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Old 06-29-2022, 09:50 PM   #1
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THOR #25110
Full wall slide doesn't stay tight at the bottom

I just noticed that the bottom of the full wall slide on our 2018 Aria 3401 moves out a couple of inches when we travel. The top is still tight but I can put my fingers between the seal and the body of the coach. I talked to a repair shop who said they might be able to look at it in 90 to 120 days. I may have to do that but I wondered if anyone else had run into this problem and what the repair was? Thanks

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Old 06-29-2022, 10:13 PM   #2
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I just noticed that the bottom of the full wall slide on our 2018 Aria 3401 moves out a couple of inches when we travel. The top is still tight but I can put my fingers between the seal and the body of the coach. I talked to a repair shop who said they might be able to look at it in 90 to 120 days. I may have to do that but I wondered if anyone else had run into this problem and what the repair was? Thanks
Schwintek or some other slide?
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Old 06-29-2022, 10:20 PM   #3
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Schwintek
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Old 07-03-2022, 04:05 AM   #4
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Is it on both sides on the bottom or only one? Most likely it jumped on the gear. Horrible design. If you can open it look at the track on the side where it is sticking out. I bet you will see the track kind of tore up looking.
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Old 07-03-2022, 04:15 AM   #5
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There are stop locks to keep this from happening.
It's possibly normal(ish).
Crank it in, read about slide locks.
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Old 07-03-2022, 12:05 PM   #6
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It is both sides and equal. I checked the track and there is no visible damage to the outside ends when extended. Thanks
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Old 07-03-2022, 06:33 PM   #7
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Full wall slide doesn't stay tight at the bottom

If you are out of warranty, I would seriously consider having the Schwintek Slide Mechanism replaced with the Vroom Slide System. The Schwintek system is a horrible design for a heavy, full-wall slide.

I had the one replaced on my ‘20 Magnitude SV34 last October. The difference in performance, reliability and longevity is night and day.

The downside is they are booked out over 6 months I believe and it is now $500 - $700 more than I paid. But it would be worth the wait vs throwing good money after bad by repairing the Schwintek system when the chances are you will have other failures with it.
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Old 07-03-2022, 06:53 PM   #8
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It is both sides and equal. I checked the track and there is no visible damage to the outside ends when extended. Thanks

With the slide extended is the distance from the coach wall to the the end of the slide equal on both sides? Measure at the top track and measure at the bottom track. All four measurements should be within +/- 1/8 inch or so.
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Old 07-03-2022, 08:54 PM   #9
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Thanks. The coach is at Motorhome Specialists in Alvarado for some other work now and I'm not sure when I will get it back. I'll measure it when I get it back.
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Old 07-03-2022, 08:57 PM   #10
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Could be the upper and lower tracks are a tooth or two out of sync.
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Old 07-03-2022, 09:10 PM   #11
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They possibly could except it opens and closes all the way, tight all the way around. It's just the when closed it doesn't stay closed when I drive it or move it (like raising the back up with the jacks to do maintenance).
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Old 07-03-2022, 09:56 PM   #12
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I’ll bet a beer that your V rollers have failed on the bottom bearing blocks.

The weight of the slide should have rested on the rollers under the slide and yours probably wasn’t. The V rollers took the load of the slide and failed due to the weight. The V rollers help keep the bottom bearing block spur gear engaged with the track. Now your slide is resting on the rollers under the slide, the spur gear is not engaged and the bottom of the slide is free to move. The motors are bringing the slide in using just the top track and momentum/dead weight is causing the slide to seal all around the edges. As soon as you move the bottom of the slide rolls on the rollers under the slide, the top of the slide is held in place by the bearing block up top. I’ll stop there. Click image for larger version

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Old 07-03-2022, 10:06 PM   #13
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Thanks. How big a chore is it to replace those? I used to work on my old gear-driven slides on my 5th wheel but don't have any experience with these. I have read a lot about them and it scares me to death. I checked all the track screws for tightness and used the recommended spray on the tracks.
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Old 07-03-2022, 10:58 PM   #14
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I don't think you have a problem.

You need slide locks.
Many to most large slides come with them.
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Old 07-03-2022, 11:01 PM   #15
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Thanks. I can get to the front end when retracted but the back is flush against the rear cabinets, best I recall. When I get it back I'll look.
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Old 07-03-2022, 11:08 PM   #16
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Thanks. How big a chore is it to replace those? I used to work on my old gear-driven slides on my 5th wheel but don't have any experience with these. I have read a lot about them and it scares me to death. I checked all the track screws for tightness and used the recommended spray on the tracks.

No clue. There are many things where I say “hold my beer…watch this” and digging into the repair of the mechanics of the slide is not one of them. I have a reoccurring dream of me in the front yard with a full wall slide on top of me. Nope, ain’t going to happen…I’ve just begun to spend my retirement money.
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Old 07-04-2022, 12:33 PM   #17
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I don't think you have a problem.

You need slide locks.
Many to most large slides come with them.
Slide locks are used at top. It’s in tight. It’s the bottom that moves out. I guess he could use 2 locks, one on each bottom side if there is a place to use them. Mine wouldn’t have room at the rear.
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Old 07-04-2022, 12:34 PM   #18
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No clue. There are many things where I say “hold my beer…watch this” and digging into the repair of the mechanics of the slide is not one of them. I have a reoccurring dream of me in the front yard with a full wall slide on top of me. Nope, ain’t going to happen…I’ve just begun to spend my retirement money.
Can you get to the rear when it’s out?
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Old 07-04-2022, 12:43 PM   #19
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Yes, on the outside.
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Old 07-04-2022, 12:47 PM   #20
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I know at least one person who had an issue similar to this and it was caused because when it was assembled by Thor the bottom track was one tooth / groove off compared to the top. It was like that from factory and over time it accelerated the wear of key components.

That being said.....

The two major weaknesses of the Schwintek Slide Mechanism when it comes to a heavy, full-wall slide is the motor mounting and the V-Rollers. People have issues with the motor mount or V-Rollers.... they take them in to get them fixed.... and the problems eventually happen again.

The Vroom Slide System uses heavy duty bearings instead of nylon V-Rollers and the motor is mounted in place with four screws instead of one small set screw and four pins.

To the OP.... I would get a quote on the repair costs. I would not be spending anything over $500 - $1000 to get it fixed. I would be scheduling to have it replaced at Vroom in Tucson.... your only problem will be scheduling.
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