Bedroom Slide Seal Leak

[MyPrevost]

I went out today to wash the RV and started the engine to build up air pressure for the slides. After bringing both slides in, I stepped outside and heard a loud air leak near the back of the coach by the bedroom slide. It seems I’ve got a leak! Can anyone provide guidance on how to replace or patch an air seal? My manual has some information, but I’m not entirely clear on the process. Should I get this fixed before heading to San Francisco? I know the air seal can be removed and replaced, but I’m not sure how to go about it.

[MyPrevost]

Gary,

I spoke with Bob-00 regarding your slide issue, and he strongly recommends getting it fixed before heading to Santa Fe. Since our slides are hydraulic, we’ve never encountered this problem, and thankfully, we’ve had no issues with our slides at all. Bob mentioned that your air compressor might run constantly if the leak isn’t located and repaired.

I’m assuming your coach is still under warranty with Liberty since it’s a recent purchase? If that’s the case, I suggest making some urgent and persuasive phone calls! Maybe Jon, our resident Liberty expert, can offer additional advice. Best of luck!

Debi and Bob-00

[MyPrevost]

Gary,

I imagine there’s a procedure to bypass or turn off the air seal for situations like this. There’s likely a valve you can shut off. Once you do that, it might get a bit noisy while driving, but it shouldn’t cause any harm. However, it will definitely put a strain on your compressor. I believe those seals are also connected to the auxiliary compressor to maintain pressure while parked.

Tom Chilcote
Trans-Specialists RV Batteries
tom@transpspecialists.net

[MyPrevost]

Debi,

Regarding your Vantare’s HWH slides, what kind of seals do you have? Is it just a solid rubber gasket that extends and retracts with the slide? Have you experienced any leakage issues? Would heavy rain or severe weather lead to leaks when the slides are either extended or retracted?

As a newcomer, I’m eager to learn more about the different types of slide systems. I appreciate any insights you can share!

Thanks,
Tim

[MyPrevost]

Hi Tim,

I’m not sure what type of seals the HWH slides use, but you can check their website for helpful information.

As for weather performance, we’ve only experienced rain with the slides out a couple of times. We had a slight issue with strong winds blowing in some moisture, but it turned out to be around the window, not the slide itself. When the slide is in, the window is protected by the awning.

I would definitely buy another coach with slides without hesitation—it’s the best choice for us. Have you found your ideal Prevost yet?

Best,
Debi and Bob-00

[MyPrevost]

Gary,

Your coach uses an air bladder, similar to a bicycle inner tube, that inflates and deflates around the slide to create a seal. Whether the slide is in or out, the air bladder keeps the weather out.

Fortunately, Prevost-installed slides are designed so that the system can be adjusted to allow the slide room to be recessed from the outer coach side. This means they can simply pop out the inner tube and replace it with a new one. In contrast, on other non-Prevost installations, like our previous 1999 shell XL coach, the slide rooms would need to be removed to replace the tube, which can be quite costly.

It’s definitely best to get this fixed before your trip to Santa Fe.

[MyPrevost]

Gary,

My Newell has HWH slides like your coach, and I had a cut air gasket on my bedroom slide. A painter accidentally nicked the gasket with his grinding wheel. I tried patching it with a bicycle inner tube patch, but it didn’t hold due to the 22 psi pressure on the gasket.

Coloradobus is right; the bedroom slide can be tricked into retracting enough for you to change the air gasket. In my case, the technician removed the “stop,” which allowed the slide room to retract about two inches. This made it possible to replace the damaged gasket easily. Great engineering makes for straightforward repairs!

I recommend changing the gasket before you head to Santa Fe, especially since you never know when rain might hit.

Best,
Tuga & Karen Gaidry
2012 Honda Pilot

[MyPrevost]

I encountered a problem with my slide-outs today, and I wanted to share my experience since I know a few POGGERS are considering slides.

The bedroom slide would “stick” when I pressed the EXTEND button. The bottom of the slide room would move out while the top seemed to “stick.” After contacting Newell service, they informed me that the issue was likely due to a faulty hydraulic solenoid. They suggested replacing both the lock and unlock solenoids, as the pins weren’t retracting quickly enough for the slide room to extend smoothly.

