RV Slide Outs - Should You Do It?

RV slide outs, those boxes that slip out the sides of your RV to give you more room, are hot sellers. Just looking at them, though, you can already tell they can be trouble. Here’s a quick run down on the advantages and disadvantages of slide outs.

There are two major advantages of slide outs:

1. They give you more room, and who couldn’t use that in an RV. A slide out may mean the difference between eating in a hallway and being able to sit beside your sweetheart.
2. They increase the resale value of the RV. There’s huge demand for slide outs and your RV will sell faster and for more money if you have them.

Of course, along with the upsides, there are downsides. Most people will name these:

1. Weight – a slide out will weigh at least 600 lbs. Remember you have limited weight capacity. A slide out is largely non-usable weight that competes with you and the things you want to bring with you.
2. Balance – slide outs are on the side and generally positioned forward. That can make it tough to keep your RV on the level in parks.
3. Space – No matter the slide out design, you’ll lose inside and outside storage. That could be tough, especially if you’d like to RV full time.
4. Maintenance – A slide out changes the profile of your RV and interrupts the smooth skin. That means you’ll collect debris (leaves, needles, dirt) on top, debris that you’ll pull into your rig if you retract the slide without cleaning it off. It also means that you’ll have lots of seals and gaskets that can dry out or fail. And if they do, you’ll have the RVers worst nightmare – leaks.

Steps you can take if you want a slide out:

1. Look over the design before you buy. Watch the horizontal angle as the slide moves in and out. There will be minimal vertical movement in a well-designed slide out.
2. Choose slide outs strategically. If you get a slide out, choose one that increases space without adding too much weight. Don’t get slide outs that carry appliances, for example.
3. Keep the slide out clean. Make cleaning part of your routine for leaving camp. Or buy an automatic awning to cover the slideout.
4. Maintain, maintain, maintain. Most dealers will tell you that problem slide outs start with neglected maintenance. Keep your slide out in good condition and it will serve you.

What’s the net?

Bob Gummersall at RVersOnline.org ran a post on slideouts a few years ago and found mixed experiences. About 60% of the responses he received were from RV owners who had problems with slide outs. Half of them would not buy a slide out again.

Slide outs have improved since those days. And there’s a lot you can do to make your slide out safe and useful.