5 Common Tiffin Motorhome Slide Problems (Troubleshooting)

Motorhomes or RVs have become quite ubiquitous over the past few years, and for good reasons. With easy access to a bathroom, kitchen, and even a bedroom, you certainly feel like a home away from your home. With an RV, you don’t even need to pay hefty hotel rents and you get the same comfort of your home while saving lots of money.

If you are someone who owns a motorhome or recreational vehicle, you would already be aware of the benefits that these vehicles offer. While there are different classes of these vehicles which the user can select from, the main difference between them is their size. Thanks to their ever-increasing popularity, more and more companies are now manufacturing motorhomes.

Talking about the RV manufacturers, you cannot ignore the impact that Tiffin has made. It is a well-known company that specializes in manufacturing top-of-the-line motorhomes. With its durable and innovative motorhomes, it has quickly become a go-to choice for many travelers.

While buying a motorhome, you can choose it depending on your preferences. Most models nowadays come with slide-outs. For those who are not familiar with them, slide-outs are small rooms that can be pulled out of the vehicle to make it spacious.

If you have ever used an RV, you would know how important every inch is. If you have a big family, you can’t go wrong with a slide-out.

Without an iota of a doubt, the slideouts are amazing to use. However, there are also some issues that you can run into. This is why we will be using this article to discuss some common problems that you are likely to encounter while using the Tiffin motorhome.

Tiffin Motorhome Slide Problems

There are a few problems that have been associated with the Tiffin motorhome slide-outs.

1. Electrical Issues

The slides in the Tiffin Motorhome are controlled through a control panel. You can select the option to close and open your slide from here easily. Though, sometimes, you might notice that their panel is being unresponsive.

There could be several reasons why your panel is not responding. Though, the most likely one is that you are getting electrical errors. This happens when either some of your connections have gone loose or gotten damaged. You can carefully observe the wiring to see if there are any cuts.

Consider checking your breaker and fuse to see if anything is wrong with them. The fuses and breaker may be blown or tripped. Also, consider cleaning them if they are dirty. You can use a brush with soft bristles or a clean cloth for this purpose. In addition, check if the batteries of your Tiffin motorhome are properly charged.

It’s no secret that the wires are sensitive, and even putting on a slight weight on these cables or bending them can cause them to get damaged. So, if you see a worn-out cable, it has to be replaced immediately for the proper functioning of your recreational vehicle. Aside from this, if all the cables are perfectly working, then ensure none of them is disconnected.

One way to check if your cables have current in them is by using a voltmeter. You can take readings of the power coming to the wires and then check to see if they fall under the recommended values.

If they do not show the recommended value, then there is an issue from the backend. This could be your generators, batteries, or it can even be an external outlet if you are using one. Troubleshoot these carefully to see which one is giving the issue so that you can fix it.

2. Slide Jamming

Another problem that you may face while using an RV is that the slide may jam. This can happen when you open or close the slide. This may make you think that the device has become faulty at first. Though, this can also happen when there is dust or some other material stuck in the system.

The slides of an RV have an internal motor system in them. This has to be cleaned up by the user frequently and also lubricated so that the motors can spin smoothly.

However, if you don’t clean the internal motor system of your Tiffin motorhome, the system will most likely start to get stuck. Keeping this in mind, the user can clean the internal system of their slides by accessing it.

Start by inspecting the system to see if the dust has accumulated and is preventing it from working properly. Although it doesn’t attract any dirt, the chances are that dirt may accumulate over time as you use your RV. So, take a clean cloth and wet it slightly to clean the internal system.

Make sure that you take out any object that has gotten stuck in the system along with the dirt. Once this is done, lubricate the gears and rails. There are plenty of lubricants available in the market, and you can easily find one in your nearby grocery store. Make sure that it dries quickly, so it doesn’t attract much dirt and debris from the surroundings.

Spray the lubricant on the rails, gears, and seal of your RV. Once done, the slide-out is likely to function properly. It’s a good rule of thumb to lubricate the system every now and then to make sure your slides operate seamlessly.

Sometimes, the slides become too noisy when you operate them. Of course, this could be irritating and will even disturb other campers nearby. From track misalignment to rusty components, there could be many reasons why your slide outs are producing noise. Consider cleaning all components of your slide-outs using a wire brush when they are engaged.

3. Retract And Extend Slides

Sometimes while using your slides, you might notice that they have stopped moving. This can be quite annoying to deal with and usually indicates that the motor has gotten stuck. Though, if you have already cleaned it, then this might mean that there is a configuration problem.

To fix this problem, you can completely extend the slides on their vehicle and then retract them completely to reset the system. This would remove any errors that were causing the issue, and the slides are likely to function properly.

4. Faulty Slide Switch

If the slide outs don’t move in or out even slightly as you operate them, the slide switch itself may be faulty. To check if a slide switch is faulty, consider checking other switches in your RV.

If other switches are functional, that particular switch is faulty, and you will have to replace it. On the other hand, if they don’t operate the slide-outs either, consider checking your power supply to slide-outs.

To replace the failed switch, first, take it out using a screwdriver. Then install the new one and connect all the wires. If you don’t have enough knowledge, consider reaching out to a professional to get it fixed.

5. Failed Electric Motor

If switches are working fine but slide-outs are still not working, the electric motor is most probably the culprit. To check it, first find the motor which operates the slide-outs of your Tiffin motorhome. Then disconnect its wiring and check its voltage using a voltmeter. If it is not working despite getting power, it’s time to fix or replace it.

Preventing the Slide Out Problems

Like other components of your Tiffin motorhome, slide-outs also require regular maintenance to function properly. Make sure to inspect, clean, and lubricate them to keep them in tip-top shape. You can refer to your user manual to know more about their maintenance and how often you should do it.