Wires to slide falling down

[KyDan]

The slide in the main cabin of my trailer extends 40 inches. It has a single ceiling light so there is a pair of wires underneath that must extend with the slide and also
not sag down when the slide is retracted.

Problem- Originally there was a 5 inch wide black plastic ..... thingie under there that was bowed when the slide was in and
fairly straight when the slide was out.
Not the best setup but it seemed to work
until our last trip out. It was 2 degrees on our 1st day on the road and the wire carrier broke on one end.

It's not reparable that I can see. Need some sort of replacement. Maybe a rigid arm with hinges so it can fold when slide is in and straighten when slide is out??

I saw one rig with a big spring under the slide to carry the wires but it wasn't a 40" extension.

Any suggestions what do you call that thing that holds the wires and or another way to support them??

Thanks!

[youroo]

It is called "Flex Gard" by Lippert! Most members just attach a Metal 4" hinge where they break! Youroo!! Lippert part #s Single=1346271 / Double=13462881 /Triple=1346291

[NMWildcat]

Exactly. They are notorious for breaking. You can buy replacements easily online. Better yet, do what youroo suggests and buy a new one, but use a hinge at the one end instead of screwing it in directly.

I've replaced three, then finally used a hinge at the major slide, and also use zip ties to help support the weight.

[KyDan]

Thanks guys! Sounds like a plan.
Glad I didn't take it off and toss it. Maybe it can be saved....

[DustyRoads]

I had a similar problem with ours. It dropped down and was rubbing on the tire and broke in the middle. I respliced the wire with crimp connectors and put a metal hinge in the guard.
I then reattached on outside end to point more in a upwards direction. My DW and I watch to make sure it is going above mechanism when bringing in the slide out.
One of those things that you need to fix on the road yourself.

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Exactly. They are notorious for breaking. You can buy replacements easily online. Better yet, do what youroo suggests and buy a new one, but use a hinge at the one end instead of screwing it in directly.

I've replaced three, then finally used a hinge at the major slide, and also use zip ties to help support the weight.

I can't remember where but there is a thread here somewhere that has the DIY solution for this common problem. I couldn't fit hinges so replaced them with wooden blocks with a hole bored through to fit on the vertical support post that the original black cable suspension was attached to. I then used a short strip of aluminium bar that I had lying around bolted to the block as a replacement for the cable support strap thing.

[fonzie]

Maybe this tread will help.....

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...own-66142.html

[TitanMike]

Might be a good idea, for those of us who haven't had this break yet, to apply the "repair" now.


I'm wondering if a couple of screw eyes, some small diameter cable, a screen door spring a pulley or two, and some hog rings, might make up something far more reliable. Cable anchored on frame end, turning corner at outside edge of slide, spring keeping cable taught. Wire hanging from cable that is taught between frame and outside of slide using the hog rings just like shower curtain rings.

Right now it's just an idea, think I'll see if I can implement it on mine and post some pictures.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Murbella7

I can't remember where but there is a thread here somewhere that has the DIY solution for this common problem. I couldn't fit hinges so replaced them with wooden blocks with a hole bored through to fit on the vertical support post that the original black cable suspension was attached to. I then used a short strip of aluminium bar that I had lying around bolted to the block as a replacement for the cable support strap thing.

[RnRushin]

fixed mine with zip ties. First try I tightened everything up good using two zip ties, and it broke again. Second time I drilled 3 holes in each end (top, middle, bottom) of strip and used zip ties leaving it a loose. This allowed the strip to sag a little when retracted so I used a few more wire ties to the frame to hold it up. Has held up for the past year. wished I would have thought about a small hinge.

[pmsherman]

My 2011 Georgetown has a similar issue with the cable guard. In mine. the guard lies flat when the slide is in and drops into a box in one of the basement compartments when the slide is extended. Unfortunately, there's nothing to pull the cable guard into the box as the slide extends, causing it to bunch up and split apart.

I've been lucky so far in that I've been able to reassemble the pieces once I've closed the slide. Reconnecting two parts of the guard is a relatively easy task but if the guard disconnects from the fixed housing that's attached to the slide, it's almost impossible to reconnect.

The two solutions I've been using are:
1. open the slide a few inches at a time and push the guard down into the box.
2. Have a partner operate the slide switch while I push the guard into the box as the slide opens.

Phil

[gbid101]

Here's a few pics on using a 3" hinge
First pic shows broken strap :
broken carrier.jpg


The next two show mounted hinge:
Hinge 1.jpg


Hinge 2.jpg