Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-01-2018, 09:59 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Slide and jack trouble

I have a 38 ft Cedar Creek Fifth wheel. I keep getting low voltage when I operate the jacks, either in or out, or the slides, in or out. I stop, wait a little while and it will work for a little while then quit. Like the batteries are having to recharge. It does that whether it is hooked up to shore power or the alternator on the truck. The batteries are relatively new. Apparently the voltage going to the hydraulic pump gets low. It is cold right now, but it was starting to do that when it was still warm. Took about 45 minutes to get the slides in and the jacks up yesterday.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks, John Lewis
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2018, 10:13 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 734
Slide and jack trouble

My initial answer would be to check all the electrical connections, especially the ground connections. My second answer is you may have a failing motor on the pump. Yours would not be the first that has gone bad. Is the pump getting hot? And finally make sure your slide valves are turned completely on, and your pump fluid is full.
Rich5117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 12:02 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
NMWildcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,523
I agree with Rich. One point to add is to check your batteries with a meter to ensure they are actually fully charged. Then double check all grounds and connections.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
NMWildcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:24 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Thanks for the information. The hydraulic fluid is full. I will check the batteries. I don't know if the motor is getting hot. I will try to check that.
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:29 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Another question, since you asked about the batteries. So even though I am hooked to shore power, the slides and jacks are still working off the batteries? If I have marginal batteries, that would explain why I am having trouble even though I am hooked to shore power.
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:37 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
NMWildcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,523
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnat4mc View Post
Another question, since you asked about the batteries. So even though I am hooked to shore power, the slides and jacks are still working off the batteries? If I have marginal batteries, that would explain why I am having trouble even though I am hooked to shore power.
Your slides and jacks work off of 12v supplied by converter and batteries. For big power demands, the converter is not always enough by itself, so the batteries pitch in. It is possible your converter is having problems also. When working slides and jacks, we always try to either have shore power, generators, or still connected to truck 7way plug, and have fully charged batteries, to supply ample power.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
NMWildcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 11:43 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
xgarys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
Your slides and jacks work off of 12v supplied by converter and batteries. For big power demands, the converter is not always enough by itself, so the batteries pitch in. It is possible your converter is having problems also. When working slides and jacks, we always try to either have shore power, generators, or still connected to truck 7way plug, and have fully charged batteries, to supply ample power.


Put your voltmeter across the batteries and have someone operate the slide. If the voltage drops substantially under load the problem is most likely the batteries.

The term "relatively new" is relative. A few months or a few years? They are the only part of the system that weakens over time and are the easiest to inadvertently abuse.

They are also the easiest to test.
xgarys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 03:53 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Thanks a lot. Will put a volt meter on the batteries and have someone work the slide.
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 06:14 PM   #9
Member
 
mhbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ogden Utah
Posts: 97
Send a message via Skype™ to mhbell
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnat4mc View Post
Thanks a lot. Will put a volt meter on the batteries and have someone work the slide.
I had a friend who had the same problem. after much checking he found that he had a bad cell in one of the 4 batteries. Check each cell with a Hydrometer for specific gravity to see if you have a dead cell on one of the batteries. A cheap Hydrometer is only $5 or $6. A voltage meter won't tell if you have a bad cell on these batteries.
Mel
__________________
2020 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 271RK towed with a 2013 Silverado 2500HD and a Anderson Ultimate Hitch. B&W turn over ball in Bed of truck.
mhbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 06:42 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
xgarys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhbell View Post
I had a friend who had the same problem. after much checking he found that he had a bad cell in one of the 4 batteries. Check each cell with a Hydrometer for specific gravity to see if you have a dead cell on one of the batteries. A cheap Hydrometer is only $5 or $6. A voltage meter won't tell if you have a bad cell on these batteries.
Mel
I must respectfully beg to differ, somewhat. A battery can indeed take a surface charge and measure proper voltage with a shorted cell (no load). The key however is how it performs under load. The voltage test (under load) is the first step. Measuring specific gravity of each cell is a great second step if you are unsure and want to take it that far but if you see under about 10V under a medium load you either have poor connection or a bad stack. Personally, I don't care to handle sulphuric acid until it's time to confirm a suspicion.

