Newbie travel trailer buyer question - to slide out or not

[Sanjeev]

Hi all:

I am a newbie in the world of camper trailers, trying to buy my first camper trailer to get started. I am in my late 40s, married with wife and two kids - a 20 year old college going daughter (home only occasionally) and a 10 year old son. Mentioned this to give some idea on what we would need in a camper.

For towing the trailer, I bought a 2017 Ram 1500 ecodiesel with a 3.92 Rear Axle Ratio. Specs show a "Max Trailer Weight Rating" of 7540 lbs. for this truck.

In our local market, I spotted two trailers (on craigslist) that I want to investigate further:

1. A 2016 Forest River Shasta Oasis 25RS. The owner mentions "excellent condition" at a listed price that sounds reasonable. I have googled the model and watched some youtube videos and so far, wife and myself like the floor plan. We have not gone to physically take a look yet, will probably do that in the coming week.
2. A 2016 Coachmen Catalina 261 BH SBX. This one we went to take a look yesterday, and through our newbie eyes, it did look like in excellent condition. We liked the floor plan on this one also.

The floor plans are mostly similar, with one main difference being the slide out in the Shasta. My engineering experience tells me that a slide out means more moving parts, and more possibilities for developing a leak. But wife prefers the space the slide out offers. FYI - the slide out is for the sofa and refrigerator.

One last point - the asking price for both the trailers is similar. The Catalina does come with some kind of a transferable warranty through mid 2023.

Being a complete newbie, I would like advice from trailer owners and experts on what they like and not in a slide out, quality of construction of the two brands etc. of these particular models to help me further decide.

Thanks in advance for all the comments!

[Sanjeev]

gmw photos wrote:
There are several good videos on the slide mech. Do a search for it and check out the factory videos. And get yourself a spray can of CRC power lube with teflon. It's what the factory reccos for lubing the gibs.

good tip, thanks!

gmw photos wrote:
Main thing about Schwinteks is when running them in or out, don't stop part way. Hold the button until they run to the end of travel, then continue holding the button for a second. This will ensure the two motors are in sync with each other.

funny you say that, I saw exactly that on a video yesterday 🙂

[gmw_photos]

There are several good videos on the slide mech. Do a search for it and check out the factory videos. And get yourself a spray can of CRC power lube with teflon. It's what the factory reccos for lubing the gibs.

Main thing about Schwinteks is when running them in or out, don't stop part way. Hold the button until they run to the end of travel, then continue holding the button for a second. This will ensure the two motors are in sync with each other.

[DiskDoctr]

Congratulations! Sounds like you worked out what was important to you and then went and snatched one up. Enjoy :C

[gmw_photos]

Congrats ! Now go have some fun..... don't forget the fixins' for s'mores.

[Sanjeev]

Final Update - I ended up buying the Shasta Oasis 25RS (the one with the slide out). On with learning more about the Lippert Schwintek slideout mechanism :-).

Thanks all for the vigorous debate and all the ideas and suggestions!

[hvac]

Hey, this is all a first world problem and I see all the advantages. But, we use our coach with extensive and hard miles nationally. Our old infrastructure is challenging to any vehicle, much less a home on wheels. We often stay in casino and roadside rest stops enroute to our destination,

Just these past 2 weeks. Arcata to Needles back to Sacramento. Lots of hwy 99. The full air suspension on our truck and torsion suspension on the coach got a real workout.Made the east coast look like a glass hwy.I just can't see slides for us ever. Not after this design. We walk in, push the genny button, always set up and most important no surprises.

Each his own. I say less is more.

[drsteve]

During the PDI for the TT in my sig, the RV tech did say that it was a bad idea to step on the edge of the slide floor when in the retracted position. The owner's manual is silent on this issue.

[DiskDoctr]

On our Keystone Cougar, we gently use the slides on a limited basis if all the way in or all the way out- Being careful not to step on the inside edge, or within...6-10" (whatever a big step is 😉 )

All the way in, the slide supported against the outside of the walls of the camper. All the way out, supported against the inside of the walls of the camper and the edge against the floor.

Now that is if we must. In all reality...now that we upgraded to the 4 GC batteries, I just find a spot wide enough and zip it out and back in when finished, say for a lunch stop in a rest area or fill stop.

Battery *should* recharge along the tow. I have the charging relay and such...but I should actually test that sometime.

That is all. Back to your regularly schedule program 🙂

[TomG2]

Huntindog wrote:
What a manual says is important. What it does not say is also important.

You may or may not understand this, but I will try anyway. The fallacy in your position is that no owner's manual lists all the things that are perfectly okay to do with their product. No manual ever says, "It is okay to eat pizza in this unit. It is okay to drink a Coke in this trailer. It is okay to play the radio. It is okay to lean against the back of the dinette. It is up to you if you want to have a trash can." The list of things that are harmless would go on forever. Saying that all uses not explicitly approved in writing are prohibited is bad logic.

[TomG2]

GrandpaKip wrote:
Why don’t you guys go to PM to keep your silly argument going?
(Rolly eyes emoji here)

I don't want them to shut up and go away if they still have something to say in a somewhat civil manner. It is easy for those offended to block them, me, or anyone else who they do not want to see.

