Question about Frequencies of using Slides

[RVHopeful]

All,

I am curious, do you try to limit the number of times you open and close the slides on your RV. Class C is sitting in the Driveway prepping for a trip and we have the slides closed. Kids want to keep opening and closing to put things away. I want to wait to minimize the in and out. Am I over thinking this?

Thanks,
Larry

[paulwadley]

When loading or unloading I keep the slides closed. No need to open them at that point. Before opening them I usually level the motor home to keep the slides working evenly.

Paul

[JamieGeek]

Our slide in our 24.1 is tiny; I don't give it a 2nd thought about extending/retracting when I need to (I don't even level first--as long as the RV is on relatively flat ground and the frame isn't twisted it should be fine).

Looking at your floorplan you could extend them while home and leave them out while you load (no need to extend/retract/extend/retract/etc.). Those are pretty big so I'd level first.

An extra extension or two or ten won't hurt anything.

[Bob Denman]

We run our slides in and out as needed.
But we do try and make sure we've got good reasons to fire them up.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

We run our slides in and out as needed.

But we do try and make sure we've got good reasons to fire them up.

X2. If it’s going to break it might as well be now as two weeks from now!

[Hooligan2]

Agree with Pete above. Use it and if it breaks, fix it now instead of on the road. RV parked, plugged in, on pad at home, normally slide is out.
Also use the awning, almost daily in summer to keep sun off RV in afternoon. RV parked with AC on ( 87) . Never leave awning extended unless I'm there, even when camping...
5 years and 54k miles.

[EA37TS]

When prepping for a trip and unloading and cleaning after a trip the slides are extended until we’re done.

[Vibeman]

We have a big heavy full wall slide and I try to minimize the open/close cycles as much as possible. From a statistical durability aspect any mechanism has a maximum number of cycles it can withstand before failure. I feel by minimizing the cycles I will prolong the life of all affected components.