Power Gear Slide Issues

747Driver · 10-30-2018, 03:02 PM

My drivers slide is 25'. Has kitchen, washer/dryer and couch on it. I have the newer Power Glide system. Well, they are having issues with the new system as well. Just had the motors and gear system replaced with the NEWER system.

We had the long slide start out on the front, no movement on the back. It went out 6 inches, then stopped. Could not get it to move, at all. My extended warranty included road side assistance. I called them and they connected me to a slide specialist. We tried everything, and got no movement. I then drove 600 miles to Denver and got in at Lazy Dazes for repair? They just manually brought it in and "said" they resynched it. It worked for about 10 cycles.

Then it started to move at random times, during extension/retraction, front sometimes, back other. Seemed like a controller issue. Often, I was able to move it by forcing it into Bump mode. I also bought the socket for manually moving it. I had to do it twice before I could get in for service.

Service talked to WBGO and they determined the motors and controller were bad.

The motors on the original system had one guide/pin to hold motor from spinning. I guess it's not enough on these big slides. The motors are shearing/wearing the pin/guide. I now have a beefier mount and two guide/pins per motor.

Ten hours of labor to change both motor/drive systems out. WBGO would not cover, but our extended warranty did. $1900, most of it labor.

**creativepart** · 10-30-2018, 03:22 PM

Everyone with slides has their fingers crossed each time they extend and retract these things - especially the full wall slides with fridges and washer/dryers, etc on the slide.

Here's a great idea for a profitable business. Open RV Slide Repair Service Centers in various parts of the country. Then we'd all bring our RVs to the experts when we had problems. Huge money maker!

747Driver · 10-30-2018, 04:55 PM

We parked at a friends place in Golden, Co. Called LazyDays, but it would be a couple days before they could get to us. They gave me a couple contacts, that were mobile service. One guy had four trucks running full time and if I wasn't on the side of the road in danger, it would be days before he could get to me. The other guy was booked for weeks. It is amazing what this RV boom is doing for the service folks.

La Mesa (Davis, Ca) is expanding their service bays by 10, but are having no luck hiring techs with any experience. Their best source is Camping World.....scary!

**creativepart** · 10-30-2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747Driver

La Mesa (Davis, Ca) is expanding their service bays by 10, but are having no luck hiring techs with any experience. Their best source is Camping World.....scary!

LaMesa Abuquerque is building a HUGE new facility just west of their current place. I don't know the exact number of bays, but I did see it about 60% completed and I'd guess they're going from 8 or maybe 10 bays to 20 or 24.

Will they find techs to work those bays?

BirchyBoy · 10-30-2018, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747Driver

My drivers slide is 25'. Has kitchen, washer/dryer and couch on it. I have the newer Power Glide system. Well, they are having issues with the new system as well. Just had the motors and gear system replaced with the NEWER system.

We had the long slide start out on the front, no movement on the back. It went out 6 inches, then stopped. Could not get it to move, at all. My extended warranty included road side assistance. I called them and they connected me to a slide specialist. We tried everything, and got no movement. I then drove 600 miles to Denver and got in at Lazy Dazes for repair? They just manually brought it in and "said" they resynched it. It worked for about 10 cycles.

Then it started to move at random times, during extension/retraction, front sometimes, back other. Seemed like a controller issue. Often, I was able to move it by forcing it into Bump mode. I also bought the socket for manually moving it. I had to do it twice before I could get in for service.

Service talked to WBGO and they determined the motors and controller were bad.

The motors on the original system had one guide/pin to hold motor from spinning. I guess it's not enough on these big slides. The motors are shearing/wearing the pin/guide. I now have a beefier mount and two guide/pins per motor.

Ten hours of labor to change both motor/drive systems out. WBGO would not cover, but our extended warranty did. $1900, most of it labor.

Is there a way to tell if other models with Power Gear slides have a single pin as you mentioned?

747Driver · 10-31-2018, 08:34 AM

I was told by service guy that the two pin fix has just been around since early this year.

millsrv · 11-04-2018, 05:39 PM

The RV industry had a slide system that worked very well. The system was HWH and used hydraulic rams to move the slide. They started using less expensive systems to save money. My 2007 Winnebago Voyage has Kwikee Digi Sync slides. I believe that the same year Adventurer (slightly more expensive than the Voyage) used the HWH.
I have written a post on my repair of my slide when it failed.

