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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Jul 2024
Posts: 3
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Vroom Slide System Review for Micro Minnie FLX
My wife and I have a 2022 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108TB FLX that we bought in Indiana and brought back to Alaska where we live. That month long trip proved to be the undoing of our new travel trailer, though we didn’t know it until after winter was over. In preparation for the 2023 Alaska Summer season, we attempted to extend the slide to begin cleaning and packing the trailer for our planned trips. Well, surprise, surprise, the Lippert/Schwintek slide system started making horrible grinding noises and then seizing up half way out on the “fixed” side of the slide out.
We contacted Winnebago after getting the slide back in, but were told that the warranty had expired a week earlier. However, they did tell us they would honor the warranty if we had it repaired by an authorized Winnebago service center. The only Winnebago dealership in Alaska is located in Anchorage, which it turns out only sells motorized Winnebago’s. When we contacted them, they wouldn’t look at our trailer until November since we didn’t purchase the trailer through them. This was in early June and we didn’t want to wait that long, so I researched ways to repair the slide myself.
I ended up contacting Lippert and ordering the “fixed” side upper and lower rails, gears, the plastic V-rollers, bearing blocks, and shoes. Once I watched multiple YouTube videos on replacing the system, I jumped in, and with the help of my son, made the repairs. We discovered the original rails and gears were stripped, one of the plastic V-rollers was broken, and both shoes were cracked.
After the repairs, all was great and we set out to enjoy the rest of the 2023 rainy Alaska Summer. After a few enjoyable trips to Seward and Homer, our Summer came to an abrupt end in Tok when the slide again exhibited the same grinding as before and wouldn’t extend. Enough was enough and we researched a replacement for the Lippert/Swintek system. Enter VROOM!
We couldn’t believe what we were reading about and viewing on YouTube from satisfied customers of the VROOM slide system. I was sold and contacted VROOM to schedule an appointment in April 2024 and had wonderful email messages with Tenlee Vroom about what to expect and the typical weather we’d find in Arizona during our stay. Originally Tenlee wanted to give us a slot in December, but we opted for April to ensure the majority of the snow season through Alaska and Canada was over.
We arrived in Arizona 9 days before our scheduled appointment, stayed at a local campground and enjoyed visiting parts of Arizona. On the night before our appointment, Tenlee said we could camp on the property free of charge, so we took advantage of the offer. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE we had with the employees at VROOM! I want to apologize in advance to all the wonderful folks we met in the shop, because I’ve forgotten their names. I’m old and very forgetful.
In the morning of our appointment, we were greeted by one of the supervisors who took notes of my findings and concerns. He was extremely friendly and helpful and made certain I understood what they would do for me. We left the trailer in his capable hands and went to explore more of the Marana and Tucson area. At the end of the day, we got a call from the shop that our trailer was ready to be picked up, so we dropped what we were doing and rushed back to the shop.
We couldn’t believe what the folks at the shop had done for us and how well the slide worked. Not only had they replaced the slide system itself, they also replaced all the seals around the slide room and installed aluminum plates under the room for the three rollers. The wonderful technician who worked on our trailer walked us through the operation of the slide to include the “emergency” retraction bolt. And then another technician took us to a table where they had a mock up of the VROOM slide system and pointed out the construction as well as gave a visual demonstration of how the slide worked. Finally, we had the pleasure of meeting an incredible young lady, Denisse, who managed the sales and service of the shop and who gladly took our money.
Actually, it was a pleasure to pay for the work they had done because the VROOM system is far superior to the Lippert/Schwintek system. On top of that, Denisse gave us a couple of nice T-shirts with the VROOM logo on them and Joey, the shop manager, gave us some replacement rivets, etc. after we bought a spare motor. Before you ask, we only know their names because of the invoice. 😊 All totaled we paid $4506.71 saving a 5% credit card service fee because we paid in cash. I did ask Joey if they had a manual for the system, but he stated they don’t. So, if there is one suggestion I have for them, it is to put together an owner’s manual and perhaps a listing of some parts that the customer can replace like the motor, etc.
Now it was time to put the new slide system to the test! For our return to Alaska, we headed to Death Valley for a couple of days, then cut over to the California coast starting at Bodega Bay and meandered up the coast into Washington. From there we wound our way into British Columbia and traversed the Sea-to-Sky highway from Vancouver to Pemberton. Heading North and then West through British Columbia, we made contact with the Stewart-Cassiar Highway and headed North until we joined up with the Alaska Highway. We were now just over half way home. We only had to drive the AK Highway to Tok and then head west towards our home in Palmer, AK. After 7 weeks and 5672 miles, we were home and our new slide passed the test. Our route took us over several mountains, multiple sharp turns and bends, and over 400 miles of the worst spring frost heaves imaginable between Burwash Landing, Yukon and Eureka, Alaska. Our fresh water tank dropped down and had to be ratcheted in place with tie downs, and two of our drawers flew out and broke their rails, but the VROOM slide system didn’t miss a beat.
We couldn’t be happier with VROOM Slides! Our experience has been incredible. From the first time we started communicating with Tenlee, to the absolutely wonderful and professional members of the installation team, to the fabulous quality and performance of the slide system itself, all has far exceeded our expectations! We believe it was money well spent and we look forward to many years of happy camping with a dependable slide! Thank you, VROOM!!!
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