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It's sickening to read all the problems associated with the Schwintek slide systems on the large slides. As you can tell from my user name, we own a 2014 Thor Palazzo 33.2. The big slide failed 3 months after purchase the first time we tried to go on a trip. The Camping World technician spent 7-hours trying to free the stuck slide so it would fully retract and finally succeeded by using a long crow bar. Thor sent two motors and and the Camping World techs installed them and "realigned" the slide and rollers. It worked for one short trip to Atlanta for the 2014 Petit Lemans and another short trip to our regional church conference later the same year. When I say "worked" I mean it struggled but succeeded in retracting the slide but almost hung up again at the same spot every time we tried closing it.
In June, I put the slide out to lubricate the gaskets and noted the teeth on the lower slide rail on the front of the big slide was badly worn - to the point of being knife-edge sharp and very thin. I got the slide closed and took it to Camping World who inspected the slide and agreed that the rail needed to be replaced. Thor wouldn't do anything for us but luckily, we had purchased a Good Sam extended warranty and they covered the repairs (except for a $299.00 postage charge delivery of the repair parts) (Thank you Good Sam!). I never did get a parts list but apparently they replaced the rails and motors, realigned the slide and re-calibrated the jacking system to ensure the Palazzo would be level. After the repair, the slide worked two times; once at Camping World to demonstrate the problem was fixed, and once for my wife to ease her mind and demonstrate the repairs had worked. On the third attempt (tour and demonstration for my cousin) the slide failed by locking up in the same spot it always has which is about half way in.
Camping World and Good Sam are working with me to try and get the slide in so more repairs can be made. Again - I am very grateful for their support.
Our biggest problem now is we have very little faith in the reliability of the Palazzo and our retirement dreams are gone along with $200,000 of our retirement funds. We simply cannot afford to be caught in northern New England, Canada, Alaska or up in the Rockies with a slide that immobilizes the Palazzo. And since the slide problem is so well known in the RV dealer community, the Palazzo is not worth much in trade.
That's the story of our Palazzo experience but after reading all the comments in this string, I see we are not alone. I'm glad to see Winnebago has stepped up and is actively trying to fix the problems and support their customers. Thor did so during the initial warranty period (12 months) but didn't lift a finger this time. If anyone else has had success dealing with Thor after the factory warranty has elapsed - I would be very interested in knowing about it.
It's a shame this defect has come about because the Palazzo is a great RV when things are working right. This could be said for all RVs but when a major system such as the slide malfunctions - you are dead in the water and at the mercy of the nearest repair facility which will equate to Big $$$$$.
I hope all of you have been successful in getting your slides to work properly and you never get stranded. We are open to any and all suggestions on how to fix this problem once and for all.
Sorry for getting so long winded,
John
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