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cmillsap · (This post was last modified: 05-09-2013 00:14 by cmillsap.)

Well, on our way home from picking up the coach, we noticed the problems shown in the pics below after retracting the slide this morning. Anyone have any insight as to what has happened here? I went on top and pushed the aluminum strip back flush. I didn't mess with the other problem shown in pic 2.
BTW, the slide seal is ok and inflated.

The slide was worked on at Parliament just before we picked it up. They replaced the two hydraulic slide cylinders with new ones from HWH.

davidbrady · 05-09-2013, 00:54

Chuck,

I don't know what that aluminum piece is. There are three aluminum sections that bolt to the top of the interior of the slide that act as a stop when the slide is extended, but the cross-section is different from what I'm seeing on your photos. Each of the three pieces is about 3' long but they don't have the 90 deg bend that I'm seeing in your pic (or that I think I'm seeing). Is the aluminum piece in your picture painted?

On the second photo it looks like there's a piece that's bent upward and painted gold. Is that piece aluminum or plastic? It almost looks like someone added an additional layer of trim to the top edge of the slide. I need more info.

cmillsap · 05-09-2013, 10:34

(05-09-2013 00:54)davidmbrady Wrote: Chuck,

I don't know what that aluminum piece is. There are three aluminum sections that bolt to the top of the interior of the slide that act as a stop when the slide is extended, but the cross-section is different from what I'm seeing on your photos. Each of the three pieces is about 3' long but they don't have the 90 deg bend that I'm seeing in your pic (or that I think I'm seeing). Is the aluminum piece in your picture painted?

On the second photo it looks like there's a piece that's bent upward and painted gold. Is that piece aluminum or plastic? It almost looks like someone added an additional layer of trim to the top edge of the slide. I need more info.

David,
I was afraid to extend the slide last night for fear of doing more damage. I have no ladder and no tools, so I'm kinda winging it to get home. We're in texas presently.

The aluminum piece is very thin and has a radius. I was on top again this morning trying to get a better look. It appears the slide's corner trim piece is broken at about the awning pull down strap and has been bent backward under the rolled up awning? I think it is about an inch wide.

davidbrady · (This post was last modified: 05-09-2013 11:10 by davidbrady.)

Chuck,

Is it the trim piece that's circled in my attachment below that pulled off? It'd be pretty tough to pull that piece off, but I suppose if the awning caught an edge it might be possible. How did the dislodged aluminum strip occur?

Thanks Chuck,

I see. It looks like the awning caught the trim piece and pulled it away from the slide body. It may have occurred during a slide retraction with a fully extended awning. The awning caught the trim and dislodged it. For folks who don't know, the awning arms are attached to the outside face of the slide body, so the awning extends automatically with the slide. This forms an awning "topper" that protects the roof of the extended slideout body. From that position, a user can go outside to grab the awning loop to further extend the awning into it's fully deployed position.

Chuck,

I would probably get on the phone with Zip Dee to see if they have a service location near where you are. Maybe they can unroll the awning to dislodge the aluminum strip. Then you can unscrew the aluminum trim strip and remove it.

csprenger · 05-09-2013, 12:56

(05-09-2013 10:34)davidmbrady Wrote: Chuck,

Is it the trim piece that's circled in my attachment below that pulled off? It'd be pretty tough to pull that piece off, but I suppose if the awning caught an edge it might be possible. How did the dislodged aluminum strip occur?

Thanks Chuck,

I see. It looks like the awning caught the trim piece and pulled it away from the slide body. It may have occurred during a slide retraction with a fully extended awning. The awning caught the trim and dislodged it. For folks who don't know, the awning arms are attached to the outside face of the slide body, so the awning extends automatically with the slide. This forms an awning "topper" that protects the roof of the extended slideout body. From that position, a user can go outside to grab the awning loop to further extend the awning into it's fully deployed position.

Chuck,

I would probably get on the phone with Zip Dee to see if they have a service location near where you are. Maybe they can unroll the awning to dislodge the aluminum strip. Then you can unscrew the aluminum trim strip and remove it.

You can find an authorized Zip Dee Dealer just by calling our Customer Service department at 800-338-BEST (2378). No automated voicemail at Zip Dee, our phones are answered in person. Just ask for Customer Service and tell them what State you are in or going to, and they will direct you to the best Zip Dee Dealer in that area.

al perna · (This post was last modified: 05-09-2013 20:44 by al perna.)

Chuck . I have started the repair on my LXI with the same issue . The first part involves removing the arms that support the awning . I removed one at a time . when removing the screws, Start in the middle where the 2 pieces join together . you need to start on the end so you can move the trim away from the screws which are still in place .

this is as far as I have made it , there seems to be some sort of epoxy under the trim. it looks like the end wall is joined together creating a seem .

so I plan to flatten out where the trim tore thru the screws , so the screw will hold it down firmly along with the epoxy.

any ideas on what adhesive should be used ?

davidbrady · 05-09-2013, 22:03

Hi Al,

Definitely a humidity curing urethane based product like Sikaflex 221. Have you checked your awning for excessive sag in the center? I can't quite grasp how the awning latches onto the slide body corner trim. I imagine new corner trim is available from HWH. Maybe you can get it w/o holes drilled so that you can place your own.

