By: Bob Gummersall November 2000

[Ed Note 10/2011] There a a very few articles at this site that are retained primary for historical value -- and this is one. The question is still asked, and this would have been considered the "right" answer when written. However slide mechanisms have improved considerably over the years; and the resale value of non-slide units is dramatically lower.]

When I wrote the first article on slideouts in November of 1998, motorhome delivery statistics showed that over 70% of the new units were being built with a slideout. The demand for slideout models has increased to where the most recent statistics show that over 90% of new Motorhomes have one or two slideouts. My wife and I have enjoyed 50,000 relatively trouble free miles in our non-slideout Monaco Dynasty and would make the same decision today. Designs have improved significantly in the intervening two years, but there are still only two positives and many negatives. An updated listing is provided later. You might conclude from that statement, that Motorhome owners are masochistic.

I have had hundreds of emails from readers on this subject and I promised that I would up date this article and pass on the unscientific statistics. 60 % of respondents reported little or no trouble but general satisfaction. 20% reported significant problems but still some satisfaction. 12% reported significant trouble and they have traded for a new rig. But surprisingly in this group all bought newer slideout models. 8% reported significant problems and switched to non-slideout coaches. The most satisfied respondents owned Newmar, Country Coach, Monaco and Allegro brand motorhomes. The respondents with the most dissatisfaction owned entry-level motorhomes.

For those of you who are deciding whether to slide or not to slide, I have updated the original article below.

The Positives:

Living Space There is not question that the added 40 to 80 square feet provides more living space since it is provided in the middle of the prime living area. New Coaches with an additional bedroom slide provide more space to get around the bed and perhaps the possibility to place the bed across the width of the coach.

Resale Value If current trends continue, comparable used motorhomes with a slideout or two will fetch a slightly higher percentage of initial purchase price than ones without any slideout.

The Negatives:

Weight Each slideout adds over 800 lb. to the non-usable weight of the coach and therefore takes away from the precious Net Carrying Capacity. In some coaches the slideouts add over 1500 lb. Many new coaches have less than the necessary carrying capacity even without the slideout. A further difficulty is that the added weight is towards the front and on the street side. This makes it very difficult to balance the coach and hence handling is impaired. Even the new Ford Chassis at 20,500 lb. GVWR and the Workhorse Chassis at 22,000 lb GVWR will be challenged to carry this extra weight gracefully. I really question multiple slideouts on any Gas or Entry Level Diesel Chassis. Monaco, Country Coach, Foretravel, Holdiay Rambler, and others have added a tag axle to accommodate the added weight of slideouts. Manufacturers of luxury motorhomes have had trouble with overloading the front axle and tires.

Cost A slideout adds from $6,000 to $12,000 to the cost of the coach. Extended warranties on slideout models cost up to 30% more than without slideouts so someone know something about the risk of failure. Maybe we should pay attention to this concern.

Storage Space Loss With every slide-out design you lose both inside and outside storage space. For full timers, this is very precious space to give up.

Safety If you cut a large hole in any box there is a significant negative effect on the design integrity and strength. I have seen some slideout models where the sidewalls have sagged and the outside skin has delaminated or cracked because of the flexing at the critical corner points. If you have a serious accident and a roll over in a slideout model of any motorhome, the chance for serious injury significantly increase.

Wind Noise - Seal designs have improved but in most designs there is a noticeable wind noise right behind the driver. It is worse if you ride on the couch inside the slideout. Because of imperfect seals some slideouts cause a significant wind noise while the coach is in motion. Older slideout designs require the manual installation of some clamping devices to hold the slideout in while the coach is moving. Recent improvements employ a locking device that clamps in the top of the retracted slideout. This is just one more device that can fail.

Water and Dust Slideouts have gasket material that is used to keep the water and dust out. Because of the significant lineal distances that need to be sealed, this gasket material is very critical and must be installed correctly. Any misalignment of the slideout can cause serious damage to this gasket material. In the worst cases the slideout must be removed from the rig to put new seals in. In most slideout designs, there is an awning that automatically extends to cover the trough created by the roof of a slide-out. I know of many problems reported by people with slideout models of rain and dust damage caused by leaking gaskets. There are reports of damage to these awnings caused when slideout was being extended or retracted. There have also been reports of wind damage to these awnings because these particular awnings don't have a positive locking device. There is only one system I have seen that has some hope of providing a perfect seal when the slide is in and also when it is out. It uses an inflatable bladder, like a bicycle inner tube, that automatically inflates when the slide is extended or retracted and deflates during the moving process. This gasket system costs over $3000 just by itself and you will only find it one the most expensive luxury coaches and bus conversions.

Durability Slideouts use either electrical or hydraulic power to extend and retract and all have an emergency manual system to get you to the dealer if there is a failure. There is a law called the Murphy Law that states that if something bad is going to happen it will always happen at the worst possible time. I have witnessed a situation where a slideout mechanism failed at a campground, and the manual system would just not move the slideout. The owner borrowed and 4x4 fence post and used it with a four-wheel drive vehicle as a push rod, and literally pushed the slideout back into the coach, so that he could depart the campground and get to a service location. This action caused some superficial damage to the sidewall, but he did push it in. Keeping this mechanism operating can be a challenge. Just think about the vibration that Interstate 10 in Los Angeles can do to a large box placed in a whole in the side of motorhome with rubber gaskets. I also think that kitchen slideouts have significantly more durability issues caused by the required for flexible plumbing, electrical, and gas lines. It is hard enough to keep all the connections tight in a normal coach, just think about fixing a leaking flexible sewer pipe or dealing with a flexibly gas line.

Usability - The coach must be level for the slide to be used, or water will accumulate or the mechanism will bind. Not all campsites will accommodate the additional space required by a slideout. Newer campgrounds are designating slideout spaces that have a premium fee. Older campgrounds have learned to live with slideouts but I know of several cases where damage was caused to campground equipment by an extending slideout.

Cramped Drivers Seat - In many slideout designs, the wall of the retracted slideout significantly limits the space behind the wheel. Some designs will actually cause damage if the drivers seat is all the way back when the slide it retracted.

Summary - My basic position is still that it is not worth the negatives to get the few positives related to slideout model motorhomes. I would be interested in any feedback that you may want to offer, so send it to bobg@cmn.net. Please give the make, model, and year of the subject coach with your feedback. I'll continue the record satisfaction levels in slideout motorhomes and report back in 2002.

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