Hi Janelh and a warm welcome to the GN's :) We are always happy to help those new to this fantastic lifestyle. Please don't hesitate to ask as many questions you have about vanning and travelling and in due course we look forward to you telling us all the great places you visit and the things you see !
I have a 2 yr old van and it doesn't have a slideout. I could have bought one, but the honest (yep, there are a few around) salesman said while most of them give little fault, when they go wrong it seems impossible to get right and if this happens the unit can get twisted so not only will it not close at the press of the button, it will not wind back manually (the backup mechanism).
But there are heaps of vans out there with slideouts and we don't see many complaints about them on this site.
Guess that if you get a slideout van, just keep your fingers crossed and hope it was well built !!
Good luck and enjoy your travels
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
We have a slide out in our van, however my thoughts are the same as your hubbies. Just another thing to go wrong, add extra weight, extra to service and clean. If you can manage with out, I would take that path.
Again it all depends on your needs, if you need the extra room, or as in our case the model comes with a slide out, like it or lump it.
Thanks for the replies,
my main problem is that the layout of the new vans we are looking at ALL have slide outs.
I'm not sure if this is appropriate but are there any opinions of the new Jayco Silverline/Starcraft or the Coromal Element?
iana, have you had any problems with your slide out? Have you done many miles travelling with it?
We went and brought a Jayco Silverline, which has probably got the same layout as the 21 foot model, the club lounge being slightly smaller. One of the main issues we have that we did not pick up when looking at them, but only surfaced after a few trips away was when the bed (slide out) was extended, it is very hard to get into the bed.
It is early days for us yet, but to-date we have had no trouble with the slide-out.
The model Silverline we brought does not have the club lounge, but has two recliner chairs instead. Feel free to ask more questions if need be.
iana, please explain your comment re when you have the bed slide out you have to climb over the bed, when the slide out is out you can walk around the bed the whole reason for having a slideout ???
OH dear, Brisand, please read what I wrote, not what you thought I wrote.
The double size slide out may address the issue, but the slide-out which just encloses the bed is an issue.
We have a fifth wheeler with twin slide outs for the table and recliners, the bed is up front as per usual in these ours is an older van no real issues yet but the seal against the Slideout is not quite what it could be but something we felt we could live with given the extra room that they create, ( we bought it second hand ).
Iana please don't bite my head off as I don't know your layout, but, is sleeping the other way around an option for easier access to the bed ?
Woody
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When the power of Love becomes greater than the love of power the World will see peace ! 24ft Trailblazer 5th wheeler n 05 Patrol ute and Black Series Dominator camper trailer ( for the rough stuff)
Hi Woody,
I was so close to getting a 5 wheeler, if I won tats tomorrow I would get one. Yes having the bed-head at the other end would fix the problem, and I have applied thought in this direction. Trouble is the bed being extendable, and only designed to support light weight at that end does not make it a proposition. That is the end of the bed is pushed in before one brings the slide-out back into its home position.
Would I bite your head off? meeee!
We have 2013 Jayco Outback 23' with the full slide out. We are full time "Grey Nomads" as to say. Previously 21' Jayco Sterling with slide out just for the bed. I agree with Brisland that the slide out makes the caravan and would not be without it. This van is close to 3 years old, full time on the road, does let a little dust in that can be wiped off. No mechanical issues, no water leaks and only those people who do not have one, or wish they had one make the complaints.
We make sure our sites are level and use WD40 spray on regular basis for the teeth in the opening/closure mechanism. At the end of the day you can worry about a lot of things when caravaning, but if things like this stress you out then you may need to stay home with the security blanket of your home.
Our 2011 Jayco Sterling has a slideout. We have done approx. 80,000 kms and all is well so far, but like all things regular servicing must help.
Geoff and Bev
