Free RV manual
How to Run Your RV Slide Outs
When to open them, when not to, and what to check first. Slide outs are the most common repair on a rental, and most of it is avoidable.
Before you open a slide
- Level the RV first. A twisted frame is the top reason a slide binds.
- Walk around outside. Check for trees, posts, picnic tables and hookup pedestals in the way.
- Inside, make sure nothing is on the floor in the slide's path and all cabinet doors are shut.
- Plug in or start the generator if you can. A slide motor pulls hard on a weak battery.
Opening and closing
Hold the switch until the slide stops on its own and the motor sound changes. Let go right away after that. Holding it longer strains the motor.
When you close it, keep holding until it is fully in and tight against the seal. A slide that is not all the way in can open on the road.
Seals and the roof of the slide
Look at the rubber seals around the slide each trip. Wipe them clean and treat them with a seal conditioner a few times a year.
Sweep leaves, snow and water off the slide roof before you bring it in. Anything up there gets dragged into the seal.
If it will not move
Check the battery first. Low voltage is the most common cause. Then check the breaker or fuse for the slide.
Many slides have a manual override. The steps are different for each system, so look for the maker's label near the motor or in the owner manual. Lippert keeps manuals for most of its slide systems online.
When to call a shop
Call a shop if the slide moves crooked, one side leads the other, you hear grinding, or it stops partway. Forcing it bends the rails and turns a small fix into a big one.
The maker's own manuals
These guides cover how most RVs work. Your own rig may differ, so check the manual for your make and model.
- Lippert · Slides, awnings, jacks and leveling
- Every maker we link to