Flarpswitch
Salem, Oregon
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Despite the disaster with the transmission, I like the way the Sprinter drives. While waiting for repairs, we went to an RV dealer in the area to explore the idea of a Sprinter with a different floorplan. We looked at the Winnebago Via and the Leisure Van Serenity and Unity. All have slides or some sort of power driven sofa or bed. The Murphy Bed in the Unity is really cool, but you pretty much have to operate it everyday. I don't know anyone that has not had troubles with moving parts. One reason I favored our Navion IQ CL is that the only moving part is the power step and even that is showing signs that it will not go the distance. So, what is the word on the street about power slide outs? Can I expect them to be as reliable as my garage door opener that went 20 years with daily use or is that a pipe dream?
Steve
'09 Navion iQ
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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It's mechanical and made my man........things fail
We have three slides...two hydraulic & one electric. We FT so our slides are put thru the paces weekly, 5 yrs. and still operate without any problems.
Of course, now that I have bragged on them they will probably fail to close next week on travel day 
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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krell wrote:Despite the disaster with the transmission, I like the way the Sprinter drives. While waiting for repairs, we went to an RV dealer in the area to explore the idea of a Sprinter with a different floorplan. We looked at the Winnebago Via and the Leisure Van Serenity and Unity. All have slides or some sort of power driven sofa or bed. The Murphy Bed in the Unity is really cool, but you pretty much have to operate it everyday. I don't know anyone that has not had troubles with moving parts. One reason I favored our Navion IQ CL is that the only moving part is the power step and even that is showing signs that it will not go the distance. So, what is the word on the street about power slide outs? Can I expect them to be as reliable as my garage door opener that went 20 years with daily use or is that a pipe dream? So whats the options, slides without power?, or worst still, NO slides, I wouldn't even look at one without slides, i'll take the slim chance of mechanical failure over no slides.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2005 KIA Spectra
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel
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TyroneandGladys
Chandler AZ
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IMHO
K.I.S.S.
Tyrone & Gladys
26" 1986 Coachmen
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Eyegor
NY
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Old-Biscuit wrote:It's mechanical and made my man........things fail
We have three slides...two hydraulic & one electric. We FT so our slides are put thru the paces weekly, 5 yrs. and still operate without any problems.
Straying a little off topic here, but I have to ask. Why would a designer install two different types of slides in the same unit. As a consumer, it probably doesn't make much difference, but as a builder or repairer it seems like a lot of extra complexity. Curious minds (at least one) want to know.
87 Mallard Sprinter 24' Class C Ford E350 w/460 gas "The Runny Duck"
Shiny side up, Rubber side down.
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Eyegor
NY
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TyroneandGladys wrote:IMHO
K.I.S.S.
x2
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Eyegor wrote:Old-Biscuit wrote:It's mechanical and made my man........things fail
We have three slides...two hydraulic & one electric. We FT so our slides are put thru the paces weekly, 5 yrs. and still operate without any problems.
Straying a little off topic here, but I have to ask. Why would a designer install two different types of slides in the same unit. As a consumer, it probably doesn't make much difference, but as a builder or repairer it seems like a lot of extra complexity. Curious minds (at least one) want to know.
Two slides in living room are opposing slides and hydraulic piston with rack/pinion guides and pump/reservoir is right there.
Bedroom slide is electric motor/chain driven mounted under bed. Less cost....no hydraulic lines etc. have to be run to front of RV.
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Flarpswitch
Salem, Oregon
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Old-Biscuit wrote:It's mechanical and made my man........things fail
We have three slides...two hydraulic & one electric. We FT so our slides are put thru the paces weekly, 5 yrs. and still operate without any problems.
Of course, now that I have bragged on them they will probably fail to close next week on travel day
Murphy's Law. I bragged about how wonderful the Sprinter was and 300 miles later the transmission failed. I need to call that guy back and make an addendum to that boast.
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rehoppe
Denver
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Joined: 01/30/2009
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Speaking of slides. Does anyone have realtime info on what they Actually add in terms of weight? Hydrauli OR Electric?
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10
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tatest
Oklahoma Green Country
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rehoppe wrote:Speaking of slides. Does anyone have realtime info on what they Actually add in terms of weight? Hydrauli OR Electric?
On the few C's that I found with an optional 8 x 2 foot slide, the weight with the slide was 300 to 800 pounds more than without. These used a single screw jack to drive the slide, probably the lightest single-slide drive mechanism.
It can be more with a larger slide needing heavier supporting and surrounding structure, and possibly a little less per slide when multiple small slides are operated by a single hydraulic system.
But really, most motorhomes with slides, especially C's and small A gassers, are much heavier for a similar size and floorplan than those without. Slides were just one part of a general growth in RV size.
One factor, introducing slideout rooms lead to adding a basement, or enlarging a basement, to make slideout rooms flush. This created a larger and heavier house structure that got filled with larger water and waste tanks, and more and bigger storage bins.
Late 20th century C's reached 31 feet using 11,500 to 12,300 GVWR chassis; adding slideouts added another 2000 to the chassis requirement. Similarly, in the late '90s, non-slide 32-34 foot A gassers were built with 11,000-12,000 GVWR chassis, even with substantial basement storage. Adding a large slideout or a couple of small ones, and the other stuff buyers expected in a double slide motorhome, pushed GVWR to 16,000 to 18,000 pounds. Another 4-5 feet of length, another slide, and we got to 20,000 to 24,000 pounds.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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