I have had 2 RVs with the Schwintek system. One was a Lance trailer with about an 8 foot slideout in the dining area. I had zero problems with that one. The other was a 2020 (Covid) Tiffin Wayfarer with about a 15 foot slideout. That one was nothing but trouble.The rack got so chewed up that the slide wouldn't. move. It was still under warranty so there was no out of pocket cost to me. But it took a month to get approval and more than a month for the dealer to get the parts. Before the parts came in I traded the Wayfarer in for a used 2017 (pre-Covid) Tiffin Breeze.. So far it has been a much more enjoyable experience.
Hi Rick. You don't hear much about that because most RVers only use the slide area when it is extended. But my guess would be that any slide can still be used when it's retracted. The appliances should still work and you can sit in the chairs and lay on the bed, etc.
Nicely done with helpful info. Do you have any recommendations for those of us with full wall slides and a Schwintek system? I already say a prayer when I extend/retract
Hi Robert. Good question. Since the slide system is pretty set at this point, I recommend that you keep a close eye on that slide and listen very carefully as it extends and retracts. Get to know what it should sound like very well and if you see or hear any irregularities, get someone to look at it right away before serious problems arise. And do your best not to overload that slide with heavy items in the meantime. And if you start to have chronic issues with that slide you might want to look into replacing it with a Vroom system. Several RVers have done that and solved their issues with overloaded Schwintek slides that way. You can read about it here - vroomslidesystems.com/
I haven't had a lot of personal experience it it myself. It's often seen as a replacement for the Schwintek system since it has been misused so frequently by RV manufacturers who love installing it on large and heavy slides to save money when it wasn't really designed for that application. And what I have heard and seen so far indicates that a lot of people are happy with the swap.
The Vroom slide system was invented mainly to solve some of the perceived shortcomings of Schwintek slide mechanisms. From what I hear they work very well and do improve the capability of the Schwintek. But if Schwintek is used as it is designed on smaller slides it usually doesn't present major problems. Unfortunately, some RV manufacturers have tried to use Schwintek on larger slides that it wasn't really designed for and it often fails in those cases.
Thanks Dwayne! We're about to get a GD Imagine with a Schwintek slide that has a couch and fridge in it. Im imagining this is pushing the limits of the schwintek mechanisms but my main question is whether we can sit in and utlilize the couch while the sldie is retracted. Im thinking of quick overnight stops where we wouldnt want to go through the whole leveling process to get the slide out. What are your thoughts?
As far as I know, sitting in the slide furniture while the slide is retracted is not a major issue. But be sure to keep an eye on that Schwintek slide with that kind of weight on it. If you start to hear anything out of the ordinary when extending or retracting it, get it checked out right away. Thanks for watching!
I have a slide system on my bedroom slide, that is below the bed and unseen. This is on an Arctic Fox fifth wheel. I didn't see you describe this kind of slide mechanism. What is this kind?
There are a couple different hidden mechanisms in use. But they aren't nearly as popular as the ones I described in this video. As far as I know the hidden systems seem to work fairly well, especially because they are usually found on smaller slide rooms.
Usually that is a sign that the system needs to be adjusted and serviced. Normally they should operate very precisely if everything is adjusted right. That's why I said in the video that this kind of system requires that you maintain it regularly to avoid bigger problems.
Dwayne...I am the owner of a small RV repair business. Slides are the biggest scam perpetrated on the American public since One Hour Martinizing. We dislike them with a passion and urge anyone buying an RV to stay away from them. The extra space you get is not worth the expense and too often the manufacturer cuts the hole off square from the beginning causing many issues down the road.
I understand your perspective. And slides can be problematic. But the cow is out of the barn already. The public is not going to give up the extra space that slides offer now. And my opinion is that if slide rooms are installed correctly they can operate just fine as long as they are maintained. I appreciate you sharing your opinion here though.
