Slide out issues on 2018 Minnie Winnie 22M

[mcfflyer]

Hello. I own a 2018 Minnie Winnie 22M that I purchased in November 2017. Overall, my rig has been nothing short of fantastic for my wife and I, as well as others that I’ve brought along. However, I now have a critical problem that needs to be addressed and repaired. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this issue.

It appears that the sole support for the slide out in my rig, the slide out that is the head of the queen bed, has failed and collapsed. The sole support appears (because I can’t see any other support structure for the slide out) to be two brackets that hold two four inch wide rollers that carry the weight of the slide out, whether moving in or out, or while extended. These rollers, which are about a foot inside of the edge of the slide out, are attached to the side wall of the rig by four black screws. I do not know if any of those screws into the veneer attach to any sort of wall stud or not.

I was about eight days into a 24 day when while under the extended slide out in the storage compartment, I happened to look up at one bracket to see that it was bent back about 1/2 inch at the top, as the two top screws are missing, one had the head broken off, and the other pulled out of the veneer siding. What this did was to allow that side of the slide to drop (about 1/4”) until it hit the frame of the slide out opening. What this resulted was that the front of the slide was now sliding on the metal frame of the opening - metal to metal, as the corner of the slide out had an aluminum angle on each side.

At this point, I purchased some white lithium grease to grease the underside of the slide on that metal angle. The whole slide out continued to work, albeit noisily, until the last two days of our trip when it appeared to struggle more, barely getting the slide out or in. There were no “flashing lights” indicating an error. Made it home.

After emptying out the entire storage compartment since I have a service appointment on October 22, I happened to look up at the other bracket with the roller on it, and it was now pulling the entire wall back, allowing the bracket to be at a similar angle to the other and sure enough, that side of the slide was now riding on the frame. No wonder the motors were struggling to get the slide out or in. And that’s how things stand right now.

I have looked on this site and on the web, and I have not read anyone posting a problem similar to this. In my opinion, this was the first year that Winnebago produced the 22M, and the slide out was underengineered, as those two rollers, attached as they were couldn’t support the weight. I have considered a solution: instead of the rollers being screwed into the interior wall, there should be a 4” wide steel plate along the entire width of the storage compartment (about 44”), attached in multiple places - at least 16 screws. Then the brackets with the rollers, screwed into the steel plate, NOT the wall. This way, the entire width of the underside of the slide would be supporting the rollers, not just the four screws into the veneer. In addition, I feel that the two brackets were insufficient. Should be three or four of them.

Photos attached show the two brackets with the rollers, and the abrasion of the metal against metal of the underside of the slide out. Similar abrasion exists on the other side.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thank you in advance.

Lee

 

[creativepart]

You certainly are not alone in slide out issues from bent or dislodged rollers. And, your solution sounds pretty sound.

Slides are enough of a problem that there are plenty of shops and independent techs that have some slideout repair experience.

You said you're going to a service appointment later this month. Is it at a dealer or is it's someone you trust? I wouldn't let a dealer work on my motorhome, but maybe that's just me.

There are at least two independent shops in the San Antonio area and that's where I would go. I'd guess there must be some places around you in California, but I don't know how to go about finding them.

There is a strong RV repair community in and around Junction City, OR but that's 500 mi north of you. Surely there is someone in your area of Sacramento, CA.

I don't know personally, but this guy is a mobile tech in your area with a very good reputation:

https://www.oliverirv.com/

 

[mcfflyer]

Thanks, creativepart. Indeed, I am taking my rig in for its annual servicing from the firm I bought it from, LaMesa RV at their extensive service shop in Davis, CA. I have had all of my maintenance performed there, but have never had a repair done. I have been pleased with the work they’ve done. What’s more, at the end of this month, my 7 year extended warranty expires, so it makes sense to take it there. That said, I do have an independent shop that I can take it to.

Funny you mention Junction City, OR, a known location for RVs. I drove through there this past Sunday.

Thanks again.

Lee

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Lee,
I just looked at my 2019 22M, and it is a different design. In mine, the two brackets were eliminated, and instead, the two rollers are mounted directly on top of the wall. Perhaps yours could be modified to operate in the same way?
Eagle5

 

[mcfflyer]

Hey there Brian. Thanks so much for the photos, as it is clear that Winnebago changed the design between my 2018 and your 2019. Are the white areas in your photos the rollers? They look about 8” wide. (Mine are 4”.). And what are the black portions? I like the idea that they now mount the support structure on top of a cross piece, and not in my case, held on by eight screws into the veneer. I will use your photos to suggest this modification. (Seems to me this should be a Winnebago repair!)

