Slide out in or out

[kwoodpile51]

I have a new Forest River 27' Travel Trailer with 1 slide. It is stored in the open behind our barn in the edge of a hay field. I have not been able to find any info on whether it is best to store one for the winter with the slide extended or retracted.We are in the south, so it would see very little snow or ice; just a lot of rain. It is much easier with it out; when you enter to check everything out, you can move around in it, if it is out. Any thoughts? Ideas? Tech info?

[Iwritecode]

It's really a matter of personal preference. We are seasonal in Northern Illinois and we leave our slide out throughout the entire camping season from April thru October.

If you never get any ice or snow, I suppose you could leave it out all year long.

[ependydad]

There's no real difference of putting it in vs. leaving it out. For me, if I thought I'd get into it regularly- I'd leave them out. If I expected to leave it parked and just occasionally check on it, I'd put them in.

[kwoodpile51]

Thanks everyone. We were told , obviously wrong, that if you leave them out, they are more prone to leakage....

[ddbck]

In! Simple logic when storing.

[Chuckinca]

Originally Posted by kwoodpile51

Thanks everyone. We were told , obviously wrong, that if you leave them out, they are more prone to leakage....

Is there any mention of it in the manuals?

It would seem that with them in the top and sides would be protected.

I usually leave ours in.

.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I leave ours in. Less exposure of the seals to sun and weather (but still not complete protection.)

[kenandterry]

I guess another deciding factor might be whether you have slide toppers or not.

Most (not all) motorhomes have slide toppers, even some of the entry models. However, I’ve seen the majority of trailers and 5th wheels do not have them as standard equipment. A number of owners have had them added if they want.

I guess if you’re storing more than using, I would leave the slide in....less chance for leakage or the seals getting dried out. If you leave slides out that do have toppers, they’d dry/weather out sooner than later. Would you leave your awning out to the elements all the time?

It’s a personal choice.

[McCormickJim]

You live in the south? (I lived in the Houston area for 21 years)

Sun is not the friend of RVs. Anything you can protect from the sun will live longer.

If you have a rubber roof, gaskets on a fiberglass roof, a topper on your slide, or rubber gaskets that will see direct sun, they will have a shorter life if stored exposed to the sun.

[SilhouettePenny]

We leave ours out even while traveling, a little tight at the toll booths but never had to replace a slide out motor yet!

[itat]

My vote is for putting the slide in if you aren't going to be in it regularly - say, once a week. When it's retracted, the seals will be protected from cold (ice/snow if you get any) and anything getting blown around in the wind. If you keep the battery charged, you can just put the slide out when you check on it.

[Walholler]

I store our 5th wheel under a metal cover built specifically for the trailer. Due to the position of the steel frame, I can extend one slide and not the other on the opposite side. The one that I can extend has the fridge, stove, microwave and also gives me access to the rest of trailer. The cover is sitting beneath two huge Oak trees which provide total shade during those long hot days here in Louisiana. The sun is not cooking our roof, seals or tires and I keep the inside of trailer cool with two 15K AC units.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by SilhouettePenny

We leave ours out even while traveling, a little tight at the toll booths but never had to replace a slide out motor yet!

Say what??

[ProfChuck]

I always leave mine stored with slide outs at the IN position. Not just because of the seals (which are a consideration), or leaks, but, because, as yours, all my slide outs are on one side of the trailer. When they are out they do put a considerable leverage on the suspension system of the trailer (at least in ours we get about a half bubble tilt) and leaving it constantly like that can't be that great on the suspension. When you are camping, they are in the out position, but, get pulled back in when moving, etc. which gives the suspension a chance to come back to normal. Maybe it doesn't hurt, but, we keep our trailers for a long time and stuff that is let go like the slide outs being out all/most of the time we have found does wear/weaken suspension after a while. We have the torsion bars encased in rubber and rubber does wear out and stretch. I have also had truck springs sag after long periods of heavy stuff in them (one actually broke just sitting over the winter). Just a thought.

[tfmdgm]

Originally Posted by SilhouettePenny

We leave ours out even while traveling, a little tight at the toll booths but never had to replace a slide out motor yet!

Are you serious that you travel with the slide out? That puts you at 10 - 11 feet wide. Do you travel with an escort?

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by SilhouettePenny

We leave ours out even while traveling, a little tight at the toll booths but never had to replace a slide out motor yet!

Take a pill and chill......it’s a joke.

Got some swamp land to sell ya.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Take a pill and chill......it’s a joke.

Got some swamp land to sell ya.

I would be interested in that land, but I just spent all my money on SilhouettePenny and now I'm broke!

[JP Camper]

Easier for rodents to get in through the seals if left open, there will always be s gap somewhere small enough for them to get in. Exposure to constant sun is bad for the seals also.

[RobnCari]

In when not in use. No question.
When we were looking we made sure we could get past the slide when in.

[SilhouettePenny]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Take a pill and chill......it’s a joke.

I was wondering if anybody would bite when I threw that hook out there. Yea, just joking sir!