| We had sold our motor coach some time ago and | | | | the season to reduce the probability of mechanical |
| thought we would just sit things out for a while. | | | | mishaps while traveling. If it appears there may be a |
| RVing, however, is very addictive. We missed being | | | | problem with a slide-out staying properly retracted |
| able to just go where and when we wished to | | | | while the vehicle is traveling, mechanical locks can be |
| (weather permitting) and all the friends we had | | | | fitted to ensure complete retraction is maintained. |
| accumulated during all our previous years of RVing. | | | | Intrusion of debris |
| Should we get slide-outs | | | | The problem of pulling debris inside the RV when |
| We had decided on a fifth wheel trailer having tried | | | | retracting the slide-out is not a problem with the fifth |
| out several loaned by our dealer (he even loaned us | | | | wheels we had been considering because they all are |
| the pickup to pull them) and were truly converted to | | | | fitted with special awnings which extend and retract |
| this new (to us) type of RV. The one big decision | | | | with the slide-outs. |
| remaining was the matter of slide-outs, -- those box | | | | Maintenance of actuating mechanism |
| like structures which were made to extend from the | | | | Proper maintenance by the dealer helps to assure the |
| RV (when parked) and provided much appreciated | | | | electrical motors and associated gears work properly |
| additional space inside the vehicle. Our salesman had | | | | when they are expected to but, if something were |
| explained to us how they worked but would not give | | | | to happen there is a mechanical override to allow the |
| us any recommendations. He did, however, give us a | | | | slide-out to be retracted manually. He also said that |
| list of folks who had bought fifth wheel trailers with | | | | most problems of this nature occur because the |
| slide-outs. | | | | trailer wasn't leveled before the slide-outs were |
| What we found on the Internet | | | | extended. |
| First, we thought, we would just see what we could | | | | Additional maintenance costs |
| find on the Internet. It was overwhelming! Mostly, | | | | The expected additional maintenance cost only |
| we found complaints -- the same complaints over | | | | occurs in his dealership if something has to be |
| and over again. How could anything be this bad and | | | | repaired. The inspections, lubrication of seals, gears, |
| still be so popular? | | | | etc., is done by his mechanics when the RV is |
| The six major complaints | | | | brought in for its annual checkup. |
| The more important complaints included: | | | | Structural integrity |
| * leaking of water and dust around the gaskets that | | | | The structural integrity is more a function of the size |
| are supposed to seal the slide-out when extended or | | | | of the slide-out. The fifth wheel trailers we were |
| retracted. | | | | considering were not compromised by the inclusion of |
| * accumulation of debris on the top of the slide-outs | | | | the slide-outs. |
| when parked under trees (which is where the shade | | | | Reduction of carrying capacity |
| is!) being pulled into the RV when the slide-outs are | | | | The matter of reduction of carrying capacity brought |
| retracted | | | | a smile to his face: "It's a matter of numbers. You |
| * malfunction of the mechanisms responsible for | | | | can carry so much and that is the limit. So you have |
| extending and retracting the slide-out (a real problem | | | | to decide what is important and stay within the limit. |
| if they're extended and can't be retracted) | | | | The slide-outs in the units you have looked at are on |
| * additional maintenance cost (especially as the RV | | | | the light side (about 600 pounds each) because they |
| ages) | | | | are small and not moving appliances." |
| * compromised structural integrity of the body of | | | | Again he encouraged us to check with other |
| the RV | | | | customers who had fifth wheel trailers with slide-outs. |
| * reduction of carrying capacity of RV due to extra | | | | We hadn't wanted to bother his customers but |
| weight of the slide-outs (500 to as much as 1000 | | | | decided that, as people complain more readily than |
| pounds per slide-out). | | | | they praise -- especially on the Internet, we should |
| After reading all this stuff on the Internet we were | | | | take his advice. |
| ready to say 'no' to slide-outs. We didn't have | | | | What other owners had to say |
| slide-outs on the MCI or Flxible; can they really be | | | | We did check with all the people on his list. Without |
| that great? | | | | exception, all were very happy -- not only with the |
| The salesman's answers | | | | slide-outs but with the trailers and the service they |
| We went back to the salesman and he again pointed | | | | had received. We were convinced so we bought the |
| out that nearly all of their Fifth Wheels now come | | | | 31 foot Cardinal with the living area plus front |
| with slide-outs. Depreciation is much greater for units | | | | bedroom (and queen-sized bed) slide-outs. We've had |
| without slide-outs. He did have some rebuttals | | | | our Cardinal over 2 years, so far, and expect to have |
| concerning the complaints we had gathered. | | | | it a few more. |
| Water leakage | | | | Our decision |
| The cited water leakage problem is almost always | | | | Slide-outs, good or bad? They're great! Ours change |
| due to lack of proper maintenance. There are | | | | living in a hallway into enjoying our living room and |
| lubricants which, when properly applied to the | | | | being able to get into our queen bed from both sides. |
| rubber-like gaskets, prolong the useful lives of the | | | | So what if diesel is $5 a gallon... RVing is that |
| gaskets. And, like your automobile (or pickup truck) | | | | addictive! |
| the RV should be checked out at the beginning of | | | | |