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Old 10-20-2014, 04:48 AM   #1
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Any Slide Failures With The Vista/Sunstar 30T?

I have a 2013 Itasca Sunstar 30T & have participated in a number ot threads on this & other forums about problems with the Lippert Schwintek slide system. But other than the slapping noise the motors & drive rods made on the road which was solved with a simple retaining screw fix, it seems all the serious failure problems have been with the larger models with bigger slides than the 30T.

Has anyone with a 30T had failure problems & if so, what was the fix?

I know Lippert has beefed up the motors & mechanisms on some of the larger ones but as far as I know, the 30T still has the smaller motors & original mechanism. Has anyone with a 30T had their motors & mechanisms replaced with the bigger ones they are using in the larger coaches?

I have had no problems with mine after 18 months & 13,000 miles of use but I still wonder whether the original design will eventually fail.
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Old 10-22-2014, 05:49 PM   #2
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I just recently ordered a 2015 Vista 30T. I too have read stories about slide problems with the Schwintek system. I think you are correct that most of the problems have been with the larger / heavier slides. I've seen some videos that state that the slide should never be stopped part way, as the motors can spool down unevenly and the zero point will then be lost. The slide can get out of position and that can cause parts to break. Also stated was that one should always hold the slide activation button on for 3-5 seconds after the slide has stopped. This apparently allows the system to establish a new zero point.
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Old 10-23-2014, 05:44 AM   #3
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Dezrtracr

Do you know if your 2015 will have the same Schwintek system as my 2013?

I understand they have upgraded the system with bigger motors on the bigger slides but I have not heard that they have done so for the smaller slides used on the 30T.
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Old 10-24-2014, 12:02 PM   #4
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I remember reading somewhere that Winnebago had done some in-house testing and that some of the slide components were going to be upgraded starting for units built February of 2014 on. I don't know if that was just for larger / heavier slides or if all slides were included.
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Old 10-26-2014, 05:58 AM   #5
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I have a 2014 Winnie Adventurer 35P with a full slide. It has been adjusted 3 times and was sitting for a month while we waited for new gear parts for the slide. After the new parts the slide worked 7 times and started jumping the track again. Another adjustment and it worked once, We are now set up for the winter and the closest dealer is 6 hours away so we will wait for spring to try again. The Schwintek system works fine on the small slides but the gear and track are too small to work the full slides. The gear does not get enough bite in the track and then jumps moving the slide out of alignment. Schwintek and Winnebago need to figure out a solution and make it a recall before someone starts a class action suit.
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Old 01-24-2015, 08:57 PM   #6
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We have a 2015 Winnebago Vista 30T manufactured in June 2014, with a Lippert slide system and Lippert leveling system. Both of these systems have been an epic failure. Our MH has been in and out the Winnebago dealer shop for repairs continuously during the past 8 weeks we've owned her.

The Vista30T was delivered to us in December, where it went back in shop due to a leak at top of windshield. That repair took over a week, and after picking it up, brought it was back in the shop within 3 days to address loud noises coming from front driver slide out and leveling system.

The current senerio is like the movie groundhog day that repeats itself again and again. We pick it up, and within 50 miles, the loud clanging noise returns. The rig is dropped off again at the dealer shop after 2 or 3 days useage, for another attempt to fix. When does this end?
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:29 PM   #7
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Document, document, everything you may have a lemon on your hands. Stand your ground with Winnebago.

I have a 2004 Meridian, pleased except for the lousy paint quality; problems since year two.
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:33 PM   #8
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i cover some of Slide Failures here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/why-...ml#post2344863

the post 9 video covers some of what could be going on
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Old 01-26-2015, 08:02 PM   #9
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Your question should be how long will my slide last before it breaks. All slides will fail given enought time. If you trade often enough you may not have a failure. Anything mechanical will fail. Coming back from Alaska there was a long line at all the repair shops trying to adjust the big rig slides. The design and reliability is not up to normal standards. According to most dealers they rarely experience problems but as you travel you see problems all the time. I wonder if my neighbor at one park was able to ever retract his slide so he could pull out from behind the power pole. He had to extend his stay by 2 weeks when we arrived and after another week he was still there as we left with no timetable for repair. Good luck and be prepared and knowledgeable about making repairs on your own. Collect the most used parts for proper repairs so you will not be stuck like many people have been. How many posts have we seen here where they are without their rigs for weeks at a time for repairs?
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Old 01-27-2015, 06:39 AM   #10
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Documenting issues

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Document, document, everything you may have a lemon on your hands. Stand your ground with Winnebago.

