Bedroom Slide Seal Leak

[garyde]

I went out today to wash the RV. Started the Engine to build up Air Pressure to Slide the Slides in. I Brought both Slides in, and went back outside only to hear a Loud Air Leak at the Back of the Coach at the Bedroom Slide. Looks like I got a Leak! Does anyone know the procedure for replacing or even patching a Air Seal? My Book covers the subject slightly. Do I need to get this fixed before leaving for SF? Its a Air Seal which I know can be removed and replaced, but I don't know the drill.

[rmboies]

Gary,

I asked Bob-00 about your slide problem and he highly recommends that you have this fixed before Santa Fe. Having said that, our slides are NOT air they are hydraulic so we have never faced this issue and luckily, no slide issues at all. Bob just felt that your air compressure would run all the time if you do not locate and fix the problem.

I would guess that your coach is still under warranty with Liberty since you it is a recent purchase? If so, then urgent, pleading phone calls should work! Maybe Jon, our resident Liberty wise one, will have a better suggestion Good luck!

Debi and Bob-00

[truk4u]

Gary,
I would think there is a procedure to bypass, turn off the air seal, for just this situation. There must be a valve or something that can be shut off. Once off, it may be a little noisy driving, but shouldn't hurt anything. It will for sure run your compressor hard. I thought those were also tied into the aux compressor to maintain the seal while sitting.

[Navigator]

Debi,

On your Vantare's HWH slides what type of seals do you have, is it just a soild rubber gasket that flanges in and out with the slide movement? Have you ever had any leakeage problems? Would a hard rain or nasty weather cause slides to leak while in the in or out positions?

Being a newbie I'm trying to learn as much as possible about the various slide types. Thanks for any advice you may give.

Tim

[rmboies]

Debi,
On your Vantare's HWH slides what type of seals do you have, is it just a soild rubber gasket that flanges in and out with the slide movement? Have you ever had any leakeage problems? Would a hard rain or nasty weather cause slides to leak while in the in or out positions?
Tim

Hi Tim,

I have no idea what type of seals the HWH slides have--here is their website link: http://www.hwhcorp.com/roomexten2.html Maybe that will be more helpful to you? As far as weather, we have only been out in the rain with the slides out twice. We had a minor problem with high gusting wind blowing some moisture in but discovered it was around the window not the slide. With the slide in, the window is covered by the awning. I would buy another coach with slides without blinking--it is the only way to go for us. Haven't you found your perfect Prevost yet?

Debi and Bob-00

[Coloradobus]

Gary,

Your coach has an air bladder similiar to a bicycle inner tube that inflates and deflates around your slide. In both situations, slide in or slide out, the air bladder seals the weather out. Lucky for Prevost installed slides, they tease the computer to run the slideroom in recessed from the outer coach side. Then, they can pop out the inner tube and replace with like.
Other non-Prevost installed slides such as our former 1999 shell XL coach, the slide rooms need to be removed to replace the tube.$$$$$$$
Yes, its best you get it replaced before Sant Fe.

[merle&louise]

Gary,

My Newell has HWH slides like your coach, and I had a cut air gasket on my bedroom slide. A painter nicked the gasket with his grinding wheel. I tried patching it with an innertube bicycle patch; it didn't work. There is about 22# of pressure on the patch and it just wouldn't hold.

Coloradobus is correct; the bedroom slide room can be tricked into going in enough for you to change the air gasket. On my Newell the gasket was changed in about 2 hours. The technician removed the "stop" which allowed the slide room to retract inside the coach about 2 inches. Then he was able to remove the damaged gasket, replace it with a new one, and I was go to go! Great engineering makes for easy repairs. It really isn't a big deal to change the air gasket. I would agree with Coloradobus, change the gasket before you come to Santa Fe (you never know if it's going to rain).

[merle&louise]

I had my a problem with my slide outs today. I mention this because I know that there are a few POGGERS that are thinking about slides.

The bedroom slide would "stick" when the EXTEND button was depressed. The bottom of the slide room would run out before the top of the slide room. The top of the room seem to "stick". I called Newell service and they said that it was a faulty hydraulic solenoid. They recommended that I change both the lock & the unlock solenoids; the pins were not being retracted quickly enough to allow the room to glide out.

I changed the "lock" and the "unlock" solenoids. It took about an hour. Problem solved. Cost $190 per solenoid X 2 = $380 + $60 labor. Now both pins retract in time for the room to glide out evenly.

[Just Plain Jeff]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties with the slide.

No kidding.

For general information, there are some pics over on www.prevost-stuff.com of the preview of the Super Show in Tampa showing the new Prevost pinless slides.

Maybe this link will work and you can see the interior of one of the Prevost pinless slide shells.

[merle&louise]

Jeff,

Thanks for the pictures, can you tell if the Prevost slides are electric or hydraulic? Mine are HWH hydraulic (1999 vintage). As I understand, today Valid electric slides are being used on Newells with very good results. From the posts of Gary and Bob-00 the Prevost slides are working very good as well. I am curious to know if they have Prevost, Valid, or HWH slides? Guys?

I was surprised how easy it was to change the solenoids. There are a bank of solenoids in the bay below the driver's seat. Plenty room to work and clearly labeled. They total 9 in all; I will keep a couple of solenoids on hand for spares. They are all alike, but they of course perform different tasks.

My education on slides is just beginning, but so far I am having fun learning about them.