We have some members who feel they can prove a point by repeating it until they themselves believe it. They will spend two hundred words to make a point or discourage those that disagree with their opinion, whether it has validity or not. I say, "Let the discussions continue".

[GrandpaKip]

Huntindog wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
He also said that was not a brand specific caution, but that all slides should not be used when retracted.

That"s a fact.

SoundGuy wrote:
You still haven't provided a single link to any documentation supporting your argument so are we to just accept your argument as "fact" simply because YOU say so? :R

Huntindog wrote:
It would take more effort to look it up to satisfy you.. And you are not worth the effort.Now you have a 48 page manual handy.. Where in that manual does it state that it's OK? If it does, YOU should post it for all to see.
You just stating it... In your own words.... Doesn't make it so.

I'm not the one making the outrageous claim that manufacturers don't mention in their owners' manuals to not use their slides in the retracted position because they want to avoid paying out warranty claims for failed slide issues ... how silly. :R In cases where it's not mentioned, as is the case with my own Coachmen trailer, it's not mentioned because it's just not an issue. :B As for me being "not worth it" then why continue to argue ad nauseam when all you're doing is making your position even sillier. :W

The 48 page manual you have.... I am sure it instructs you how to use the slide. It probably says something like: To activate the slide, hold the button in the out position until the slide stops moving. To retract the slide, hold the button in the in position until the slide stops moving in.

It most likely does not say to sit in the slide when is retracted.
What a manual says is important. What it does not say is also important.

As I have said repeatadly, I am unaware of any manufacturer that states it is OK... If you have proof that your manufacturer says it's OK, I would like to see it. Seriously.... There may be some out there that do. But it is a really safe bet that most do not

Why don’t you guys go to PM to keep your silly argument going?
(Rolly eyes emoji here)

[Huntindog]

SoundGuy wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
He also said that was not a brand specific caution, but that all slides should not be used when retracted.

That"s a fact.

SoundGuy wrote:
You still haven't provided a single link to any documentation supporting your argument so are we to just accept your argument as "fact" simply because YOU say so? :R

Huntindog wrote:
It would take more effort to look it up to satisfy you.. And you are not worth the effort.Now you have a 48 page manual handy.. Where in that manual does it state that it's OK? If it does, YOU should post it for all to see.
You just stating it... In your own words.... Doesn't make it so.

I'm not the one making the outrageous claim that manufacturers don't mention in their owners' manuals to not use their slides in the retracted position because they want to avoid paying out warranty claims for failed slide issues ... how silly. :R In cases where it's not mentioned, as is the case with my own Coachmen trailer, it's not mentioned because it's just not an issue. :B As for me being "not worth it" then why continue to argue ad nauseam when all you're doing is making your position even sillier. :W

The 48 page manual you have.... I am sure it instructs you how to use the slide. It probably says something like: To activate the slide, hold the button in the out position until the slide stops moving. To retract the slide, hold the button in the in position until the slide stops moving in.

It most likely does not say to sit in the slide when is retracted.
What a manual says is important. What it does not say is also important.

As I have said repeatadly, I am unaware of any manufacturer that states it is OK... If you have proof that your manufacturer says it's OK, I would like to see it. Seriously.... There may be some out there that do. But it is a really safe bet that most do not

[SoundGuy]

Huntindog wrote:
He also said that was not a brand specific caution, but that all slides should not be used when retracted.

That"s a fact.

SoundGuy wrote:
You still haven't provided a single link to any documentation supporting your argument so are we to just accept your argument as "fact" simply because YOU say so? :R

Huntindog wrote:
It would take more effort to look it up to satisfy you.. And you are not worth the effort.Now you have a 48 page manual handy.. Where in that manual does it state that it's OK? If it does, YOU should post it for all to see.
You just stating it... In your own words.... Doesn't make it so.

I'm not the one making the outrageous claim that manufacturers don't mention in their owners' manuals to not use their slides in the retracted position because they want to avoid paying out warranty claims for failed slide issues ... how silly. :R In cases where it's not mentioned, as is the case with my own Coachmen trailer, it's not mentioned because it's just not an issue. :B As for me being "not worth it" then why continue to argue ad nauseam when all you're doing is making your position even sillier. :W

[Huntindog]

SoundGuy wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
The plant manager told me this when I toured the factory after picking up my new Sabre.
He also said that was not a brand specific caution, but that all slides should not be used when retracted.

If one takes a look at how the slide boxes are constructed... It doesn't take Rocket Scientist to understand why.The box is typically made to be light. The floor usually 5/8" or so plywood or OSB, The walls may be even thinner 1/2" or so with a filon skin. Anyone with any woodworking knowledge can tell you that the joint between the floor and the slide wall will not be very strong. When it is retracted it is just hanging in the air. (you don't like the floating word) Using the slide with the front edge unsupported as it would be when deployed, puts all of the weight on this weak joint.

That"s a fact.

You still haven't provided a single link to any documentation supporting your argument so are we to just accept your argument as "fact" simply because YOU say so? :R

Sound off: It would take more effort to look it up to satisfy you.. And you are not worth the effort.Now you have a 48 page manual handy.. Where in that manual does it state that it's OK? If it does, YOU should post it for all to see.
You just stating it... In your own words.... Doesn't make it so.