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Slide Creep Analysis

Yahoo Message Number: 92023
Howdy Folks!

We clammed the bus up on Oct 21 heading out from Torrey after a 25 week stay. For those that never heard of Torrey (pop 180), it's in Utah. As I write, we're all backed in in St. George for the next some odd months. It's possible we may head out to another location this winter. Not sure about that yet.

The bus prep went pretty well other than me ripping a snap out trying to remove one of the window covers. That being on the bus side not the netting. The rear view camera also crapped out which might be nothing more than a bad connection. I had dealt with this some years ago and thought it was fixed. After we got backed in, the camera suddenly came on and is now fine. Nice stationary color picture of the field behind us.

Some time ago I had written a post on slide creep. On our bus the PS rear slide is HWH operated which means two hydraulic slave cylinders on each side with a common hydraulic feed. These should be self balancing left and right. Any who, last time we clammed up I noticed the HWH slide was burped out about 3/4" in the rear. Thinking the worst (leaking cylinder and/or hose issues), I adjusted the screw stops (both of which were finger tight). This restored proper alignment and so I breathed a sigh of relief. This slide was checked with the other one extended. Wait, there's more.

After readying things for travel, we always do an exterior inspection. It's good to check things like the hitch, slides, bay doors, propane valve, etc. Everyone knows the drill. So I noticed both rear slides were bumped out some 3/4" on the back edge. Seemed a bit odd since I could have sworn I fixed this problem. On our bus the PS rear side has two wooden moldings that run vertically. Obviously these wooden surfaces project into the living space. The rear one is in line with the bed platform and the forward one is clear. It turns out the idiots at CC didn't measure the bed platform (a hunk of plywood) properly. Its edge hits the wooden molding which proceeds to push out both slides along the back edges. The solution is to take the bed platform apart and remove the interfering wood. Either shorten it completely or notch it to create the extra room required to allow the slides to come completely in. So the perceived creep has nothing to do with the linear actuators on the slides. Both are working properly.

This is on my Mr. Fixit list so I'll take some pictures, document findings and present my solution for others to enjoy. The take away here is, check this first before assuming you have slide mechanism problems. My travel stop adjustment screws were loose so check those too. Me thinks fixing this shouldn't be difficult. I doubt any of the platform screws were ripped loose from bedroom activity but who knows.
Not sure what demons I'll release when the bed platform comes off. Safe travels.
--

Best - Scott

2006 Allure 430 40' #31349

(Bus-Stead Lemon) My Allure Page http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html

Re: Slide Creep Analysis

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 92066
Scott:

Maybe I'm confused....but I have to ask...if this wood on wood issue was "built in" wouldn't you have noticed it before now?
Maybe it is the hard landings on the platform after a two and a half twist off the trapeze? (maybe the platform has moved?)

Denis Vogel
06 Allure 31409
 

Re: Slide Creep Analysis

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 92082
Denis - This has been a small problem right from the beginning. I must confess to a measure of laziness on my part for not investigating it further. It never really prevented us from traveling or posed a safety issue. I just blew it off to a small misalignment in the linear actuator and/or return stop adjustment. Blankets and bedding also somewhat obscured seeing what was going on. It's in the far back corner. We usually put a bunch of crap on the bed so climbing up over it all just doesn't happen. Other details of getting the bus ready to travel have taken a priority. As you know, we stay for usually 6 months at a time in one location. That's two clam up cycles per year. Not much compared to others here. This go around I decided to take the extra time to investigate further. My observations are as written. I need to take off the one awning strap, clear the bedding away, clam up the slides and take some photos. I'm guessing the platform is either cocked off and/or too long. I'll know more soon and will report back with specifics. I just wanted to make mention of this just in case someone else (like me) was thinking actuators, hydraulics and stops.
It's rare that problems are less severe than anticipated. This is one of those rare moments.

Right now I've got 6 other projects going that are a bit more important. That to include redoing the the bottom slide trim (kitchen slide now). HUGE PITA!! This is weather dependent so I'm doing that first. I just finished stripping all the paint off today and doing the Alodine prep. It's about 10 hours of work. Next is masking and spraying a couple of coats of primer. Then the color coats and clear coat come.
For anyone interested in how this project got started, here's the link: http://www.muniac.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=126#Post126 The bedroom slide stuff can wait.

I also noticed the kitchen Corian isn't supported properly at the front right corner (as one faces the sink). This leads to flexing and eventually will break the side splash joint. I'll need to make some wooden spacers and epoxy them in place. Just another nuisance repair.
Not difficult or expensive. My backup camera is also on the fritz which is a safety issue. The van is in the shop for a new engine and trans.
That, unlike the bus, has run flawlessly for 240k miles and was still running perfectly when I took it in. Those engines (Ford Tritan 5.4 liter) are good for 250k to 300k miles. I'm being proactive with the make over only because we're in a great location to have this type of work done. The van did 30k last year. The bus did 500 miles. That's the update as of this moment. Safe travels.

Best - Scott

2006 Allure 430 40' #31349

(Bus-Stead Lemon) My Allure Page http://www.muniac.com/Allure%20Page.html