Store with slides open or closed?

[Trailer1224]

I’m building an RV shade and wonder if the slides should be stored open or closed. They will be protected from sun and the weather.

[Scrapper]

All depends on you. If you want to use it while it's parked I don't see any problem leaving them extended.

My tt is permanently on a seasonal site and I leave my slides out from mid April to mid October whether I'm at the camper or not. We can have up to 2 or 3 feet of snow on the roof by the end of winter so during the off season the slides are closed so they do not have to support the weight of snow.


Only thing you have to worry about is forgetting to retract them when you want to go camping.

[bikendan]

Unless you need to go in and out a lot, there's no benefit to leaving them open.
Leaving the slides in, lowers the amount of exposure that the seals will have, to drying out and chances of water, critters, insects and airborne dirt/grime to getting in.

[badger5301]

When not in use our rig is kept in the shed with two of the three slides out. Makes it much easier for the wife or myself if we need to do something inside the fifth wheel. During the winter we store it in the same shed but closer to the wall so the slides are pulled in.
Don't know if this is right or wrong but it works for us and we have had no issues.
When in the shed our rig is always plugged into a 30amp outlet, both summer and winter. Fridge runs all summer (stocked) and in the winter it is cleaned and shut down.

[TitanMike]

If building it would probably make sense to be able to open the sllides unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you won't be opening then at some time while under cover.

My TT is not under a cover but I am frequently in and out of it during cleanup or any project I have going. If I did build a cover I would definitely include room to open the slide even if it only was for the slide.

[whj469]

Closed.