Thanks again. Looking at your photos, that is a better solution than what I had thought up. Much bettter. Now to see if I can get them to make that modification. Wish me luck!

Lee

 

[Eagle5]

I believe the white rollers are about 4" wide. I am pretty sure the black is a little bit of the rubber from the seal. When it is daylight, I will clean that roller.
Your idea to repair would have been fine, but simpler is better, and the newer 22Ms seem to be holding-up.
You can also check-out the parts viewer, but the change doesn't show-up until the 2020 model:
https://catalog3d.winnebagoind.com/menu/Parts.htm
That tells me it was a running change, if for no other reason than the new rollers do not require a bracket, and are therefore cheaper, lighter, and better.
I believe you will need two "Part #20s" under Slideout for 2020:
302905-01-CHT (Roller Assembly-Vinyl, Delrin)
Hopefully, it is as simple as that!

 

[mcfflyer]

Brian, thanks so much for the link to the parts catalog. I’d forgotten about it! It is clear that after the 2018 and early 2019 models, Winnebago modified the design. Those brackets I have were destined to fail, as all of the weight on the rollers would be to pull them away from the wall. On your later 2019 and the subsequent models, the rollers are mounted on top of a cross member, so there is nowhere for the rollers to go. Now to try to see if I can get LaMesa/Coach-Net/Winnebago to change mine over to something like this. Maybe this is why the motors in my slide always sounded like they were exceeding their capacity, with the motor noise and and over noise in the slide.

Thanks again!!

Lee

 

[mcfflyer]

Tonight, I went out to the driveway to look at my rig and noticed that the stripes that run across my rig are about 1/2 inch lower across the slide out, evidence of the drop due to the collapsed roller brackets! To do this repair, the slide out will have to be jacked up to get it at its correct height for new rollers to be installed. Job for professionals.

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Lee,
Nothing wrong with hiring a good mechanic. Please let us all know how it goes.
Thanks, Brian

 

[mcfflyer]

Brian (and everyone else following this!), Yesterday I went out to our local Camping World as they had a 2025 Spirit 22M in stock (and LaMesa didn't). I got a chance to look at the underside of the slide out and the revised support for it, and it looks identical to what you have in your 2019. A much improved way of supporting the slide out. I'll argue with them that this is the change that I need. Hopefully either Winnebago or Coach-Net will cover the cost!



Otherwise, we truly love our rig!


Lee

 

[mcfflyer]

Okay, Eagle5 asked that I give an update. I finally got one today.

I took my rig in two days ago for its annual servicing at the dealer I bought it from LaMesa RV out of Davis, CA, and showed the slide out problems and indicated that I was in my last month of my 7 year extended warranty. Sure seemed like a clear cut warranty issue to the LaMesa rep checking it in. Today I was told that the claim to Coach-Net was denied because the problem was a “fastener failure”, and that wasn’t covered. I guess if one of the nylon rollers had disintegrated, it would be covered, but the fact that the support brackets pulled away from the wall wasn’t covered. LaMesa explained the issue to them and I called them. Denied. However…

When this first happened, I came up with a solution that I posted in the original post, namely a steel piece under the entire width of the slide out, securely affixed to the wall under the slide, then attach the existing brackets to that. (I first thought of screwing them to the sheet steel, but later realized they should be welded to it.). But after seeing the photos of Eagle5’s 2019 rig, seeing a new 2025 22M, I realized that maybe it should be rebuilt with new parts and the current method of mounting the support rollers on top of a cross piece. However, this would become a big job, requiring removal of the slide out, ordering new parts from Winnebago and have structure rebuilt. I figured it could take a couple of months and $4000.

However, the tech who analyzed my rig came up with a solution which the the solution I first came up with - sheet steel, welded brackets, and only jacking up the slide out temporarily, not removing it. Cost of this job, $687, parts and labor. Heck, this is in the range of maintenance, not repair. Also we’re going to make another attempt with Coach-Net tomorrow, a final Hail Mary, but I’ve already authorized the repair. What’s more, it should be ready for pick up next week.

Not happy with Coach-Net, but not unhappy with the cost of the repair and feel it will work. Incidentally, I asked if they had ever experienced anyone having a failure like this before, and the answer was they had never seen it before. I’ll give a final update when I get the rig back, so I can give it a final wash before taking it back to the storage lot.

Lee

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Lee,
Excellent report. Yes, go with the lesser expensive solution.
As far as “fastener failures” not being covered, it seems rather bogus to me. How many failures are of that sort?
Thanks, Eagle5

 

[Morich]

My wife worked in insurance where the specific area was large trucks! That gave her a real eye-opener on how some companies try to deal.
They may be simply doing a snow job on what your warranty says!
Did you get a written policy when buying the insurance that states coverage in detail? That can be a "tell" for the type coverage you are buying! If they are an honest company, they tell you IN WRITIBG what you are buying. If not and just want to tell you when something fails, it may be better to pass!

