slide secure bar

Road Runner · 09-26-2006, 06:18 PM

Have you ever gotten a bit down the road and realized that the slide room security bar to be inserted on the top of the slide room has not been put into place? Wondering how often this bar is used since leaving the 'show room' floor and hitting the road. Anyone not using this bar?

Bear · 09-26-2006, 06:42 PM

I have had 3 trailers with slides, 2 hydralic and 1 electric and I have never used them. Actually, I have never had a set come with a trailer.
Cheers
Bear

milzat · 09-26-2006, 08:09 PM

I've got a set of slide lock(secure) bars. Came with the TT.
Have never used them. Slide has not moved on me.

Hokiehall · 09-26-2006, 08:30 PM

I have a slide lock bar that I have never used or needed to use. It stays behind the couch on the floor out of the way.

Road Runner · 09-26-2006, 08:52 PM

So, what might be the reason for the dealer including the slide lock bar? Seems they don't 'give' anything 'free' without a good reason.
(Scratching my head on this one.)

Hokiehall · 09-26-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Runner

So, what might be the reason for the dealer including the slide lock bar? Seems they don't 'give' anything 'free' without a good reason.
(Scratching my head on this one.)

Mine was supplied by Forest River. In fact my dealer suggested not using it and if I noticed the slide opening while traveling to get back to him ASAP to get it repaired. He said he gets a lot of repair work from people who forget to remove it and then tear the front facing off the interior slide cabinet doors, even though there is a tag on the slide lock to flip over to remind them to remove it before opening.

GandBL · 09-26-2006, 10:02 PM

My family just purchase a Flagstaff 27BHSS. The delivery specialist (HaHa) and myself inseted the slide locks prior to us departing the dealership. We traveled approximately 50 miles home. After entering the trailer I noticed the slide locks just laying at the top of the slide.

After reading the instuctions about the use and installation of the slide locks they are only to ensure a prooper seal at the top of the slide during travel. Are they needed? When the slide is closed in our trailer I can grab the top of the slide and put some pressure outward causing light to enter the seal area.

I'm not sure wether or not I will use them. Reason? When inserted and secured the pad at the slide end places alot of pressure on the extending side of the seal. I feel the the pressure will cause excessive wear and premature failure of the seal. I may be wrong but it seems like common sense to me.

Has anyone seen the non use of the seal cause leaking or excessive dust during travel?

Happy Trails!!

milzat · 09-26-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokiehall

Mine was supplied by Forest River.

Ditto. Same here.

I installed the locks once, just to see how they fit. I didn't care for the way it put undue pressure on the slide seals.

milzat · 09-26-2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GandBL

When the slide is closed in our trailer I can grab the top of the slide and put some pressure outward causing light to enter the seal area.

When the slide is in the transport position, it closes so tight, I can not move it at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GandBL

Has anyone seen the non use of the seal cause leaking or excessive dust during travel?

No, not I.

flagstaff · 09-27-2006, 06:33 AM

I have a Flagstaff 29FKSS and never thought about it. Either my wife or I always use them. But they have big orange tags that hang down so it's kind of hard to miss if there in. Maybe I'll try not using them this weekend.

Sunseeker06 · 09-27-2006, 07:26 AM

Our Sunseeker has 2 slides and we did not get security bars with ours, so obviously we're not using them during a trip. Our last RV had one slide and never used them either.

gygagnon · 09-27-2006, 09:11 AM

Hi,

Now granted that I do not have a slide out you may feel I'm full of it and don't know what I talking about, but I firmly believe the manufacturers don't do anything unless they have to, Faced with this type of situation where the manufacturer included safety bars I would have to install the safety bar and not take a chance. I also guess that not all models may require safety based on their design.

Just my humble opinion.

Mrs. Bear · 09-29-2006, 03:39 PM

We did have a set for our Westport two trailers ago. I guess Bear forgot. Anyway we tried them once or twice. Couldn't get them to stay in place from day on. Not even when we just pulled in the slides. They were too short. We bought the fifth wheel used if that makes any difference. We just stored them and forgot them until we sold the unit. We told the new owners what they were, and what they were used for. I doubt they use them either.

MRimmer · 09-29-2006, 09:24 PM

I know the owner of the Flagstaff Dealer here locally and I actually purchased my tt used from him. It was his mothers trailer and they went smaller.

I asked Mark (dealer owner) "do I really need to use these?" He stated "NO"

During our walk through I asked the same question to the service dept. There answer "YES"

So since I bought the trailer that was owned by the dealers family and they had never been used. Also got two different answers I asked myself the simple question.

If supplied with the unit they IMO should be used. They cut so many corners to make a buck why would they be there if not needed for the extra safety?

I DO NOT add alot of pressure on them as I do recognize many of the concerns mentioned above about the seals. The documentation on my unit talks more about the "extra uses" than the original design purpose.

Could the top of the slide move outward from the wall if an unfortunate evasive move had to be made while towing? If this is possible I could see some mAJOR damage to the operating system.

Just my experience and opinion

Mike

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