Newby with lots to learn

[Mark from Las Vegas]

Hi:

I am new to this forum and have recently ordered a Chateau 25M.

I am reading everything I can find on motorcoaches.

One interesting topic that I found was about retracting slides in the rain.

Do you have to wait until it stops raining to retract a slide or is there a
technique to do so while it is still raining?

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Mark from Las Vegas

Hi:

I am new to this forum and have recently ordered a Chateau 25M.

I am reading everything I can find on motorcoaches.

One interesting topic that I found was about retracting slides in the rain.

Do you have to wait until it stops raining to retract a slide or is there a
technique to do so while it is still raining?

Here in Texas I never leave a slide or awning out if rain is expected unless I am around to monitor.. If the wind is expected to be below 20 knots with no rain, the slides stay out when we are gone from the coach. We are prone to gusty conditions in TX most of the year. If we are in the coach with slides out and there is little wind we leave the slides out in the rain. I have never has ponding on the toppers even in the Florida downpours.


My 18ft patio awning is the problem, even though the coach is parked on a grade (front-up) water wicks about 8 ft into the rear of the awning. Putting the awning out for about 20 minutes in the sun will completely dry the awning. The slide's toppers do not seem to wick moisture like the patio awning.

[Lt Keefer]

I never retract my slide when it rains. Doing so would make my floorplan unusable so I doubt the manufacturer intended for it to be turtled every time it rains. That being said, I only leave my awning out when it is not raining or windy. My awning does have a sensor to retract the awning in the wind but I usually retract it. I also open my awning after every rain to let it dry out. Not doing that in the past led to mold and staining on the underside of the awning.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Mark from Las Vegas

Hi:

I am new to this forum and have recently ordered a Chateau 25M.

I am reading everything I can find on motorcoaches.

One interesting topic that I found was about retracting slides in the rain.

Do you have to wait until it stops raining to retract a slide or is there a
technique to do so while it is still raining?

I have never, repeat, never retracted a slide because of rain. I only retract the slides if winds are above 35 or 40 mph depending on how the toppers are following.

Awning is retracted in high winds and when we are away from the coach. It stays extended in rain with light winds.

Never had a weather related issue.

[Elite Washington]

My response would be what would be the point of slides if you can use them in the rain? If you don’t have a slide topper I could see some issues maybe but we have never brought our slides in due to rain.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Elite Washington

My response would be what would be the point of slides if you can use them in the rain? If you don’t have a slide topper I could see some issues maybe but we have never brought our slides in due to rain.

My kitchen slide has no topper and it is never retracted due to weather. Wipe seals are installed for a reason, to wipe away moisture as the slide is retracted.

[Elite Washington]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

My kitchen slide has no topper and it is never retracted due to weather. Wipe seals are installed for a reason, to wipe away moisture as the slide is retracted.

I wouldn’t think there would be an issue without slide toppers. But that is the only reason that I could come up with on why someone might bring their slides if it was raining. It shouldn’t be an issue.

[Jimbo56]

Retract slides if it rains? Why? If I couldn’t use this thing , in the rain, with slides out, I wouldn’t own it. If winds are 30 to 40 mph, I wouldn’t be in it either.

[paulwadley]

I leave my slides out in the rain. I need the room and to make the coach usable. My awning goes in in windy conditions.


Paul

[Edensob]

Same here, awning in anytime we are away and any threat of concerning winds, and slides out. Heck we wouldn't have a bed without the slide and noisy in heavy rains, but that's camping!

[Pete'sMH]

I sometimes bring a slide in before it rains if we are packing up to go home and I can avoid having the topper roll up wet. Truthfully, I’m not really sure what value a slide topper adds. They are optional on many coaches and they actually can add issues if water or debris gets under it. My awning stays rolled up pretty much unless we’re actually sitting under it.

[Ottosails]

Welcome to the forum Mark from Las Vegas! Congrats on the new coach, when will you be getting it home?

[Mark from Las Vegas]

Hi:

On my last post, I did a poor job of wording my question.

My question is if we are ending our stay at a campsite and will be traveling to another town/state whatever and it is raining, do we need to wait until it stops raining to retract our slide to hit the road or is there a way to retract the slide while it is raining without flooding the interior of our rv?

[Lt Keefer]

Just put the slide in and go. My slide has never leaked, nor did the one in a previous coach.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Mark from Las Vegas

We have recently purchased a Chateau 25M. I have read everthing I can find about RV ownership. One item that I have not been able to find an answer for is listed below.

My question is if we are ending our stay at a campsite and will be traveling to another town/state whatever and it is raining, do we need to wait until it stops raining to retract our slide to hit the road or is there a way to retract the slide while it is raining without flooding the interior of our rv?

First, does the slide have a topper?

The slide should have a wipe seal which should keep rain water from entering the coach. If the wipe seal is allowing water to get inside replace the seal.

If the slide has a topper you should not have any issues retracting in the rain.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Mark from Las Vegas

Hi:

On my last post, I did a poor job of wording my question.

My question is if we are ending our stay at a campsite and will be traveling to another town/state whatever and it is raining, do we need to wait until it stops raining to retract our slide to hit the road or is there a way to retract the slide while it is raining without flooding the interior of our rv?

Your topper awning will protect you from most rains. It does tend to pond in heavy rains on full wall slides. The slide tension can be adjusted, somewhat to eliminate ponding on 14 foot or shorter toppers. Rolling up an patio awning or slide topper when wet, can lead to mildew if left wet for a couple days in a warm climate. It the slide's top wiper seals work as intended, there will be no water inside

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Mark from Las Vegas

Hi:

On my last post, I did a poor job of wording my question.

My question is if we are ending our stay at a campsite and will be traveling to another town/state whatever and it is raining, do we need to wait until it stops raining to retract our slide to hit the road or is there a way to retract the slide while it is raining without flooding the interior of our rv?

No you don’t need to wait

[16ACE27]

Here's a hint for packing up after a rain with a passenger slide that tends to have the topper/awning pond - close the door before retracting the slide. Voice of experience talking.

[Mark from Las Vegas]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

Just put the slide in and go. My slide has never leaked, nor did the one in a previous coach.

Thank you for the response. We do have a tooper.

[Elite Washington]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Here's a hint for packing up after a rain with a passenger slide that tends to have the topper/awning pond - close the door before retracting the slide. Voice of experience talking.

Ha I have learned that lesson the same way oops