Living Room Slideout Sticking on a 2720SL

[Deb Mac]

Is there anything I can do to improve the movement of the livingroom pullout in my 2720SL? It has gotten quite stiff to pull out (would be so much easier if I wasn’t pulling from the side because of the tongue). I end up pulling it part way out, then go inside and push it the rest of the way. Since I don’t know exactly what it runs on - rollers, flat track,… ? It’s hard to know how to address it. This year I was verbally hating on the front end of it. Between the front shell being hard to lift (partly torsion bats need adjusting and partly because the ground slopes down from front end, so I’m essentially 6” shorter than normal) and the reluctance of the living room to pull out, it was a real wrestling match. I did win eventually.

 

[Bill]

Try these tricks, all from my experience.
1. Pull the slide all the way out. Inside the TM, thoroughly clean the aluminum tracks at the base of the walls, and wax them. Make sure the floor under the slide is clean and smooth, since there is at least one center wheel/roller that runs on it.
2. Push the slide all the way in. Go outside the TM, and lift the front edge of the slide 3 or 4 inches. (It is not fastened down in any way.) Block it up for safety, then examine the floor under the front edge. Clean up anything that looks nasty. At the same time, look at the little wheels that the slide runs on. Make sure they are clean, round, and rotate smoothly. If any are sticky, shoot a little lube onto their axle. Remove the block and set it down again.
3. You always need to pull from the center, or it will bind up. It has a center pull-handle, right? Get 8 feet of rope or nylon strap. Tie the ends together to make a big loop. Drop one end of the loop though the pull-handle, then stand back and pull on both ends of the loop. This enables you to stand back a bit while you pull. As an alternative, get a shorter rope, tie a hand-size loop at one end, and fasten a big metal S-hook to the other end.
4. When opening the slide, use the tongue jack to lower the front end of the TM a few inches, so gravity helps you. Once the slide is out, level it again.

Bill

 

[Deb Mac]

Try these tricks, all from my experience.
1. Pull the slide all the way out. Inside the TM, thoroughly clean the aluminum tracks at the base of the walls, and wax them. Make sure the floor under the slide is clean and smooth, since there is at least one center wheel/roller that runs on it.
2. Push the slide all the way in. Go outside the TM, and lift the front edge of the slide 3 or 4 inches. (It is not fastened down in any way.) Block it up for safety, then examine the floor under the front edge. Clean up anything that looks nasty. At the same time, look at the little wheels that the slide runs on. Make sure they are clean, round, and rotate smoothly. If any are sticky, shoot a little lube onto their axle. Remove the block and set it down again.
3. You always need to pull from the center, or it will bind up. It has a center pull-handle, right? Get 8 feet of rope or nylon strap. Tie the ends together to make a big loop. Drop one end of the loop though the pull-handle, then stand back and pull on both ends of the loop. This enables you to stand back a bit while you pull. As an alternative, get a shorter rope, tie a hand-size loop at one end, and fasten a big metal S-hook to the other end.
4. When opening the slide, use the tongue jack to lower the front end of the TM a few inches, so gravity helps you. Once the slide is out, level it again.

Bill

Thank you Obi Wan! The LR used to slide out with relative ease, so I think that a few years of use and dogs has likely caused a build up of debris and general mung on the sliding mechanism. I think my biggest problem with dealing with it was not really knowing exactly how it worked under there. I assumed there had to be rollers, but I wasn't aware that I could lift the box up. Tried peeking under there once or twice but when it's sitting on the tracks, you can't see diddly-squat under there. I'll grab a piece of 2x4 and 2x2 pieces and block it up to take a good look at it.

I find that I have to drop the tongue some to get the shell up, given the slope of my front yard. Didn't consider it for the front slide - Doh! And why I didn't think of a strap for the slide handle is just another grey-haired moment! This afternoon is a second round of interior tiddly'ing and getting my dog acclimatised to life in a trailer. This is all new to her and so far, she's not overly impressed! But we sat and watched hockey yesterday afternoon for a while - I called it "testing the systems" - ac, electrical, lawn chair, entertainment system. Today will be some actual clean-up and organising while she watches so I will attack that front box. Cheers.

 

[Deb Mac]

Working great now. Thanks Bill. Those aluminium tracks are quite rough but I cleaned them up and they are much improved. I’ll pick up some turtle wax or floor wax and give them a good polish. The rollers at the front were a bit mung’d up but not bad. Gave them a spritz and they look better. Between the cleanup and a tie down strap from my motorcycle we’re back in business.

 

[Bill]

Good to hear, and thanks for getting back to all of us with your results. Many folks neglect that last step, so we never know what worked.

FWIW, my experience with two dogs (and one cat!) is that they are a little gun-shy at first, but once they spend a couple nights with you in the camper, eating, sleeping, watching TV, being calm, they become enthusiastic fans. Whenever we pulled the camper out of the garage, they all began to dance around it! I'm sure your girl will be the same.

Bill

 

[Deb Mac]

My previous dogs were fine in the trailer. Enjoyed the travel. This old girl came with issues so new situations take some time. But she loves driving, and settled down fairly quickly once I parked in the chair and the tv went on.