Gliding without Complaint

Lubricating rack-and-pinion slideout mechanisms will squelch annoying noises, restore a smooth operation and provide years of trouble-free service. While you’re at it, give those bulb and wiper seals some TLC.

Just about everyone has a slideout — or two, three, four or five these days — which, of course, enhances livability. For the most part, these expanding rooms work without complaint — but when they break, the repairs can be complicated and costly. And, of course, there’s always the aggravation of being stuck somewhere and the frustration of finding a repair shop or mobile mechanic.

To circumvent premature failures, there’s a certain amount of maintenance that is required of the owner — including lubrication, depending on the type of slide-out mechanism. One of the most common types of slideouts is one that uses rack-and-pinion mechanicals. It’s a tried-and-true system that has withstood many years of service. For the most part, other than lubricating the gear pack and arms with teeth cut into the steel (rack), there’s not much the end user can do. Over time, though, these systems tend to develop grunts, grinds and squeals that are annoying — and can lead to other adjustment issues. Proper lubrication will quiet down the mechanism and restore confidence that the system will keep on working as designed.

CRC White Lithium Grease and Blaster Dry Lube with Teflon provide a one-two punch in the elimination of slide-out mechanism friction and annoying noises.

There are many lubrication products on the market, and we’ve tried most of them. You don’t want to use a lubricant that will attract dirt, which can gum up the system. One product that does the trick is CRC White Lithium Grease. This lithium-based spray is easy to dispense and will provide a uniform layer of lubrication that lasts a fairly long time, depending on the number of extend/retract cycles and exposure to the elements. Spray the gear pack liberally, but don’t overdo it. You just need enough to provide a protective layer, not one that makes a mess; it’s pretty easy to visualize the lubrication coverage.

Next, spray the White Lithium Grease along the teeth of the rack — and you’re done with this part of the service.

Continue by spraying the contact points where the floor of the RV and the slide-out room meet. Normally there is some space between the two, but in some cases, like the one shown here, the two surfaces will rub. To circumvent adverse friction, spray the area with Blaster Dry Lube with Teflon, which is a dry silicone-based lubricant. Once the spraying is complete, run the slideout room in and out a few times to make sure all moving parts are covered. In just about all cases, any noises will quiet down immediately and the slide-out will move more smoothly with less bumps and chattering.

Blaster Dry Lube with Teflon does a great job of lubricating the surfaces at the confluence of the RV and slide-out floors. Normally there’s a little more space between the surfaces, but in this case, they were touching and making annoying noises, which were quieted with the dry lube.

While you’re at it, take the time to treat the slide-out bulb and wiper seals to a coating of Aerospace 303 Protectant. This is a distillate-free product (meaning it will not degrade EPDM material used for seals) that will protect the rubber from the harsh UV elements. Regular spraying of Aerospace 303 Protectant will ensure longer life of the rubber compound and continue to allow the seals to perform as designed and prevent moisture/wind intrusion. All three of these products are available at auto parts and/or home improvement stores and online.

It’s simple maintenance, with long-term benefits. Take care of your slideouts and they will take care of you.

Spraying the slide-out bulb and wiper seals with Aerospace 303 Protectant will protect the rubber over the long run, and make sure moisture and air leaking through the slide-outs are kept at bay. (And no, it doesn’t come in this bottle — we bought it in a gallon container and transfer it to this type bottle, which we’ve found works easier when spraying at different angles.)