mtofell1
Oregon
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Joined: 12/08/2006
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I'm in the process of reworking my TT parking strip and started thinking about the sitting angle of the trailer. I'm sure I know the "best" answer to this question but guess I'm after opinions of the alternate.
How bad is it to have the slide roof slope towards the main body of the trailer? I'd imagine there's a provision for this in the design to keep water from leaking in?
Realistically, I'd rarely (if ever) have my slide out at home and can easily set things up dead level or even sloped a bit in the "good" direction. I'm really just curious is anyone has any experience with slide roofs sloping back toward the trailer? And, if so, any problems?
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Joined: 06/20/2009
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Depending on how well the slide seals work I'm thinking you are inviting water intrusion.
My slide out roofs are sloped away from body of 5'vr and I would have to be set up extremely tilted in order for the roof to slant towards rig. So much so that I would feel like I was walking around inside a carney side show.
Why not set it up level (boards under low side tires) and NOT have to worry about water getting past slide seals?
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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Good Lord, man- how long have you been an Oregonian???
Don't you know that Oregon Rain will find even the teensiest place to work its way into your rig, even if it has to go UPHILL to do it????
Why give it the added advantage of a downhill ride???
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
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mtofell1
Oregon
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Thanks guys... I get the water intrusion thing.... I'm really just curious if trailers are designed for this?
I honestly didn't remember my last trailer's slides being sloped but they probably were. I never specifically looked. The whole concept of one side of the trailer being lower just came to me today while leveling out by pad and it made me ask. I know it's not good and I'd never do it for any extended period. I just want to know if I "could" if I had to.
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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Trailers are designed to be level.
In my opinion, if you have a fair pitch to begin with you might be O.K. as far as the slide continuing to drain in the right direction when the trailer's at a bit of a tilt.
But I wouldn't think there'd be built-in provisions for water draining against that seam.
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Bucky Badger
Madison, WI
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Joined: 11/05/2007
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Don't invite trouble
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tbrowne
Springfield, OH
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A slide awning will help a great deal if you absolutely can't get it level where you park it. The awning will keep water off of the roof unless rain is windblown at a very steep angle. I doubt any slide seals are truly waterproof if water is laying up against them.
Terry Browne
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trickyvic3
Raymond NH.
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Always try to have the slide at a slight slant. The slide seals help against wind blown rain, but are not totally water proof. The slide topper does most of the work of keeping the water out.
Also it's a good idea to treat the rubber seals every now and then with a good quality rubber treatment to help keep the rubber soft.
Over time the seals can become hard and brittle, thus no longer doing their job.
Vic
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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Slide on my Keystone slopes AWAY from main TT body when main body is perfectly level.
Chuck
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spike99
North America
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Joined: 01/15/2004
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Rule 1 - Trailer's main chassis must be level - because its fridge needs to be level (or near perfect level) to work efficiently.
Rule 2 - Trailer's slide must have minimum slight slope away from trailer's main chassis. If chassis is level and slide roof is sloped towards the trailer, than slide might need adjusting. Ensure its slide is properly adjusted. If slide is properly adjusted, see rule #3. Especially if large slide.
Rule 3 (that some folks don't use - until its too late). If slide's main beam is sagged downward in its centre (from natrual old age weight), then perhps it needs a compressed center post when slide is in (during its winter storage months). If slide's main support roof beam is supported with a compression pole, the beam's center will press upwards (convex shape). Thus, "slowly" removing natrual sag out of the slide horizonal centre beam. If wondering, I use a verticial support beam on my TT's large slide (to remove natural sag during winter storage months) and it works great. re: - Click Here -
Hope these rules help... Especially #3 rule - that's only used by a few folks.
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