I have a 2004 Meridian, pleased except for the lousy paint quality; problems since year two.
Great suggestion! We have documented our issues with our new 2015 Winnebago Vista 30T motorhome. Slide out, leveling system, loose shock mounts, early signs of rust are at the top of list.

So far, since delivery 8 weeks ago, we have only had the motorhome in our possession for 12 days total. It has been at the dealer for warranty service(s) the rest of the time as we continue to make the first of 15 years of payments.

Typically we have it for 2 or 3 days and have to take it back to Winnebago dealer for service. Often it has been for the same issue(s), that keep coming back.
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Old 01-27-2015, 03:24 PM   #11
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I purchased a 2015 Vista 30T early December 2014. The unit was built in November 2014. I did have a strange problem with the Lippert jacks, but it appears to have been resolved after a quick call to Lippert Customer Service. I am very curious as to the problem(s) you had with the jacks. I'm also interested as to which slide or slides you had problems with. Was the problem just noise when the slide was slide in or out, or did something break or malfunction?
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Old 01-28-2015, 02:57 AM   #12
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Still unknown the actual cause

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Originally Posted by dezrtracr View Post
I purchased a 2015 Vista 30T early December 2014. The unit was built in November 2014. I did have a strange problem with the Lippert jacks, but it appears to have been resolved after a quick call to Lippert Customer Service. I am very curious as to the problem(s) you had with the jacks. I'm also interested as to which slide or slides you had problems with. Was the problem just noise when the slide was slide in or out, or did something break or malfunction?
congradulations on your new motorhome. Our slide issues have been with the driver side front. In motion, there was/is loud noise which I will describe as a combination of very loud strained/squeaking wood and clanging. Since it has been in the shop at least three times previously for this particular issue, without resolve and is currently back in again. At this point what we do know is that the manufacturer recommended lubrication of the slide system isn't working and is only a Band-Aid to calm the situation only to return with a vengeance in less than 40 miles. Another thing that is made identifying the source of these loud noises difficulty is that when they're all happening together the task reallybecomes difficult even for the trained professional. About three weeks it turned out that part of the noises that we had been experiencing were due to a bolt on one of the shock mounts slowly becoming loose. Was seemingly was present as a benign addition to our unhealthy noises, and the subject of multiple warranty service visits eventually overshadowed the other voices with it loud Kleingreen sounds at slow speeds in the parking lot.



Stationary and leveled: Additionally the front driver side slide Has occasionally begun to teeter just a bit when extending. When we see this occurring we immediately stop the movement and retract not wanting to cause any unnecessary potential damage. What I took it back yet about a week and a half ago we went out on a road test with a couple of the technicians, and although there are several possibilities speculated, we just don't know. It is my understanding that the investigation will go much deeper this time around however I don't have the latest diagnosis yet.

Regarding the leveling system, I did get word that the technicians found that it had some type of leak. Apparently the leak in the system is small enough to mess yet enough to causing all kinds of havoc with the leveling system.

Today we just cut another check to the cu for the loan payment and the wife is now officially pissed because this new rv has spent more time in the shop and unusable to us.
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Old 01-28-2015, 03:17 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2015RV View Post
In motion, there was/is loud noise which I will describe as a combination of very loud strained/squeaking wood and clanging.
If the "mechanics" are unable to resolve the clanging sound, you might try wrapping a towel around the shaft that runs between the drive gears. If this isolator stops the clanging, you then can point the mechanics in this direction. I think someone on this forum had this type of bandaid applied to their MH. We had the same loud banging, but it turned out to be from some of the items in the storage compartment. The slide wall behind the driver was acting like a resonator.
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Old 01-28-2015, 04:33 PM   #14
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The drivers forward slide occasional squeaks while traveling down the road, but it has not been consistent. It will squeak for a while, then stop for a while, then squeak a couple of times, etc. It seems to operate smoothly and evenly though. The bedroom slide seems to be the noisiest, but so far so good. The passenger slide is the quietest and smoothest of the three slides. I always hold the slide switch down for 3-5 seconds after the slide has stopped moving in or out to make sure the system sees a new zero position.

