Any full wall slide Trax issues

[mrgscooter]

Awhile back Thor was having issues with their full wall slides with 2 tracks and then changed to 3 tracks i.e. Trax. I was wondering if that resolved the original issues. Any reason to avoid a full wall slide?

[Lt Keefer]

I have one and in the 6 years I've owned it not a single problem.

[Vibeman]

We have one too. Purchased almost new in 2019. The slide has never failed to open or close properly.

[EA37TS]

Yes, some people are still having problems with the triple Trax slides. Thor went to that system around 2015 and to my knowledge hasn’t made any changes since. Recently many folks have been upgrading to the Vroom system at their own expense.

Use the search feature to read all about it.

[Mlleml]

2018 Windsport 29M
6 years and no issues

[Cwalther]

Just purchased a new Thor Mirimar 35.2 motorhome. It has a full wall slide on the driver's side. As we were getting ready to leave the dealership, the slides bound up while sliding in. Complete lockup with creaking, groaning and popping. Dealer techs immediately contacted Thor to open a claim. Luckily, the Thor representative was due to be there on the next Monday, so they tore into it and determined what needed to be replaced. Just hoping this isn't an omen to future issues. Should take delivery next week and will let yall know how it works out.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Let me guess. It's a Schwintek slide system. They discovered one of the motors popped up off the bearing block (the popping noise) which disengaged the motor drive gear.

Sorry for your luck, but that IS a bad omen. Being a BRAND NEW coach, I suspect there's a major flaw in the slide installation. It could be a number of things, but everything being plumb and square is critical.

P.S. If this is NOT a Lipper Schwintek slide system, please ignore the above.

[RACarvalho]

Originally Posted by Cwalther

...Luckily, the Thor representative was due to be there on the next Monday, so they tore into it and determined what needed to be replaced. Just hoping this isn't an omen to future issues. Should take delivery next week and will let yall know how it works out.

In my MH we have two 3trax systems.
The drivers side (slide with dinette and sofa) has being working w/o problems since new (4 years).
The Passenger side is the full wall slide and it started binding on the second year. Thor Warranty diagnosed the factory installed it out of specs and the entire system was changed under warranty. It has being working flawlessly since then (2 years).

[macdaddy1111]

Originally Posted by mrgscooter

Awhile back Thor was having issues with their full wall slides with 2 tracks and then changed to 3 tracks i.e. Trax. I was wondering if that resolved the original issues. Any reason to avoid a full wall slide?

My liptard slides sux! Living room slide rebuilt 3 times. Has 3 rails and plates now with new motors

Bedroom slide getting entire setup replaced next week be 3rd set
Love the warranty! We just go with flow. We ues rig all the time
Was doing it this week but had quad bypass on macdaddy engine instead. Just got home! High as a kite!

[Jimbo57]

First of off Best wishes for speedy recovery macdaddy 1111. We have full 3 track slide, bottom sticks out 3/4” more then top and I can see pop riviots on front frame are new and it’s a crapshoot weather it will go in or out first try. This slide has table, kitchen, fridge, food pantry pullouts, washer and dryer. My opinion to much weight

[macdaddy1111]

Yeah, the whole silde setup is a mess. It shouldn't be.
You think they bust out some real steel stock and motors that run for years and years. The worst plan obselatents design. Have 3.5 years on warranty and we done with this rig.

Thanks! MacDaddy had his sildes rebuilt. Glad I am not front man anymore! My heart had couple lbs scar tissue jacking me up. 7 hours with engine off having it rebuilt.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by macdaddy1111

Thanks! MacDaddy had his sildes rebuilt. Glad I am not front man anymore! My heart had couple lbs scar tissue jacking me up. 7 hours with engine off having it rebuilt.

Get well soon! Hope the ticker is good as new..... and it works much better than your slide does!!!!!!

[macdaddy1111]

Originally Posted by Judge

Get well soon! Hope the ticker is good as new..... and it works much better than your slide does!!!!!!

The Judge in the house! Woot!

Maded my Day!

Will connect when not flying high as kite.

Am doing great, Blood pressure of an 18 old without meds!

[AA+DK]

we are 2 years in and having constant issues- if they don't completely rebuild the slide- don't accept delivery. we've spent $10K and been to three repair shops. we've been told the slide was installed improperly- I'm sorry to say this but you should look for another coach unless the coach goes back to Thor for a complete rebuild.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by AA+DK

we are 2 years in and having constant issues- if they don't completely rebuild the slide- don't accept delivery. we've spent $10K and been to three repair shops. we've been told the slide was installed improperly- I'm sorry to say this but you should look for another coach unless the coach goes back to Thor for a complete rebuild.