I believe that Winnebago is cutting corners on components which is a shame considering what these rigs cost! At the bare minimum they should stand behind what they sell for more than a year.

Here is a link to my slide repair posting: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/kwik...ge-353356.html

grtharris · 11-04-2018, 07:43 PM

After much concern with the bottom of the sink counter getting closer to the floor. I added four new skid blocks to the bottom of the full wall slide. The original one the factory installed stays about 1/4in off the floor when the slide is in. Now the motors only have to move the slide without supporting the hanging weight. Seams to move a lot smother now.
Just got back from a three week trip to Colorado and the only issue is the front now moves out about 3/4" during the day as we are traveling. Bought a slide lock and put in at the front, have not driven the coach yet.
Our coach has 37K miles.

**creativepart** · 11-04-2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsrv

I believe that Winnebago is cutting corners on components which is a shame considering what these rigs cost! At the bare minimum they should stand behind what they sell for more than a year.

It’s not all about cost. I was at the factory this Spring for some warranty work and I had some work done on my full wall slide that was not closing evenly. When the two workmen that do the slide work checked in with me we had a short discussion about slides.

They said they were sorry the WBGO had gone away from the “ram-style” slides on the full wall slide. They said people complained that the under floor rams took up too much basement space and when WBGO’s competition changed to the newer systems that put pressure on their sales.

They said they disliked the Schwintec system but felt the Power Gear system was ok on smaller slides. But they thought the full wall slide needed more support in general.

They added a under sink roller to my full wall slide and it has helped. I don’t know if it will make everything work for the long term but I have seen improvement.

ernied7 · 11-05-2018, 05:43 AM

Fourth time I posted this with no response from Winnebago. They use a older Lippert design. On the 33c and similar later modes they added 4 door refrigerator and washer dryer and never updated to the new, more expensive design to handle this additional weight. Remember their warranty is only 12 months. Takes a while for failure. If you have black marking of the island on floor, be prepared!!My 2014 failed. My extended service
warranty would only pay to repair original design, not upgrade as recommended. Dealer stated if just repaired I would be back. Need to read other posts on this same subject. Even problems with 2019 models.
Bottom line it cost me $1400 to upgrade. It works great.
I’ve contacted Winnebago with no response to recoup my money. 2019 I plan a trip to their plant for a personal visit. They must decide to on additional cost or I will protest in front of plant contacting both local news and newspaper.

**creativepart** · 11-05-2018, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernied7

I’ve contacted Winnebago with no response to recoup my money. 2019 I plan a trip to their plant for a personal visit. They must decide to on additional cost or I will protest in front of plant contacting both local news and newspaper.

Do you realize the plant is in a rural area with maybe 1200 people in a 20-mile radius and 80% of them work there?

jerichorick · 11-05-2018, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grtharris

After much concern with the bottom of the sink counter getting closer to the floor. I added four new skid blocks to the bottom of the full wall slide. The original one the factory installed stays about 1/4in off the floor when the slide is in. Now the motors only have to move the slide without supporting the hanging weight. Seams to move a lot smother now.
Just got back from a three week trip to Colorado and the only issue is the front now moves out about 3/4" during the day as we are traveling. Bought a slide lock and put in at the front, have not driven the coach yet.
Our coach has 37K miles.

Where did you place these blocks? My sink side is settling also and the counter is cracked at the stove cover groove.

millsrv · 11-05-2018, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

Do you realize the plant is in a rural area with maybe 1200 people in a 20-mile radius and 80% of them work there?

You are absolutely correct, we were there in the summer of 2017. The plant is the town which is surrounded by corn. Might not be a friendly environment to start making demands.

We had a Fleetwood Motorhome before the Winnebago and it needed to have it's exterior sidewalls replaced due to a defective material. In that case I did some research and found the correct person at Fleetwood to contact. This will be the hard part, you need to find that person at Winnebago. I'll bet that someone on this forum has experience with this and may be able to help. Another possibility would be to check with a dealer as they may have a factory representative contact.

