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How to Repair a Slideout Floor

Need help repairing a slideout floor? Over time, you may find that your slideout floor is beginning to wear out or get “spongy.”

I had a slight leak in my slideout that I didn’t see for awhile while it was in storage for the winter. When I got it ready to go on the road, I discovered the leak and fixed it.

Unfortunately, the dripping water got onto the slideout floor and caused it to degrade. When I stepped on that part of the floor, it felt spongy. I didn’t want it to get worse so I took it into my local repair shop for an estimate on what it would take to fix it.

The repair shop was not wild about doing the job so they gave me a very high estimate to remove the slide and replace the floor. Since I wanted to get my rig back on the road, I did a lot more research on options and found a way to fix it.

The repair turned out really well and saved me a ton of money. Learn how I made the repair by watching this video.

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Slide Out Roller Replacement

As your rig ages, you may need a slide out roller replacement.

While I try to do a lot of my own repairs whenever possible to save money, getting the rollers on the slide out replaced was a job I preferred to leave to the professional mechanics.

If the job is not done correctly, the slide out can become misaligned and will not ride smoothly in and out like it should.

A misaligned slide may also scratch your floor as it comes in or out so make sure that you know what you are doing if you try to make this repair yourself.

Since the rollers were replaced, my slide now comes in and out as smoothly as it did when the rig was new.

Watch the video below to learn what I found out during this process.

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RV 30 Amp AC Shoreline Repair

As your unit ages, you may find that your RV 30 Amp AC Shoreline needs to be repaired to keep it operating at peak performance.

Here are the steps I went through to repair my shoreline and keep it working in top condition.

When you live in the Southwestern part of the U.S. as I do, it is absolutely essential to have a working AC shoreline.

Learn more about this repair by watching this video.

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RV Travel to Mt Rushmore

Before the pandemic, one of our last fun RV trips was to the great state of South Dakota to explore the Mt Rushmore area.

Watch this video to see the awesome sights of Mt Rushmore National Park. If you are looking for a great place to take your RV, then Mt. Rushmore is an excellent place to go.

The park itself is beautiful and peaceful. Restaurants are plentiful and the South Dakota folks really know how to grill a great steak!

Be sure to explore the local caves if you have time as well as the Dakota “Bad lands.”

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Riverside RV Park Tour

Let’s take a tour of the Riverside Casino RV Park in Laughlin, Nevada.

If you are looking for a fun place to get some fun and sun, you can’t beat the Riverside Casino RV Park. Located on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada, this park has nice, wide parking spaces, a shuttle to and from the casino and access to many restaurants along the casino boardwalk.

You can also take a boat ride on the Colorado or swim in the river in Lake Mohave. If more excitement is your style, you can go water-skiing or rent a jet-ski and cruise the river if that is your kind of fun.

If you get bored, a 90 minute drive will take you directly into Las Vegas.

Watch this video to learn more about this fun and interesting park.

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How to Repair an RV Low Point Water Leak

One of the problems that I had with my rig was an RV low point water leak. The problem happened when I tried to connect my water line to an external water source.

The leak made it so I was not able to pressurize my water tank. This was a problem when we wanted to take our rig out on the road for a long weekend so I needed to find a way to repair it.

Please note that every rig is designed differently so what I did may not be the best solution for repairs to your rig. My hope, however, is that seeing what I did to repair my coach, will help you think about your own rig and help you find a way to get your problem solved in the best way possible.

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5th Wheel Electric Slide Out Motor Repair

In April 2008, I began having living room slide problems with my 2000 Alfa Leisure fifth wheel. I have attempted to repair it on several occasions. In October 2010, the living room slide out finally quit working altogether. Since I like to go RVing and take my canine friends and sometimes even a grand kid with us,  I had to get this problem finally resolved.  I was rather surprised at the the RV shops in my area who were afraid to tackle this problem. I do realize that every fifth wheel manufacturer probably has a different way to get slide outs extended and retracted so maybe this is why they were reluctant.  I know that some are hydraulic and others use an electric motor. Alfa Leisure went out of business about the same time I started having trouble with my slide out. I have gotten a lot of incorrect information from a lot of different sources on slide outs. No one knows much about how Alfa slide outs work because Alfa Leisure is now defunct.  As such, they can no longer be contacted for information or assistance.

I bought this fifth wheel when it was brand-new so I do have the owner’s manual. Luckily, this manual gave me some key information. This helped me identify where you could buy a motor replacement for a slide out. I also learned that my 2000 Alfa fifth wheel doesn’t have a electronic brake nor does it have a limit switch. I have also learned that the slide out does not have to be removed from the fifth wheel in order to replace the motor. In order to replace the motor, it must be separated from the transmission first and then replaced. The slide out in the bedroom area is totally different and will be discussed in another post later on.

I found my slide out motor located very close to the port or the hole where you put your crank to manually to extend your slide out. I had to take out some of the sheet metal underbelly away to be able to expose this area. The RBW site may be able to provide more information and they can also provide the gears if you have a broken one in your transmission. I have noticed that if you have an older RV, especially a fifth wheel trailer, trying to get work performed on your rig it’s getting more difficult even for the repair shops who specialize in vehicles from your particular manufacturer. I guess this is understandable since parts eventually are no longer available for some coaches.  If you have a problem with your slide out, I would recommend that you do a lot of research on the internet about what repair shop might be the best for your particular brand of coach.  If you have an owners manual,  go through it with a fine tooth comb. If you can’t find one who specializes in your brand of coach, talk to several RV repair facilities in your area to find out who can repair your coach appropriately.  Remember that all RV’s may not be the same even if it the same make and model.