Speaking of adhesives (and tapes). For the black plexiglass headlamp surrounds on the LXi, I use a 3M VHB tape to adhere the plexigass to the fiberglass backing. This way you stand a chance of separating the two if you wish to at some future time: 3M VHB Double Sticky Tape.

cmillsap · (This post was last modified: 05-09-2013 23:39 by cmillsap.)

David,

Any ideas as to how this can happen. We have operated the slide three times since we bought the coach. We did not extend the slide awning.

We stopped in OK to have the coach washed. Tela yelled that the window treatment was getting wet when they were power washing it.

Once outside the wash bay we started looking for the reason that the water had come inside and found this problem.

The PO claims he never had a problem, he is guessing this probably happened when Parliament was working on the slide recently. We'll probably never know when it happened.

Al,

Thanks for the information you have provided.
I would appreciate knowing how your repair is going and any more information & direction as to the procedure you used to repair your slide.
You should have my email address.

Chuck

davidbrady · (This post was last modified: 05-10-2013 10:13 by davidbrady.)

Chuck,

I'm away from my coach so I can't take a look at how close the bottom edge of the awning c-channel (part number 1 in the attached parts list) is to the top of the slideout body. Here's a Zip Dee Slideout Awning parts list:

.pdf

ZipDee Slideout Awning Parts.pdf (Size: 1.67 MB / Downloads: 1011) , and

two Zip Dee instruction sheets for taking Slideout Awning measurements:

.pdf

ZipDee Slideout Awning on Flat Slides.pdf (Size: 168.56 KB / Downloads: 770)

.pdf

ZipDee Slideout Awning on Curved Slides.pdf (Size: 172.02 KB / Downloads: 725)

They both spec a minimum distance between the awning c-channel (the part that's fastened to the coach body) and the top of the slideout body of 4 to 5 inches. It'd be worthwhile to see where BB placed the channel.

cmillsap · (This post was last modified: 05-11-2013 00:44 by cmillsap.)

(05-09-2013 20:35)al perna Wrote: Chuck . I have started the repair on my LXI with the same issue . The first part involves removing the arms that support the awning . I removed one at a time . when removing the screws, Start in the middle where the 2 pieces join together . you need to start on the end so you can move the trim away from the screws which are still in place .

this is as far as I have made it , there seems to be some sort of epoxy under the trim. it looks like the end wall is joined together creating a seem .

so I plan to flatten out where the trim tore thru the screws , so the screw will hold it down firmly along with the epoxy.

any ideas on what adhesive should be used ?

Al,

Thanks for the information. Once the arms are detached from the slide body; did you completely remove the arms from the roller or were you able to swing them up and away from the slide to allow the slide to be extended without the awning extending also? I was concerned about detaching the arms due to the spring tension on the roller.

It sure appears that if the slide is retracted with the awning fully extended; the awning material applies pressure on the slide top corner trim piece. It's obviously enough pressure to tear that trim piece from the slide. I extended the awning with the slide retracted this morning and watched as the trim piece unrolled from between the rolls of the awning material.
Below are better pics of my slide trim damage after I unrolled it this morning

Funny thing tho, I didn't notice it when I inspected the coach before I bought it and I had never extended the awning; just the slide only. It was probably done some time in the past and the PO didn't even realize it.

As regards the proper adhesive, David says to use Sikaflex221 in a previous post.
Al, I suspect if you are able to straighten the original trim piece; it probaply will require new screws in new screw locations?

(05-10-2013 10:07)davidmbrady Wrote: Chuck,

I'm away from my coach so I can't take a look at how close the bottom edge of the awning c-channel (part number 1 in the attached parts list) is to the top of the slideout body. Here's a Zip Dee Slideout Awning parts list:
, and

two Zip Dee instruction sheets for taking Slideout Awning measurements:

They both spec a minimum distance between the awning c-channel (the part that's fastened to the coach body) and the top of the slideout body of 4 to 5 inches. It'd be worthwhile to see where BB placed the channel.

Thank you David, for the information. It is very helpful in determining how the awning works. The c-channel probably needs to be that high to acommodate the known diameter of the rolled awning material. Most slides extend less than 24" and the awning extension length is determined by the length of the extension arms.

See the more recent photos of the trim damage which I posted below.

You know, I don't think I ever read a post describing this issue as a way to potentialy damage your slide.
I am surprised that this issue is not a common occurance as many owners may not be aware that they must first retract the awning extension before retracting the slide.