You would think that Winnebago would be interested in customer service and pay attention to these forums.

rvbud · 11-05-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsrv

The RV industry had a slide system that worked very well. The system was HWH and used hydraulic rams to move the slide. They started using less expensive systems to save money. My 2007 Winnebago Voyage has Kwikee Digi Sync slides. I believe that the same year Adventurer (slightly more expensive than the Voyage) used the HWH.
I have written a post on my repair of my slide when it failed.

I believe that Winnebago is cutting corners on components which is a shame considering what these rigs cost! At the bare minimum they should stand behind what they sell for more than a year.

Here is a link to my slide repair posting: Kwikee Digi-Sync Slide Problem 07 Voyage - iRV2 Forums

Jim, your document link is something everyone should review. Great photos! Although we have an '08 Sightseer 29R (December '07 build date), a bit smaller than others in the thread, we experienced a slide failure while in Wells ME just last month. I diagnosed problem as a broken ACME nut in the front arm. (BTRW, Digi-Sync for Power Gear is made by Actuant SVS - they have PDF online of the mechanism). I called WBGO and they were very helpful (as they have been on several previous occasions with conversation and emails) who recommended repair at Hills RV in N. Conway NH. Spoke with Craig, owner, and he agreed that likely the ACME nut failed. I went online and ordered replacements ACME nuts for both arms and had WBGO expedite shipping to Hills. Parts arrived 3 days later over the weekend. Note that Actuant now make the AMCE nut with a 5/16" clevis pin (old design was 1/4"). Both arms removed from front slide and new ACME nuts installed in 5 hours. I have since learned how to 'sync' motors (Winnebago YouTube) which I now do about every 10 times of operating the slide. I am now also blocking the slide while it is in during travel to relieve stress on the ACME nut. Don't know if that will help, but worth a try. Sure wish I had the advantage of your post when my problem happened...perhaps would have saved hours of my own research to evaluate the problem. Thanks again!

puttin · 11-05-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747Driver

We parked at a friends place in Golden, Co. Called LazyDays, but it would be a couple days before they could get to us. They gave me a couple contacts, that were mobile service. One guy had four trucks running full time and if I wasn't on the side of the road in danger, it would be days before he could get to me. The other guy was booked for weeks. It is amazing what this RV boom is doing for the service folks.

La Mesa (Davis, Ca) is expanding their service bays by 10, but are having no luck hiring techs with any experience. Their best source is Camping World.....scary!

Don't use La Mesa in Davis! My slide was repaired twice and still doesn't work. I have the same issues as the O.P. Cost us over $2,600.00. I followed up with emails and phone calls- never got satisfaction.

grtharris · 11-05-2018, 08:00 PM

jerichorick your slide out is not made like ours. Your slides have rolls across the front edge to support the slide when it is in. On the Adventurer 35P with the in wall slide out motors there is only one support pad to help support the complete length of the slide when it is in.

jerichorick · 11-06-2018, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grtharris

jerichorick your slide out is not made like ours. Your slides have rolls across the front edge to support the slide when it is in. On the Adventurer 35P with the in wall slide out motors there is only one support pad to help support the complete length of the slide when it is in.

I don't see them, Grant. When I get settled for 6 months I will take the time to pull up the floor in the sink cabinet and see what is holding the leading edge of the counter off the floor. There is a big sag left to right on the counter. I know I need to put something there or fix what is broken.
Rick

rvbud · 11-06-2018, 07:13 AM

2X on avoiding LaMesa in Davis. Our '08 29R was returned there a couple of times after purchase by original owner; all I have to show for their 'effort' was paid invoices...wish I could offer alternative, but I cannot. We are currently FT and I do all my own service and most repairs.

corjaguar · 11-06-2018, 07:42 AM

We had a problem with the curbside slide, called Winnebago tech support...they walked me through a reset of the slide motors and stops.....it worked a couple of times but than finally stopped with the slide almost closed but not completely. They sent me to LaMesa in Fort Myers....a small facility, but a LaMesa authorized Winnebago dealer. Within a couple of hours, the deemed one of the motors was the problem...they called Winnebago, got authorization and ordered the motor..... we returned a week later, they installed the new motor plus a new control board which they said had corrosion on it and everything is fine.
The drive to and from LaMesa roundtrip is a little over 200 miles.....no big deal if you can get something done in a timely manner its a plus. I give LaMesa 2 thumbs up........

grtharris · 11-06-2018, 10:38 AM

jerichorick here is a drawing of the right front slide bottom.