I went ahead and replaced both solenoids, which took about an hour. The cost was $190 per solenoid, totaling $380, plus $60 for labor. Now, both pins retract in time, allowing the room to glide out evenly.

Best,
Tuga & Karen Gaidry
2012 Honda Pilot

[MyPrevost]

Sorry to hear about your challenges with the slide.

For anyone interested, there are some pictures available on http://www.prevost-stuff.com showcasing a preview of the Super Show in Tampa, which features the new Prevost pinless slides.

You might find it helpful to check out this link for a look at the interior of one of the Prevost pinless slide shells.

[MyPrevost]

Jeff,

Thanks for sharing the pictures! Do you know whether the Prevost slides are electric or hydraulic? Mine are HWH hydraulic from 1999. I’ve heard that the newer Newells are using Valid electric slides with great success. Based on Gary and Bob-00’s posts, it seems like the Prevost slides are performing well too. Anyone have insight on whether they use Prevost, Valid, or HWH slides?

I was surprised by how easy it was to change the solenoids. There’s a bank of solenoids located in the bay below the driver’s seat, which provides plenty of room to work and are clearly labeled. There are a total of nine solenoids, and I plan to keep a couple as spares. They’re all the same, but obviously, they have different functions.

I’m just starting to learn about slides, but so far, it’s been an enjoyable experience!

Tuga & Karen Gaidry

2012 Honda Pilot

[MyPrevost]

The new slides are electric. The electric motor is visible, along with the substantial mechanical components attached to it.

What you see in the storage bay is a long shaft driven by the gear mechanism, which is somewhat similar to the Newmar system (I know I’ll get some flak for this comparison).

The advantage of this setup over the earlier Prevost system is that it allows for more space inside the coach, as most of the mechanical components are now located below rather than inside. This makes repairs and adjustments much easier.

For more detailed information, it would be best to consult an expert or reach out to PCC.

Hope this helps a bit!

[MyPrevost]

Thanks, Jeff! It appears the electric slide system has a pin mechanism. The yellow label on the electric motor advises users to deflate the air gasket and release the pin before engaging the override mode. I assume this override mode is for situations when the electric motor malfunctions?

We could really use someone to explain how these slides work in detail! Perhaps we could even remove the slides from Gary’s Liberty at POG III for a hands-on demonstration. What do you think, Gary? Show & Tell time!

Tuga & Karen Gaidry
2012 Honda Pilot

[MyPrevost]

Honestly, I’m not quite sure how they work either.

The first Prevost slides I encountered were the pin slides in an H3, and they were quite loud—sounded like a .30-06 rifle going off! They had some fancy interlock feature that required the little window by the driver to be open before extending the slide. This was to prevent odors from the waste tanks being sucked up through the P-traps when the slide was opened.

I’m sure there are others here who could explain it much better and in more engaging terms.

Regarding the shell we saw, it wasn’t set up by the converter yet, so I’m not entirely clear on its operations. I’d guess that any interlocking and pin mechanisms are either automatic or simple enough that anyone could handle it.

I do have a Sawzall with metal blades and a crowbar, though! It would be amusing to take apart someone else’s coach to see how it works. Anyone up for volunteering? It could make for a great topic at POG III: “Taking Apart Another Guy’s Coach.”

Self-rating: -0.198/a.3

[MyPrevost]

Tuga, you mentioned that you replaced the two solenoids for around $180, plus $60 for labor.

Do you factor in your own labor? Or should you have said, “I had the two solenoids replaced”? Just trying to keep up with everyone’s expertise!

[MyPrevost]

Lew,

You’re right; I should have clarified that my friend Francis and I tackled the solenoid replacement together. He’s a jack-of-all-trades—great with plumbing, electrical work, computers, you name it. I covered the $60 for labor, but the best part is that I don’t have to deal with the hassle of driving to an RV repair shop, making an appointment, and facing a hefty repair bill. Francis can handle everything from the Aqua Hot to the Girard awning, which is a huge relief. He reminds me a lot of Jon; he’s always willing to take on any repair.

Honestly, without Francis, my motorhome days would be much more challenging. He’s not just a fantastic resource; he’s a great friend too!

Tuga & Karen Gaidry
2012 Honda Pilot

[Author]

Posts