If anyone is quote a Schwintek repairover $2000 they should NEVER spend that kind of money. At ~$5000 you can have a Vroom Slide System installed and not have to worry about it again.


Heck..... I would have charged you $8000, took your coach to Vroom to have their slide system installed and pocketed about $1200 - 1500 after travel expenses.

[Jimbo57]

I’m set for slide replacement with Vroom system . They are booked till end of July , should take one day and I take it to Az for install. Quote is $4500 but I did not want to throw money on a system that doesn’t work hoping something will change

[AA+DK]

doesn't the Vroom system use the same track, same motors and the same frame? the only difference we can see is a quick release pull in feature- are we wrong? We have definitely considered it- we've heard good things about them but they are so busy it's hard to get answers. We've also heard that it's hard to get parts. We were quoted $7000 for same time frame. We were under impression it's $4500 per side- and you have to do both sides.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by AA+DK

doesn't the Vroom system use the same track, same motors and the same frame? the only difference we can see is a quick release pull in feature- are we wrong? We have definitely considered it- we've heard good things about them but they are so busy it's hard to get answers. We've also heard that it's hard to get parts. We were quoted $7000 for same time frame. We were under impression it's $4500 per side- and you have to do both sides.

Doesn't the Vroom system use.....


The same track - Hell no!!!!! They make their own heavy duty track with wider and deeper gear groves. Instead of needing three tracks Vroom only needs two tracks. The three tracks Schwintek added was a weak attempt to hiding their design flaws.


The same motors - Yes and no. These are standard motors used across a variety of applications. The core part of the motor is also used in SlimRack Slide Mechanisms. Vroom takes the stock motor and installs a different housing so it is firmly mounted with 4 bolts instead of a single set screw to hold the motor down and in place.


The same frame - Hell no!!!! They make their own H-columns and use heavy duty bearings for the track to ride on instead of crappy nylon / plastic rollers. They also add a more robust bearing block and pinion gear.


The only difference we can see is a quick release pull in feature - No!!!! The design of their own H-column and motor mounting mechanism allowed them to create the quick motor disengagement feature to manually push in the slide in the event of a complete motor or power failure.



You should see the piles of junk Schwintek hardware at their shop after ripping out the entire mechanism on a slide. They do so many it was piled high last time I stopped by there. I'm guessing they take it to the scrap yard for a few bucks.... or maybe they resell it to RV shops who repair Schwintek slides!



I don't know if you are in southern or northern California but they are in Tucson and they have a distributor in southern California. It would have been easy to get your coach down. I'm on the east coast and would drive to Tucson without giving it a second thought.

You only have to do the slides that are a problem. It is ~$5000 per slide. If you have a very small slide... like a bed slide, the Schwintek Mechanism can work ok for small slides with minimal weight. But if you want all your slides to be as reliable as possible, I would replace them all.... but that's just me.

Vroom Slides are in high demand so there is a good 6 - 9 month wait if you deal directly with them last time I checked. Their distributors get parts slower because of the demand and Vrooms ability to keep up with manufacturing.

[Jimbo57]

Originally Posted by AA+DK

doesn't the Vroom system use the same track, same motors and the same frame? the only difference we can see is a quick release pull in feature- are we wrong? We have definitely considered it- we've heard good things about them but they are so busy it's hard to get answers. We've also heard that it's hard to get parts. We were quoted $7000 for same time frame. We were under impression it's $4500 per side- and you have to do both sides.

My understanding is both sides of same slide is $4500 extra would be if rollers or plates roll on need replacement. When current Shwintec system is out ,slide is about 1-1/2” off floor but when retracted or closed there is not 1/4” gap off floor bench the reason the bottom sticks out 3/4” on outside

[MLP]

Originally Posted by Jimbo57

My understanding is both sides of same slide is $4500 extra would be if rollers or plates roll on need replacement. When current Shwintec system is out ,slide is about 1-1/2” off floor but when retracted or closed there is not 1/4” gap off floor bench the reason the bottom sticks out 3/4” on outside

Judge, would have done just that, but the wife's health does not allow us to go more than three hours away max. So were are stuck with the OEM. For those who want to know, the outfit in San Diego is RV Specialists.