Introduction
RV Slide-Outs are an innovative addition to modern RVs. These remarkable features update the typical dimensions available to RV enthusiasts and provide a new level of versatility to RV vacations.
However, if these newly integrated features fail to operate properly, they can immediately obliterate any notion of an RV adventure. Therefore, it is essential that RV owners are aware of the most likely causes of their slide-out malfunctioning and being crooked.
Read on to discover exactly how to identify and rectify this nasty issue and get your adventure back on track.
What is an RV Slide-Out?
RVs come in all shapes and sizes nowadays. They can be cleverly fabricated from small vans or enormous bus like goliaths. Moreover, the variety available for RV enthusiasts has taken another modern twist with extendable living areas, known as slide-outs.
The innovative adaptations bring a whole new potential to RV adventuring. These sections of your RV are designed to maintain a typical vehicle profile while moving.
Then, when you have found your perfect spot for the evening, you can stabilize your RV and expand the slide out, potentially doubling the width of your living or sleeping area in seconds.
Typically these features are available on larger RVs as they are heavy and complicated. In addition, they often utilize powerful electric motors and hydraulic systems to expand and support these wings.
However, they have become increasingly popular with contemporary RV manufacturers creating a new market niche. It is understandable why because they provide an RV’s compact mobility, which can transform into a very comfortable living space similar to a city apartment.
As you may imagine, keeping the slide-outs aligned is an essential and often complex process that can significantly impede their functionality. Therefore, understanding the cause and solutions to these problems is critical for an RV owner.
RV Slide-out is Crooked
Although several components could be responsible for your RV slide-out feature, there are also several minor issues to check first to save you time and money.
Like many complicated problems, it is best to start with the more minor issues before you call in the experts. So here are the most like issues and how to resolve them:
1. Blockage
The most obvious issue, which is the easiest to fix, is that something is blocking one of the runners. These runners allow the bearings or wheels on the slide-out to move seamlessly during use.
It is unusual for there to be a specific error or warning sensor to indicate this issue which is surprising because if they are compromised in any way, they will immediately prevent a full extension.
The best course of action is to identify the side which is not fully extending and inspect the runners, which can be at the top, bottom, or both.
The blockage may not be instantly noticeable, but know that these components rely on absolute precision to operate optimally. Even a tiny piece of grit or stone can easily cause crooked extensions.
For the best results, you can gently wash the sliders with warm water to eliminate contaminants but not remove the essential lubrication.
2. Faulty Motor
Due to the weight and size of the slide-out, they are often operated using an integrated electric motor. Over time, these motors can wear out and cause issues with the extension operation of the slide-out.
First, inspect the control panel. Some top-of-the-line slide-outs offer an interface there should be an error code indicating a motor failure fault.
Alternatively, another symptom of motor failure is a whining noise, abnormally slow function, and a pronounced clicking when in operation. If you are unlucky enough to experience this issue, you will need to replace the motor.
Typically this job is reasonably complicated, so you may prefer to employ an experienced professional.
3. Electrical Fault
Similar to an increasing number of RV systems, they require a robust and powerful electrical circuit to operate. Although these are standard in modern RVs, it does not mean that they are immune to problems.
An RVs electrical system relies on an onboard leisure battery set-up that provides off-grid electrical capabilities.
However, this system has limited power and can quickly drain due to the abundance of electrical appliances on board. Therefore, ensuring your batteries are appropriately charged is the best course of action to address first, as this can easily hinder the slide-outs movements.
Assuming there is sufficient battery life, you should next consider breakages in the slide-out wiring. If the slide-out movement simply will not turn on, but the other electrical appliances are working, then you can assume there is a broken connection with the slide-outs wiring.
This can come in two forms. Firstly, it can be the result of a tripped fuse. The best course of action would be to find your RV user manual and identify the location and the amp rating for the slide-out fuse and replace it.
If this does not instantly resolve your issue, you can assume a broken connection. To address this, you should inspect all of the visible wire connections to spot loose points or damaged wiring.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem in RVs due to the vibrations caused by driving, which can cause friction breakages in wires and wriggle connections free.
Additionally, RVs are very appealing homes for rodents who love to chew on electrical cables. If you are unlucky enough to identify the breakage, you should contact an RV technician to perform a more comprehensive assessment.
4. Hydraulic Fluid Leak
A powerful, lightweight, and compact component used to extend and level slide-outs is generally an electrically operated hydraulic system. These components use pressure and fluid to move enormous loads with relatively little power effectively.
Although a hydraulic press is typically very robust but deteriorates over time, more specifically, its rubber seals can lose their integrity and cause hydraulic fluid leaks. In this case, it will quickly compromise the hydraulic press’s functionality.
The most apparent symptom other than a crooked alignment is excessive oily fluid on the component. In this case, the press will need to be replaced or fully serviced. But, again, it is a job best left to the professionals.
Conclusion
It is clear that there is a number of potential problems that can cause an RV’s slide-out to be crooked. These issues range from a tiny contaminant in the tracks to a full-on component failure.
Fortunately, this article has outlined all of the most common problems and what to look out for should any issue arise. If you are lucky there, you will be able to tackle this problem on your own.
However, if there are any ongoing or severe issues with the electrical system or hydraulic set up, you will most likely need professional help. However, it may feel devastating when your beloved RV is broken.
Rest assured that the more information you have, the better your chance of getting back on the road as soon as possible.
