Slide goes in.. then comes out!

rdbeebe · 09-20-2020, 11:16 PM

Hello all.
I'm new to this forum.
We have a 'new to us' 2011 5th wheel that has a Lippert hydraulic slide system.
There are 4 slides in total.

Today when we were moving the slides back in to pack up for the weekend, one of the back slides popped out at the top, after all the slides went in.

So, the slides close in a specific order, the front closes first, then the two rear bunks close. Then the main living room side last.

When we investigated it appeared that one of the cupboards was not fully closed, and it is possible that the slide may have hit the handle of the cupboard door.

Keep in mind that the slide goes in all the way and only after all the slides are finished closing (or just about finished closing) the top of the trouble slide comes out.

Looking for some advise on how or why this is happening and maybe how to fix as well..

Photo attached.

Thank you!
Richard

**bikendan** · 09-20-2020, 11:34 PM

How about make and model number of of RV since you don't have it listed in your profile.
Not all 5th Wheels have hydraulic slideouts.

rdbeebe · 09-20-2020, 11:37 PM

Very good point! I told you I'm new to forums

It is a 2011 Silverback 35QB4.

I'll update my profile!

Thanks

**bikendan** · 09-21-2020, 01:47 AM

Moved to Cedar Creek sub-forum.

LittleBill · 09-21-2020, 01:51 AM

I have had that kind of problem (hopefully in the past). I could always tell when the slides weren't locked down, whereby they would ease out. I figured it was my dinette slide that was the culprit as when I brought that one in it would take a long time for it to even start coming in to where I would have go out and push on it to help it start moving. Once it started it would continue to come in okay till it reached the end but the pump would sometimes never pull down indicating the slides were locked down. Sure enough could see that all three slides had eased out.

Generally speaking you either have a cylinder that has a leak (internal or external) or the control valve is bad.

In November 2019 Orvan (Amish Family RV) found that the bedroom cylinder was leaking. Things worked fairly well for a little while, till they started up again. When we went to Florida (from Illinois) the first day after leaving had the bed room slide ease out as going down the road. I kind of knew that they may not have locked down as was having trouble getting the dinette to go. Finally got it to stay and had to work at it the rest of the trip.

When we left Fort Myers (after a month of being there) to start heading back home, I wasn't able to get the slides to lock down till after we traveled a hundred miles, Had to continually stop and use my remote to bring them back in. Didn't have quite that big of a problem for the rest of the trip but still had to work them a few times to get them to stay. I could always tell when they would stay by the sound of the pump.

When I took my unit back to Orvan this past June, he found that the control valve (this is the valve that allows you to isolate the slides) was bad. After I picked up my 5er and had it in my driveway for a couple of weeks before it went into storage, it seemed like that corrected the problem. The real test is when I bring it home from storage and we take off on our next trip.

Orvan is in Indiana and is an Amish guy who used to work for 17 years at Cedar Creek before he opened he own shop 2 miles south of the factory. I see you are in mid Michigan and it would behoove you to make a trip to his place. Warning he is generally booked out so you may not get an appointment right away, but once you have that appointment you can generally be out in a day or two vs a month at your local RV dealer. He will find problems you aren't even aware of and will also do enhancements. His number is (260) 593-0951.

Do a search for Orvan on this forum and I know you won't find any bad or mediocre reviews about his work.

Hope this helps some. Good luck and be safe.

Splashes3 · 09-21-2020, 04:52 AM

Here's Orvan's number - (260) 593-0951. If Jolisa doesn't answer, and you get the recording you'll need to press "1" and leave a message.

Orvan is fantastic. I am currently getting his expertise with a slide issue I have.

Good Luck.

rdbeebe · 09-21-2020, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately we are located in Canada, so I would be able to see Orvan. ��

I noticed that the hydraulic fluid reservoir tank is getting low, close to 1/3 our less full.. could that be a contributing factor?

I'm not sure how the mechanics of a hydraulic system work, but in assume that fluid needs to stay in the lines for the slides to be able to lock in place and stay there.

TheWolfPaq82 · 09-21-2020, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdbeebe

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately we are located in Canada, so I would be able to see Orvan. ��

I noticed that the hydraulic fluid reservoir tank is getting low, close to 1/3 our less full.. could that be a contributing factor?

I'm not sure how the mechanics of a hydraulic system work, but in assume that fluid needs to stay in the lines for the slides to be able to lock in place and stay there.

Very possible. Get it filled to the recommended level as soon as you can.

NMWildcat · 09-21-2020, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdbeebe

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately we are located in Canada, so I would be able to see Orvan. ��

I noticed that the hydraulic fluid reservoir tank is getting low, close to 1/3 our less full.. could that be a contributing factor?

I'm not sure how the mechanics of a hydraulic system work, but in assume that fluid needs to stay in the lines for the slides to be able to lock in place and stay there.

Check the fluid level when all slides and jacks are in as that is when the most fluid is back in the tank. I check mine when it is hooked up to the truck (all jacks up, all slides in).
When all the slides and jacks are out check the level again, this is the low point of fluid in the tank. If there is fluid in the tank at the low point, you are fine. The only time fluid is a problem is when at the low point, no fluid is in tank which allows air into the hydraulic lines and can cause quirky problems.
I made marks on my tank for low and high point, as I have no level marks on my tank.
I haven't heard of a problem like yours, where the slide goes in, and the top pops out. It could be an internal cylinder leak or bad valve as suggested, or a problem with the slide adjustment.

Scheinin · 09-21-2020, 12:57 PM

I had that problem you were having, when I fill the reservoir, it solved the problem.

LittleBill · 09-21-2020, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Check the fluid level when all slides and jacks are in as that is when the most fluid is back in the tank. I check mine when it is hooked up to the truck (all jacks up, all slides in).
When all the slides and jacks are out check the level again, this is the low point of fluid in the tank. If there is fluid in the tank at the low point, you are fine. The only time fluid is a problem is when at the low point, no fluid is in tank which allows air into the hydraulic lines and can cause quirky problems.
I made marks on my tank for low and high point, as I have no level marks on my tank.
I haven't heard of a problem like yours, where the slide goes in, and the top pops out. It could be an internal cylinder leak or bad valve as suggested, or a problem with the slide adjustment.

X2 ^^^^^^^

Definitely, definitely, definitely check the fluid with all slides in and jacks up. If you don't you will have fluid all over the place. Don't ask me how I know.

When you have all slides in and jacks up, the tank should be nearly full. I marked on the tank with a sharpie where the level was at different stages for both 1) slides out & jacks down and 2) slides in and jacks down. That way I could quickly check to assure I had the proper level without having to hook up and close everything.

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