My Flagstaff Classic Super-Lite came with slide lock bars which had a red tag attached to them which hung down into the living area when they were installed. The dealer also told me to put them aside somewhere and forget about using them. He said the electric slide could not open anyway unless powered open. I took his advice and have never used them. I haven't had any problem.
__________________ Chillbilly
2013 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8244WS
2015 Ford F250 Quad Cab w/6.2 Engine
My Flagstaff Classic Super-Lite came with slide lock bars which had a red tag attached to them which hung down into the living area when they were installed. The dealer also told me to put them aside somewhere and forget about using them. He said the electric slide could not open anyway unless powered open. I took his advice and have never used them. I haven't had any problem.
I believe he gave you bad advice. The way the electric slides operate, they can easily be opened with a good hard shove from the inside. The nylon gear that runs the slide is spring loaded against the rack and gravity keeps the slide in place. It does not take all that much force to get that gear to hop a tooth. There is so much inertia in a loaded slide that if a substantial side force is applied to the camper (like hitting a curb), it could easily fully extend to its stops.
The slide bar not only locks the slide IN at the top, it provides a DOWN force that locks the slide into the nylon roller.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
It seems that people are more than willing to take the advice of the dealer when it suits them. The problem is that dealers don't have a very good reputation for being right about much of anything.
It seems that people are more than willing to take the advice of the dealer when it suits them. The problem is that dealers don't have a very good reputation for being right about much of anything.
Quite true what you say. However, my fiver, with 3 slides, didn't come with slide locks, nor did I know there was such a thing until I read about it here. Since then, I have observed the slides when travelling and have never noticed any movement. I tried what you said about moving the slide from inside when it is retracted and there is a lot of play. I would suspect that if my slide was going to move during travel , it would have certainly moved by now. Just come her to NS to experience the twisting, winding, bumping, undulating highways and byways. If there was enough force to move the slide, I doubt if the slide lock will hold it in place. Out of curiosity, I did travel in the fiver one time (don't tell anyone) and still didn't notice any movement. I think it's just intended to offer one a level of comfort. I'm just saying.
Rugged B, I am not so much worried about the slide actually moving out into oncoming traffic, but more so about the hammering effect of it moving even a fraction of an inch and then slamming back into the camper wall. Multiply that by a few thousand repetitions, and you begin to see the fatigue factor kicking in.
It isn't a huge issue, but for some to say they are without doubt useless, is probably not accurate.
True, they can be forgotten, but how many forget to raise the landing gear before taking off? Probably the very same people!
Rugged B, I am not so much worried about the slide actually moving out into oncoming traffic, but more so about the hammering effect of it moving even a fraction of an inch and then slamming back into the camper wall. Multiply that by a few thousand repetitions, and you begin to see the fatigue factor kicking in.
It isn't a huge issue, but for some to say they are without doubt useless, is probably not accurate.
True, they can be forgotten, but how many forget to raise the landing gear before taking off? Probably the very same people!
Well maybe I should be using slide locks. Anyone got a spare set lying around in your garage you can send me.
I have 3 slides, 2 main slides and a wardrobe slide.
Only the 2 main slides use the rack and gear system that needs the locks.
The wardrobe slide uses cables and a screw drive motor to run it in and out. That slide will not move in or out without the motor actually rotating (electrically or mechanically). The mechanical advantage of the gearing ensures the slide will not move without motor rotation doing the moving.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
So, I decided to check the 2 slides on our V-Lite and see if the are as Crocus has described. I will say the only way those slides are going to move is either if the trailer rolled or you actually use the motors or manual crank. I pushed on the 2 slides and did so very forcefully and the only thing I accomplished was to rock the trailer. They do not move period. As to Herks statement of fiber gears, again not so in my case. All metal of some type with rubber rollers to support the slide rails. As I stated previously, our slides come in top first and then lift the bottom during the last couple inches to come in flat against the side of the unit. They will not move up out or any other direction with any amount of force I was willing to put on them. So to say that dealers don't know what they are talking about is a load IMO and I do not see how the slide locks on this trailer are of any use except as a placebo for nervous people. As I also stated our old units slide worked in the exact same maner and nev er an issue. In Ontario last year we hit an unmarked spot on the northern route that jarred the trailer so bad it wedged the rear screen door in the frame and I had a heck of a time pushing it open but the slides never moved at all. Sure maybe some units are not built as well (maybe not as well but differently) but to paint them all with the same brush does not fly in my book.
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John & Deb
2011 F250 Lariat FX4 Crew Cab 6.2
2011 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLS
As to Herks statement of fiber gears, again not so in my case.
Sure maybe some units are not built as well (maybe not as well but differently) but to paint them all with the same brush does not fly in my book.
"Fiber gears"? Not sure where that came from. Nylon is not "fiber"; White Plastic is probably more correct, though. I will get a picture when I get out there next that will show the spring suspension system that retains the gear.
I did not intend to state that all campers are the same, however the Lippert Ultra-lite Frame main slide system that I have operates as Crocus states, and the hold in bars actually ensure slide seal all around the perimeter of the slide in my camper. (light leak in one corner until the bar is tightened as indicated on the warning sticker; then no light leak).
As I stated previously, no one is an "expert" here; though we all play one on the Internet. "Caveat Lector" and all. Your experience may differ.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
For anyone who doubts the usefulness of the slide lock bars, go inside your camper with the slide in, and give the slide a shove near the top. I think the answer will be obvious.
I will do that next weekend when we close up the camper for the season. Mine close the same way as the sasks describes so I will see if I get the same result: no movement. I suspect it will be the same.
It would appear that the play in the slides totally depends on the mechanism used to control the slide. Perhaps the rack and pinion drive type are more susceptible to movement and so the slide locks are provided by FR.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
"Sure maybe some units are not built as well (maybe not as well but differently) but to paint them all with the same brush does not fly in my book."
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So who is doing that, TheSasks?
That's what I am saying. There are several different types of slide out mechanism. If they are provided by FR with the camper and your unit is playcarded for location you most likely should use them. Just sayin'
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
I received 2 with my TT. I can see that it would make differences in keeping the top of the slide from rocking while going down the road. Just adds a bit of security and takes a couple of minutes to install them. That's my two cents.
At least with my experience so far. I would have to over tighten them to cause damage, unless there was something catastrophic with the slide and it broke.
Chillbilly
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