In my case, the motor and  in/out switch both were defective. I am also in the process of checking out the bedroom slide out. This slide is starting to hesitate a bit when I open and close it.  This is not a problem to have on the road for sure. A big thank you to RBW for all of their advice on how I could best solve this problem as well.

 

If there is any doubt about what motor goes in your coach, I suggest you call RBW at 800 451-7821  or e-mail techsupport@al-kousa.com to see if they can help you.
Remember that your own due diligence is always necessary in investigating your particular situation. I am not a technician, do not get compensation from any vendor and am not be responsible for any repairs you make to your own vehicle. I had good luck with seeking advice from RBW but your experience may differ so use your own best judgement before making repairs to your own slide-out units.

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Changing an RV Skylight

My 5th Wheel has a skylight in the shower to make the bathroom bright and sunny. Unfortunately, Alfa did not design my 5th Wheel for the intense heat of places like Arizona. As it was originally designed, my skylight was a milky white color which let in a great amount of light but it also permitted intense heat to enter this area as well. As a result, the bathroom was a stuffy and warm place to be during the summer. To help reduce the heat, yet still keep the bathroom bright and pleasant, I replaced the existing skylight with a smoke colored skylight. Since the color was like dark sun glasses, this permitted the sun to come shining through yet lessened the heat significantly. I have been very happy with the results and my bathroom is no longer hot and stuffy under the Arizona sun.

Have you ever tried to replace a SKYLIGHT on your RV? When I began searching for a replacement, I wanted a smoke colored unit at a reasonable price. The skylight in my coach is over my shower compartment. It was originally a rectangular, white, plastic dome fastened to the roof with screws . The screws are covered with the white self-leveling caulk. In looking at my service manual, I found that the official size from manufacturer was 25.5in X 33.5in. I found several high price alternatives costing up to $600 which was outside of my budget. I called Alfa (unfortunately, Alfa is now out of business) who had a white replacement skylight for $120 which was just like the original part that was in my coach. I was able to locate another vendor: G S Plastics 25837 Borg Road Elkhart, IN 46514 Phone: 574 262-1527. At the time I last checked, they have 2 color choices: white and bronze white for under $100 including shipping. The vendor does not accept credit cards however, so you have to send a check for your purchase. I mailed the check to them for the purchase price and received the new skylight unit within 2 weeks.

Installation was easy and fast and the bronze white color that I had chosen significantly reduced the heat. The light was toned down a bit but still bright and acceptable. Although my coach is equipped with a pull-across blind in the top of the shower, I doubt many people would be able to see into the shower compartment from up above anyway. Since the skylight was darker, it also made it less obvious at night when someone was using the bathroom. I have been very happy with this change and would recommend it to anyone who spends a significant amount of time in parts of the country where the heat is strong and intense such as it is in Arizona.

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Which is Better: A Gas or Diesel Tow Vehicle?

As an RV owner, I have used both gas and diesel tow vehicles. This experience has led me to the conclusion that diesel tow vehicles have more torque at lower RPM than do gas engines. What does this mean for you as an RV driver? It means that if you go up a steep grade, a diesel tow vehicle will pull your RV at Highway speeds while a gas engine will often bog down when climbing steep hills. This can mean that you are slowing to a crawl until you can reach the summit of the hill.

Here are the advantages that I have found to buying a diesel tow vehicle:
1. Better fuel economy. With my diesel truck I get double the mileage per gallon of fuel as compared to the fuel economy I got with my gas powered tow vehicle.
2. My diesel vehicle came equipped with air brakes. This making your truck brakes and tow vehicle braking system last longer and operate more safely.
3. The pulling power needed to get the job done.

Here are the disadvantages of purchasing a diesel tow vehicle: :
1. The overall cost of a truck with a diesel engine is higher. .
2. Getting diesel fuel takes a bit more effort than it does to find gasoline. I have found that in most places, diesel fuel is readily available at area gas stations.
3. Repairs should really be done by a diesel mechanic. This might be difficult since certified diesel mechanics require specialized training. Depending on where you live, local diesel mechanics may be in high demand so you may have to wait to get any needed repairs completed in a timely manner.
If you have a larger RV that has some significant weight to it, there is no question that diesel is the the best way to ensure that your rig tows easily and without bogging down on hills.

The size of the engine can also matter with respect to your towing power and the options that may be included with your standard vehicle purchase. I switched from a Ram 2500 to a Ram 3500 this past year. When buying my new vehicle, I found that getting the heavy duty options that suited my rig came standard on a 3500 while on the 2500 model, these features required additional costs. . The ease of pulling my 5th wheel with my 3500 is exceptional. I have the pulling power to easily pull my rig up hills and pass slow moving vehicles that I would never have been able to pass in my old gas engine Ram truck. Owning a diesel powered vehicle has definitely improved our RV experience and made our travel much less stressful for our whole family.