Every now and then the subject of RV slides comes up, not so much on BMB for obvious reasons. I have had one slide in my life (on a 5th wheel) and concluded early on that it wasn't something I needed to live a full life.

Since I now own a Wanderlodge, the subject comes up on the group's radar on regular intervals. Mostly it comes up around issues people are having, which doesn't mean much as all RV components have issues at times. Recently, the subject of slide seal replacement came up and I was a bit shocked that the cost for each slide approaches $4000 and must be replaced every 5-7 years. And I thought tires were expensive! It turns out the Wanderlodge, Newell, Prevost, Foretravel (essentially the really high end rigs) use a pneumatic seal that while effective in doing its job, is prone to failure over time as it must inflate to work.

I have gotten in a little hot water with the "pro slide" folks expressing my opinion that the cost, weight, complexity is just silly to add a few feet of hall space. To me it is akin to raising the roof another few feet just to feel it's bigger. Slide people don't agree and retort that it makes the rig more comfy, I remind them that it is all in their minds.

The banter goes on with "Slide" people vehemently defending their purchase while I sometimes suggest they were coerced by the RV industry who have manufactured this as a need. Once in a great while their is a defector, almost always from "slide" people to "reasonable thinker" people. It almost always follows a religious like experience when the slide jambs in an inopportune place or they realize the cost of each seal replacement or find water has leaked all over their beautiful interior as the seal has failed.

I figured my Barth friends would get a kick out of this banter even though it's a one sided world over here. Go ahead and weigh in on your thoughts as to weather slides have a place in the RV world or they are just more creeping elegance brought on by greedy corporate mind twisters. Inquiring, rational, reasonable, non-slide people want to know

I think Danny slide out looks like it works well.
Doorman

Actually, it was necessary for my interior re-design.

Care to share a link to this banter?

The RV industry most definitely has sold this idea to consumers... I mean, we wouldn't even know what a slide was had they not built them into rigs. That being said, I can see how multiple slides make a difference in space, i.e. 4 slides or full-wall slides on today's newer rigs. But I also am not too worried about 1-2 small slides.

I don't have any slides on my rig and we do fine, but we purposely chose it because of the unique living room floor plan that feels roomy without any slides (with L-shaped couch and large side bay windows). The extra floor space really is nice for our small kids to play.

The $4000 seal replacements are the first I've ever heard online, and I've been involved with multiple RV forums for several years... I'm sure it happens, but kinda doubt it's a requirement like replacing tires. Even if it's just the higher-end rigs, I guess if you spend $250k on a motorhome then occasional $4k maintenance should be expected. Ha. Another reason why I'll probably never own a premium brand MH as much as I may want to!

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Every now and then the subject of RV slides comes up, not so much on BMB for obvious reasons. I have had one slide in my life (on a 5th wheel) and concluded early on that it wasn't something I needed to live a full life.

X-queze mee! Wasn't the idea of a "camper" to get away from it all? tent< pop-up< trailer< motorized, self contained trailer? If you want all that "slideout" extra space etc. rent a damn suite at a shore resort or one in the mountains. They even have maid service and million channel TV. Remember "camping"? What ever happened to matches and a Coleman lantern? You want the comfort of home stay HOME!

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Remember "camping"?

One of the high-end bus converters now offers a fold-out wall & railing, converting the whole side of the bus into a "balcony", complete with sliding glass door.....Their ads say it's now possible "to enjoy the great outdoors".....

Hmmmm, wonder why those folks don't just stroll out the dang front door?......

I guess we all need to draw the line somewhere. I recall climbing Mt Washington for the first time and looking with disdain at the people that drove up. Likewise, a backpacker looks upon the tent trailer, the tent trailer upon the hardtop trailer.....and so on.

I'm not one to talk about minimalism with a 43' bus, but it is actually pretty much the smallest size we thought would work for full timing. Who knows when that might be, but we wanted the option to go for long stints if the opportunity arose.

This is our 8th year fulltiming in a 35ft. MCI bus. We have friends that have the same model/brand/size bus and have been fulltiming in it for 22 years.

........ camping to get away from it all........

Full timing .... an obvious exception.

We purposely bought a larger motorhome (although small by DP standards) so we COULD have the comfort of home away from home... and still see "nature" and other off-path attractions while avoiding expensive hotels and restaurants with every trip. If we wanted to "rough it" then we would be backpacking in the wilderness somewhere. Traditional camping and RVing are 2 different pastimes IMO, although they are often lumped together.

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Actually, it was necessary for my interior re-design

...unfortunately Danny had to remove his Onan to make room for the hydraulic ram system from a J.D back hoe to activate the slide.

My DP is designed to haul my backpack to places where there will always be a shower at the end of the trail

Agreed Corey. I think anyone that back packs and camps in the woods in Florida secretly has a death wish.