slide lock

[iluvlcy]

How important? We popped facia board a little before we remembered lock(seriously when you set up in 100 degree weather your brain seems to quit working), does it really do anything? Has anyone had their slide come out during travel? We are not sure what to do, it really is a pain to put in and always seem to have fallen down when we get to our location. Thoughts?
Thanks

[Rugged Brown]

3 slides,no locks, 5000 km travelled , slides haven't moved an inch.

[crocus]

This has been discussed before. If your camper is provided with locks, use them. There is nothing holding the top of the slides in. I have heard many claims that the slides don't move, but I'll bet that not one of them has ever looked back when they go over a very big bump.
The fact that your locks have fallen out of place proves that the slide is moving. If they fall out, you don't have them quite tight enough. Just keep tightening them until they don't fall out, and that will give you the "feel" for how tight they should be.
Many have forgotten to take them out, but if you are camping, you shouldn't be in that much of a hurry.

[backin15]

Our dealer told us not to use it. He said the only ones that need to use them are the ones with hydraulic slides, if they lose pressure the slide can come out on their own.

[onetonford]

That's funny I bought a new Wildcat with Hydraulic slides and it doesn't need them. And it never came with them there is also no place to put them.

[herk7769]

Slide lock bars

This thread covers the pros and cons of slide locks.

Due to the mechanics of the electric rack and pinion system the locks are mandatory IMHO. I have photos of how I install mine and my logic for their use in my posts there.

On a very bumpy curvy road the nylon drive gear can bounce right out of the rack and let the slide move. Once it starts moving it could keep going until the slide is fully or partially open.

See the slide manual for the WARNING about using the "transit bars"

The Air Force definition of a WARNING is "could cause severe damage up to and including loss of vehicle or loss of life if not followed."

[iluvlcy]

Lou, Thanks so much for the link to your pictures. I had no idea we could put the one end on the rubber seal, I can see how it works! We will continue to use it. We have learned so much today, thanks to all!

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by iluvlcy

Lou, Thanks so much for the link to your pictures. I had no idea we could put the one end on the rubber seal, I can see how it works! We will continue to use it. We have learned so much today, thanks to all!

You are very welcome.

[crocus]

"I had no idea we could put the one end on the rubber seal"
?????????????????????
Well, iluvlcy, where the heck did you have your bars? I don't see any options.

[Ovair]

I had a TT that not only came with slide lock bars (that resemble a shower curtain rod), but the rack and pinion system had built in, spring loaded, T-handle slide locks that caused a metal rod to go through both the slide bracket what housed the pinion and the rack.
The T-handles kept the room "in", while the "shower rods" kept the room from tipping out on top during bumps (which could cause the rack and pinion to bind). I always used them and never had a problem with my slide.

However, upon trading the unit, the dealer who took it on trade had to call me because they couldn't figure out why the slide wouldn't work. It seems no one at that dealer had ever even heard of those T-handle thingys.