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+--- Thread: Slide Seals & Awnings (/showthread.php?tid=929)
Slide Seals & Awnings - cmillsap - 08-18-2017 19:50
Replacing a leaking Prevost slide seal is expensive. One way to help protect your slide seal from getting punctured is to extend your awnings over the slides. This is especially important if you are parked under or near trees. Pine needles are sharp and pine cones can easily damage the seal if left on the slide top when retracting.
Prevost included an air blow-off in the retract cycle which helps to clear the slide top of some debris but sometimes the debris gets blown up against the outer edge/lip of the slide top where the seal inflates against the slide top after retracting. Left there, the debris can damage the seal. Trees sap can also cause the seal to stick to the slide top and cause it to tear on a subsequent slide extension.
A Prevost equipped with slides is usually also equipped with arm-less awnings. They are great but susceptible to being damaged by wind gusts. These awnings are usually equipped with wind sensors to automatically retract the awnings if high winds are present. They are somewhat untrustworthy though and you should never depend on them to retract your awnings. Consequently, it is not a good practice to leave you coach with the awnings extended. You may come back to damaged awnings and they are not cheap to repair or replace either.
So, if you are parked under or near trees, use your awnings as much as possible to keep debris off your slide top. When you are leaving and before retracting your slides, it’s a good practice to insure the tops are free of debris.
RE: Slide Seals & Awnings - Hisham Amaral - 08-18-2017 22:44
Chuck
I agree with you on all the measures mentioned, in addition I would apply a good coat of wax on all sides of the slide that way the seal does not get pinched on the retraction cycle. I had a slide seal go bad on me last year the seal cost was $2900.00 plus labor to install, we were in the West Coast when the seal burst I call Mira Loma CA, they said they would charge 12-18 hrs to remove and install new seal, also called Marathon they quote the same numbers. We made one more call to Liberty their quote was 4-6 hour if I get my own slide from Prevost which I did. the total bill for the labor was $600.00. So in all the total bill was $3500.00. Slide seal is costly the best way to reduce the coach annual bills is to maintain the slide and stay away from shedding trees that can damage the slides paint as well as the seal.
RE: Slide Seals & Awnings - davidbrady - 08-19-2017 11:01
When I was doing the DRI air seal for our Wanderlodge LXi's, I asked Roger what we could use on the seal to prevent it from sticking to the slide body. His answer was Talcum Powder.
http://www.imerystalc.com/content/bu/Rubber/
RE: Slide Seals & Awnings - Hisham Amaral - 08-20-2017 00:43
David
That should also work, also keeping the top and sides and bottom of the slide clean and waxed is great idea.
RE: Slide Seals & Awnings - CC_Guy - 08-25-2017 09:59
Get an electric leaf blower and gutter attachment and you're good to go. From the ground you can clear the slide top.
Some coaches, like mine, have slide topper awnings on the slides. When the slide opens it opens the awnings. Great for protecting the slide top, but stuck a holding water.
RE: Slide Seals & Awnings - Hisham Amaral - 08-25-2017 15:31
And after the rain you have to use a long broom or tilt the coach the drive side to shade the water from the top of the awing.