Right now the OP is at the First step stage of the troubleshooting sequence so let's take it a step at a time. Per your own words "After much checking". There is no need for much checking, just a logical sequence of tests.
xgarys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 07:00 PM   #11
Member
 
mhbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ogden Utah
Posts: 97
Send a message via Skype™ to mhbell
Quote:
Originally Posted by xgarys View Post
I must respectfully beg to differ, somewhat. A battery can indeed take a surface charge and measure proper voltage with a shorted cell (no load). The key however is how it performs under load. The voltage test (under load) is the first step. Measuring specific gravity of each cell is a great second step if you are unsure and want to take it that far but if you see under about 10V under a medium load you either have poor connection or a bad stack. Personally, I don't care to handle sulphuric acid until it's time to confirm a suspicion.

Right now the OP is at the First step stage of the troubleshooting sequence so let's take it a step at a time. Per your own words "After much checking". There is no need for much checking, just a logical sequence of tests.
And I have to Respectfully differ with you. A voltage reading will not tell you which cell is dead. The only way to prove a dead cell is with a Hydrometer and specific gravity test.
__________________
2020 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 271RK towed with a 2013 Silverado 2500HD and a Anderson Ultimate Hitch. B&W turn over ball in Bed of truck.
mhbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 09:13 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
xgarys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhbell View Post
And I have to Respectfully differ with you. A voltage reading will not tell you which cell is dead. The only way to prove a dead cell is with a Hydrometer and specific gravity test.
You are absolutely correct but I must ask what good does it do to know which cell is bad when one dead cell will necessitate the replacement of the entire stack? That is of course unless all of the batteries are new and one fails prematurely? Then we get back to the question of "realativy new". I'm only saying that the logical next step is to determine if the batteries are the problem.
xgarys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:13 PM   #13
Member
 
mhbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ogden Utah
Posts: 97
Send a message via Skype™ to mhbell
Quote:
Originally Posted by xgarys View Post
You are absolutely correct but I must ask what good does it do to know which cell is bad when one dead cell will necessitate the replacement of the entire stack? That is of course unless all of the batteries are new and one fails prematurely? Then we get back to the question of "realativy new". I'm only saying that the logical next step is to determine if the batteries are the problem.
I have to agree with you there. My friends batteries were only 6 months old and golf cart batteries 4 of them. He only had to replace the one, not all 4 to get his slide working properly again. Of course a bad ground or loose connection would cause the same sort of problem. and voltage reading would be very important to trouble shoot.
Mel
__________________
2020 Forest River Cherokee Arctic Wolf 271RK towed with a 2013 Silverado 2500HD and a Anderson Ultimate Hitch. B&W turn over ball in Bed of truck.
mhbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:13 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 734
Slide and jack trouble

Johnat4mc, could you tell us what batteries you have and what you mean by relatively new. Have they ever gone completely dead and you have recharged them. A good single fully charged battery will operate your slides and jacks. The converter will help if connected to shore power but does not have the amperage. This is the same for being connected to your truck.

Going to get barked at for this, providing everything else seems ok, if you have a fully charged battery charger/starter pak or know someone who does, attach it to your batteries and operate your jacks or slides. If they work, you more then likely have bad or failing batteries. I say this as I've seen dealers do this when units sit on a lot and they need moved or opened.
Rich5117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2018, 10:39 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
xgarys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 264
xgarys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2018, 10:01 AM   #16
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Thanks for all your replies. My plans are to take all the batteries out and take them to a parts store and have them tested. I understand that when they test them they put them under a load so hopefully that will detect a bad battery or batteries. The batteries are 2 years old, but I realize that is old enough for them to be having issues.
Again thanks for your help.
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2018, 07:20 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 120
I had a cable come out of the crimped terminal. Bad cramp. I purchased 3/0 welding cable, terminal ends and made my own replacement cables. Problem solved.
Priusron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2018, 11:47 AM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cabot,Arkanas
Posts: 26
Again thanks for all your replies. As a followup, it ended up being he batteries. I took them to a Sam's Club and they tested them and they all were bad. And those six-volt golf cart batteries are only warrantied for a year. I am thinking about switching,, when these go bad, which will probably be within a couple of years, to a couple of those Optiva 12 volt batteries, instead of the 4 six-volts. Hopefully would get a little longer service.
johnat4mc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2018, 05:42 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 142
I'm having a similar problem - I'm plugged in to shore power, have the converter and an inverter charger to charge batteries, and four six volt batteries. Inverter charger is reading "float", so I'm assuming my batteries are good.

I am getting a relay click when I try to engage any hydraulic component, and the voltage across the motors terminals is 13.6 VDC. With the fact that voltage is present at the motor, I'm leaning towards ruling out the electrical components/system, and currently think the motor is bad. Any other ideas?
aknavy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 12:52 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 120
deleated
Priusron is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
slide

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:17 AM.