Newmar Academy and Recommended Slide Operation Order

[MarkMaxPayne]

I've seen this topic discussed numerous times and how it becomes a religious discussion. My goal with this post is to simply share what Newmar teaches at their Newmar Academy and their reasons why.

Background: I attended Newmar Academy a couple of weeks ago in Bend, Oregon at Beaver Coach Sales with 25 other owners. This is a new program where Newmar takes their Academy on the road to select locations as opposed to requiring attendees to attend back at the mothership. They haul all of their same training tools, equipment, etc. in a purpose built 5th wheel toy hauler (same one you see at the International Rally and at the Academy in Nappanee). Instructors then fly out, including trainers from both Freightliner and Spartan for chassis day.

Newmar's recommended run out procedure: Park with steer wheels straight and engine running. Run out the slides. Now level. Turn off engine.

Newmar's recommended run in procedure: Start engine. Return levelers to travel position. Once rig is resting on the bags and at normal aired up ride height you can then run in the slides.

Why: The trainers shared that as opposed to what other manufacturers may do, Newmar rigs are manufactured squared up at aired up ride height in the factory. Ride height ensures the best opportunity for the frame not to flex and for the slides to be in their best positions as that mimics the position they were in when they were originally built. Running the engine also ensures not only ride height, but that you have the best full voltage/amperage 12VDC available for the slide motors, hydraulic pumps, etc.

Doug, one of their top service reps who travels the country to both train Newmar Dealer Service Techs and to help work on the hardest of the hard problems shared this story: A customer goes in to Nappanee to have his slides repaired. When asked his slide procedure the customer shares he does it by leveling, then running out his slides and when heading out he runs in his slides then unlevels. Doug shares the Newmar recommended procedure and why. They fix his slides and remind him of the correct procedure for his Newmar. Customer complains the very next morning that one of his slides is broke again. When asked what procedure he used he said he does the same as he always does; he leveled then ran them out... That cost him a second slide repair in two days.

Don't hate me because I shared this recommendation that came straight from the horse's mouth.

Best,
-Mark

 

[DennisT]

Yep. Even the manual we have has that as the procedure.

They do have a caveat in the instructions that if the reveal is not correct, try leveling then check reveal. We have never had to do this and operate at ride height every time so far.

 

[gburgman]

well that might work on newer coaches but they disable the slides when the motor is running on our 16 LA.
I get it up to ride height, check the reveals and plug in or start the generator and wait for the invert to start charging in bulk..

I would disable the motor lock out if I knew where it was

 

[Richpatty]

I have electric slides and two out of the three allowed me to run them in with the engine running….so I “modified” mine to allow the third (bedroom) slide to come in. Pushing them out is a different situation….as none will come out…which makes sense.

Not sure how different the draw is on the electric, but I have never seen a voltage drop when running the slides in or out…

 

[J&JD]

Our 17 DS allows the big slide to come in or out with the engine running. The kitchen slide will come in but not go out with engine running. The bedroom slide will not move at all while running…..go figure. So, the best we can do is park, turn off the engine, plug in power, and put out kitchen & bedroom slides after checking reveals. We then fire up the engine, go to fast idle and put out the big slide. After all that we level the coach, usually using HWH active air.
Sometimes I wonder what these design engineers have been drinking