimize scratching or not.

 

[wiredgeorge]

If you need a little clearance, you might consider installing UHMW slide strips on the bottom of your slide. Most people use 1/8” thickness. This will let your slides go in and out smoothly, extend the life of your wear bars, and add 1/8” clearance. Not sure if the plastic would minimize scratching or not.

My camper has rack and pinion slide mechanism and I am pretty sure that slide strips wouldn't work although it would be interesting to know how to do it. I pack 4 strips of 1/8" plywood so the vinyl doesn't scar. When my super slide begins coming in it tips up very slightly then levels for about half its stroke and this is where it can scrape. How/where would the UHMW slide strips be installed specifically.

 

[Mikelff]

Your slide sounds similar to my BAL “Flush Floor” slide, which is a cable slide. When retracting it rises slightly then comes in level. When extending it drops slightly when fully extended. I would recommend you contact your slide manufacturer for details on how your slide operates and clearances. The UHMW strips have been used to resolve a couple of slide issues. Many folks have experienced significant wear on the Darco covering on the bottom of the slides. This is usually on the ends/ outside edges of the slides. Often this is caused by rollers if the slide has them. This was the case with my slide. I noticed wear and the Darco

My camper has rack and pinion slide mechanism and I am pretty sure that slide strips wouldn't work although it would be interesting to know how to do it. I pack 4 strips of 1/8" plywood so the vinyl doesn't scar. When my super slide begins coming in it tips up very slightly then levels for about half its stroke and this is where it can scrape. How/where would the UHMW slide strips be installed specifically.

Your slide sounds similar to my BAL “Flush Floor” slide, which is a cable slide. When retracting it rises slightly then comes in level. When extending it drops slightly when fully extended. I would recommend you contact your slide manufacturer for details on how your slide operates and clearances. The UHMW strips have been used to resolve a couple of slide issues. Many folks have experienced significant wear on the Darco covering on the bottom of the slides. This is usually on the ends/ outside edges of the slides. Often this is caused by rollers if the slide has them. This was the case with my slide. I noticed wear and the Darco was starting to frey . Eventually, it would wear down to bare wood as some members have experienced. The UHMW is cut into 6” wide strips, or as wide as you need, with strips long enough to go outside wall to in between any rollers and wear bar on the bottom of the slides. They are screwed to the bottom floor using #12 flat head wood screws. We counter sink holes in the UHMW before screwing them in. I also put a bead of 3M marine silicone along the edge before I screw them in. Some people refer to these as slide skis. You can do a forum search for these and there are several threads in the forum about this and some detailed explanations on how to install them. You can PM me if you need more info.

 

[Mikelff]

My camper has rack and pinion slide mechanism and I am pretty sure that slide strips wouldn't work although it would be interesting to know how to do it. I pack 4 strips of 1/8" plywood so the vinyl doesn't scar. When my super slide begins coming in it tips up very slightly then levels for about half its stroke and this is where it can scrape. How/where would the UHMW slide strips be installed specifically.

Most of the threads about this are in the Montana forums. Don’t know about the Keystone forum.

 

[rlh1957]

We have 2005 Keystone challenger 29rpk 5th wheel, has anyone on here installed plank or linoleum in the kitchen or living room floor ? Will the slideout scar the floor when it's retracted ? Also where can we get a pre-owned washer splendide at?

Stay away from anything Splendide, even if free. Get another brand or go to the laundromat.