Slideout Failure!

So it finally happened.  I had done some research on how to handle it when a slideout fails to retract but I still was not prepared.  My 2003 Bounder (Ford/Gas) main slideout decided to stop working.  No activity from motor at all.  I even tried to hot-wire it directly with no result so I am thinking bad motor.  This does not help me though, still stuck with an extended slideout and I need to go home!  This is a brief experience with my 2003 that may be relevant to you (pictures to come later when I repair).

1st, the motor is located in the center of the slideout (front-to-back) under the rig.  Easy to see.  No panels.  It controls a bar that is attached to gears at either end of the slideout.   The first thing you need to do is disengage the motor.  This is done by way of a lever (mine is nicely covered by a rubber “glove”).   Once I disengaged it the slideout moved just slightly (must have been under pressure).

Once the motor was disengaged, there is a “bolt” head at one end of the bar that allows you to attach a 9/16ths wrench or socket.   Or, preferably, an impact socket wrench that will do all the work for you!  I had the socket wrench in hand and was able to get the slide to go in about 1/2 inch by nearly breaking my wrist.   I needed a pipe or something to give me more leverage (or the afore mentioned impact socket wrench).   Neither was available.  I knew I was in for a lot of pain.

Luckily I found a couple kids in the neighborhood that were willing to push on the slide while I cranked it but…. WOAH!   they were able to push it all the way in without a lot of effort!

Once they pushed it in, I re-engaged the motor to “lock” the slide in place and went home!

So my takeaway here is make sure you have at least one of these in your basement storage:

1. pipe for leverage to help you crank that socket wrench
2. compressor and impact socket wrench
3. cordless impact drill (although you’d need some way to get to the bolt head as there’s no room for a drill).
4. 3-4 strong teenagers… although keeping them supplied with food and games until you need them could break the bank.

So I am home now, happy, and safe, and thinking about repairing the slide out.   More to follow on the repair and photos.

Feb, 2024 – Fixed!

Quick update, it turned out that there was a cold solder join on the slideout controller card.  I found the controller in the coach battery box under the stairs.  This, itself, was a real hunt!