It's a bit hard for me to predict what a policy may say, so it requires checking but if we think about it, how logical is it to say you warrant an item but not the fasteners?
Does your house insurance insure the roof but not the nails that hold it? Is your car insured but not if the bolts let the bumper fall off?

It may be worthwhile to let somebody with experience read the policy for details and not let the insurance company tell you what is in there!

Figures don't lie but liars do figure?

 

[mcfflyer]

Update on the 2018 22M Slide Out Issue

Well, I said I’d give you an update.

I picked up the 22M on schedule last month at LaMesa RV, and was told it had been repaired. It certainly cycled easier and the tech did exactly what he said, with a new steel plate running across the entire underside of the slide out inside of the storage compartment. (The steel did not extend beyond the width of the storage compartment.). The steel was attached to the wall of the RV with 12 screws and a decision was made to bolt the brackets to the steel and not weld them. He even made a semi circle cutout around the compartment light. Looked good. I accepted it and brought it home - with being told that the repair was covered for one year, parts and labor.

However - and you knew there would be a “however”, didn’t you? - I started thinking about the work done. Clearly in retrospect, I should not have accepted it. I was sitting inside of the slide out when the rep cycled the slide out, watching the rollers turn. However, when I put my finger against the forward roller, I could stop it with my finger. It clearly was not carrying the weight of the slide out. (The rear roller could not be stopped.). I started thinking more about it, and if that roller could be stopped, the slide out’s weight was resting elsewhere - like still on the frame. What’s more, a new scraping spot has appeared, in the center of the slide out, but I think that might be a result of putting the steel plate in and pushing up on the as built frame inside of the storage compartment. But the kicker was to look at what should have made me reject the first repair: the decal stripes were still off over 1/2 inch. (And I went into my photos and when new, the decal stripes were straight across, no deviation.). What I have determined is that the tech did not elevate the slide out enough when he did the repair, so when it came back down - if he elevated the slide out at all, it was still riding on the frame.

I photographed my issues, sent it to LaMesa and requested it be redone. They accepted and made an appointment for me in early December. I feel that the solution is to put the slide out 90% of the way out before it locks into the open position and jack up the slide until it touches the upper slide out opening, then move the brackets up about 1/2 inch then let the slide back down. I don’t expect that the decal stripes to go across the rig dead straight, but they should be close. And that front roller bracket has got to support the weight of the slide out. I’ll provide a further and hopefully final update in mid December. Fingers crossed, and fortunately I do not have trips planned until spring.

 

[mcfflyer]

Another photo I forgot to add

I forgot to add this photo of the new scrape location, in the center of the underside of the slide. The scrape is off of that white frame piece that goes across the underside on the inside of the frame of the slide out that may have been pushed up slightly when the steel plate was put in.

 

[Eagle5]

Hi Lee,
This repair will work, once the final settings are adjusted. I suppose they don't do too much stuff like this, and it has a learning curve. Very glad they will re-work it for you.
Thanks, Eagle5

 

[mcfflyer]

Thanks, Brian. I clearly should have examined the RV more critically than I did, and should have rejected it for the roller I could stop turning with my finger and the continuing misalignment of the decals across the slide out. I do trust (until I don’t) LaMesa RV. They have a new massive service facility in Davis and my rig is overshadowed by all of the massive Class As in there, not to mention a massive sales dealership about 8 miles away in West Sacramento. This won’t be a difficult repair. Fingers are crossed.

Morich, the guy at LaMesa did contact Coach-Net again, trying to “sell the failure to them”, but as it states in the warranty documentation, if the item isn’t specifically identified in what is covered, then it will not be covered. And that was precisely their response. The fasteners of the brackets were not covered. Really sucks, but it states that. Now, if I lived within a day’s drive from Forest City, I’d take it back to Winnebago and have them fix it - probably have them rebuild the slide out to the current standards.

 

[Eagle5]

Every once in a while, we spend money we didn't wish we had to, but it is what it is. Get it fixed properly, and it sounds like you are well on your way.

 

[sonny-WO]

Wondering what was the final fix and did it work out ? I have a 2018 22M currently in storage , but might have to do a fix

 

[Eagle5]

Hi sonny-WO,
You have two options:

1. Upgrade the slide-out to the 2019 and beyond redesign
2. Retrofit your brackets such as what mcfflyer did

Please review all of the prior posts in this thread for more information.
Thanks, Eagle5