Journey slide problem

Savannah · 06-29-2009, 05:29 PM

We have an 04 Journey 39K and today because of a bad storm we put in the passenger side slide with no problems. After the storm went to put the slide back out and it will go about 5" then stops and makes all kinds of nasty noises. We put the slide back in with no problem then tried the out again with same nasty sounds. So it's now back in but we are missing the extra space

.

Looked as best we could inside to see what might be the problem with no results. It does appear that the problem is at the bottom front but still can't see or feel anything weird. Can see no reason outside for the problem.

Ideas anyone?

Thanks

smlranger · 06-29-2009, 05:41 PM

Sounds like you've already checked, but I would look under the slide (as best you can) from the inside to make sure something hasn't slipped between the slide floor and the floor of the coach. If you eliminate all possibilities of any obstructions, then I would call HWH in Iowa and see if they can provide any advice.

Does the slide appear to bind on one end....does it move out equally before it stops or does one end move faster than the other end?

Savannah · 06-29-2009, 05:48 PM

It appears that the bottom front corner moves a tad slower than the rest of the side.

Tomorrow in the bright light of day we'll really check it all out. Hopefully without rain and wind. Looks like we are getting ready for another "weather" front. Sigh.

Tom N · 06-29-2009, 06:02 PM

Have you checked your hydraulic fluid level?? The filler, with attached dip stick, is on top of the pump and valve assembly.

-Tom

Savannah · 06-30-2009, 03:03 PM

Snooped around as best we could and found some plastic shavings. Guess that means that there is a problem that will require someone with slide knowledge and that let's DH and I out. Now do we go to Forest City or try a repair place a tad closer. We're in Florida. Maybe we'll just live with it for awhile.

RKL2 · 06-30-2009, 07:30 PM

Savannah....Look under the front of the slide where the large aluminum rail rests on the frame support...can you see any white hard plastic guides at the top and bottom sides of the rail that movs in and out....this is where the shavings might be coming from..There is a lot of cracking and breakage of these guides and this could cause a jam up like you experienced. you probably will have to put the slide out 4 or 5 inches to look in from the side behind the front tire....good luck....RKL2

Savannah · 07-01-2009, 07:08 AM

RKL2, this is an enclosed slide with no rails showing at all. Makes sense that it could be the glides though since I did find some plastic crumbs.

Actually we are adjusting fine to the slide being in all the time.

smlranger · 07-01-2009, 09:18 AM

It does sound like the nylon guide/s have failed. Are the shavings white?

A couple of suggestions for getting it fixed (the slide needs to be jacked up a bit and supported to replace the guides):

1. call Bryan Funke at Winnebago and ask him to recommend a dealer near you that he thinks can do the fix. Bryan has a good handle on the better servicing dealers.

2. head to HWH in Moscow, IA to get it fixed....not that much closer than Forest City.

Savannah · 07-01-2009, 03:02 PM

The shavings are black but I do know that HWH did have/use some black guides so that is a possibility. We have some health issues to take care of first so we'll just learn to be comfortable with less space for awhile.

Thanks all for your thoughts and ideas.

Savannah · 07-20-2009, 03:21 PM

An update to our slide problem. We drove about 200 miles and parked at our next stop, tried the slide and it still wouldn't work so once again adjusted to living with it in.

Today we moved to another site in the same park and set up but did not try the slide. There is another Journey 39k here and he couldn't get the same slide in so he called a local mobile repairman that he has used in the past. We asked if the repairman had time could he look at our slide so he stopped by and basically tapped the slide extend rocker button to walk the slide all the way out. We then walked it back in with no problem.

He went outside and watched to make sure it was extending evenly while I walked the slide out and back in. We then just held the rocker down and let the slide go out and then back in. Each time with no problem.

So whatever problem we had has seemingly fixed itself and we are happily using all that extra space

.

What he thinks may have happened is when I brought the slide in because of the storm the wind did cause it to go cattywhampus (is that a word?) and since we drove on non bumpy roads until today when we changed sites it stayed cattywhampus but the bumps today realigned it somehow and now we are good to go.

So when all else fails drive down a bumpy road I guess.