Broken anti-billowing arm on slide topper

[jwsweitzer@gmail.com]

2012 36TKSB3 Mobile Suite
Brand new problem(11 year full time rver)-Rolling out the living room slide on my camper, as you know it's hydraulic & moves quickly; I hadn't initially noticed that the top of the slide was tipping in until (I assume) the billowing arm broke and the slide fell into it's normal position while extending with a crash. I went outside and found the anti-billowing arm broken and laying on the ground. I carefully extended the slide to its fully extended position and checked the slide and topper. Slide appears ok & topper also looks as normal.

Questions I have are:
- How the arm could have gotten hung up & on what.
- Has anyone else experienced this?
- What do I need to check out or worry about?
- Watching the installation video, it's not obvious to me that the arm itself provides any function & unless I need to tighten the topper or replace the entire assembly I don't need to replace it.

Informed comments please.

[golf-bears]

I wouldn't be driving down the highway without a new anti billowing arm in place. Your topper could unwind and then you'd have a real problem. Call DRV parts and get a new anti billowing arm.

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by golf-bears

I wouldn't be driving down the highway without a new anti billowing arm in place. Your topper could unwind and then you'd have a real problem. Call DRV parts and get a new anti billowing arm.

I believe DRV does not install them or even has them as an option. I think it is only a dealer add on.

[golf-bears]

I broke an anti billowing arm a few years ago and got a replacement part from DRV. Just call the parts department and they'll take care of getting a new arm for you.

[Cummins12V98]

One more reason to NOT have slide out toppers. IMHO

[jwsweitzer@gmail.com]

Thanks, I'm going to install a new one. I appreciate the feedback.

[Porthole]

Originally Posted by jwsweitzer@gmail.com

Rolling out the living room slide on my camper, as you know it's hydraulic & moves quickly; I hadn't initially noticed that the top of the slide was tipping in until (I assume) the billowing arm broke and the slide fell into it's normal position while extending with a crash.

Mine did that in the DRV service center parking lot. Top trim had to be replaced, painted, some body damage and the topper was replaced by DRV while in for other service.

[MS60ocb]

You got me.
What is the anti-billowing arm broken?
Picture?

[rynosback]

Originally Posted by MS60ocb

You got me.
What is the anti-billowing arm broken?
Picture?

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/par...do-197128.html

[Porthole]

Originally Posted by MS60ocb

You got me.
What is the anti-billowing arm broken?
Picture?

This is what mine looked like after failing.

Picture with 2 arrows, red is pointing to the device, blue points to the end that should be near the stop when closed (yellow arrow in second picture)

[MS60ocb]

Thanks I had not seem that. Looks better than a rope tie down.
Clay

[aruiz305]

I know how you feel this is what I have to work with everything has to be replaced

[lhend50]

I have had a problem with one of these arms on one slide twice. First time, it jammed before I realized what happened and the topper literally jumped over the slide. Bent the arms and broke a tooth on the drive gear for the slide. They replaced both topper brackets, fixed the gear set, realigned the slide and sent me home. The second time I went to open slide, it started to do the same thing. This time I was going very slowly, but it still started to jump slide, again bent brackets. They replaced the brackets a second time, this time they said they were adjusted too tight, remember, they adjusted them. Since the second set, slide has worked fine, but, I am always nervous about opening that slide, go very slowly until I am sure it is extending as it should.

[cmills1334]

Have a 31w with the full slide. My topper was replaced 3 times what a joke two times by the same dealer and 3rd time by another expert now the topper is laying in the dirt. Had that same problem with the brackets bending and the topper wedging between the rig and slide.