The problem I had with the Lipert jacks was related to retraction. I went to move the RV to hook up a trailer when the jacks went into an auto retract mode even though the jacks were not down to begin with. The retract timed-out, then indicated an error, then said service was needed. I checked the fluid level and it was between the dipstick lines. Called Lipert and they said the error is typically related to low fluid levels. They said to ignore the dipstick and indicated that the fluid level should be within a "finger knuckle" of the fill opening (approx. 1"). He told me how to reset the system. I added some Mercon 5 ATF and took off on my trip. At my destination, the jacks auto-leveled just fine and retracted just fine when I left to go home. I have not noticed any leaks.
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Old 01-29-2015, 05:04 AM   #15
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Winnebago 30T slide problems

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If the "mechanics" are unable to resolve the clanging sound, you might try wrapping a towel around the shaft that runs between the drive gears. If this isolator stops the clanging, you then can point the mechanics in this direction. I think someone on this forum had this type of bandaid applied to their MH. We had the same loud banging, but it turned out to be from some of the items in the storage compartment. The slide wall behind the driver was acting like a resonator.
Hi Bill and thanks for your suggestion. Because this motorhome is essentially new, we don't have anything loose in the compartments below, or cabinets yet. Our useage has been very limited, akin to test drives, dealer service center repairs and driveway parking. We've had a couple nights at a casino in the area that has a new rv parking with full setup that's real nice, to test all the systems.

Will print your suggestion and fax it over to the dealer to see if the techs assigned to our mh could use your suggestion.
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Old 01-29-2015, 05:31 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by dezrtracr View Post
The drivers forward slide occasional squeaks while traveling down the road, but it has not been consistent. It will squeak for a while, then stop for a while, then squeak a couple of times, etc. It seems to operate smoothly and evenly though. The bedroom slide seems to be the noisiest, but so far so good. The passenger slide is the quietest and smoothest of the three slides. I always hold the slide switch down for 3-5 seconds after the slide has stopped moving in or out to make sure the system sees a new zero position.

The problem I had with the Lipert jacks was related to retraction. I went to move the RV to hook up a trailer when the jacks went into an auto retract mode even though the jacks were not down to begin with. The retract timed-out, then indicated an error, then said service was needed. I checked the fluid level and it was between the dipstick lines. Called Lipert and they said the error is typically related to low fluid levels. They said to ignore the dipstick and indicated that the fluid level should be within a "finger knuckle" of the fill opening (approx. 1"). He told me how to reset the system. I added some Mercon 5 ATF and took off on my trip. At my destination, the jacks auto-leveled just fine and retracted just fine when I left to go home. I have not noticed any leaks.
To date we have not experienced any issues with the rear bedroom slide and or the front passenger side slide out as they have operated as expected. Our primary issues as previously indicated the front driver slide on our 2015 Winnebago 30T Vista. Because of these are motorhomes there is a presumption that some noises will be present however our situation and the experience dictates that the noises present far exceed the reasonable limits especially on a newmotorhome, only two months from original delivery.

In regards to the auto leveling system it is imperative that the dealership and Winnebago get these issues resolved. These leveling system errors are unacceptable on such a young mh.
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Old 01-29-2015, 05:35 AM   #17
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Perhaps Winnebago could solve the slide problem by going back to the reliable, hydraulic HWH slide systems they used for years. I remember seeing a new Winnebago DP at a dealer in 2013 with what appeared to be flimsy-looking tracks on the sides of the slides. To me it looked like something prone to failure.

Sorry you folks are having all these issues.
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Old 02-02-2015, 09:56 PM   #18
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