HELP! Broken down on I-80 in Wendover NV

Rkh · 08-23-2011, 10:51 PM

1998 Winnebago Chieftain....hit a bump on I-80.....The bolts that attach the inner side of the bays to the slide rail broke..The 12 foot section of bays is now loose and only attached at outer side...Can't safely drive the coach this way..Good Sam can't do any roadside repairs which I get..But I am unable to get any roadside service for this problem...My best bet is to get someone to come out with new bolts and put them in to get me down the road...Waiting on callbacks now at 8:30 pm PT....
Has anyone had this issue...This model coach allows the bays to slide out with the room slide for easier access, hence the inner and outer bolts attaching the bay section to the under side of the room...I notice that newer Winnies don't have this feature....

Dadeaux · 08-23-2011, 10:55 PM

Can you contact some campgrounds near you and see if they know of a mobile RV repair guy in the area. Most of these guys can handle anything.

Good luck.

Chuck 1935 · 08-23-2011, 10:59 PM

Is there anyway you can empty the bay to make them lighter and then either tie the bays to the slide rails with rope or use your slide out winch if you have one.

You might call Wendover KOA 775 664 3221
Pilot Travel Center

pilotcorp.com
(775) 664-3400

1200 W Wendover Blvd, West Wendover, NV

Rkh · 08-23-2011, 11:18 PM

Thanks guys...I'm waiting to hear back from Mountain RV park...They may have someone that can get out here...As for roping it up,,,I'm too chicken to do that...I need someone to bring bolts...By the time I figured out that standard 1/2" x 6" bolts would do the trick, it got dark....So, on the side of the road I'll stay for tonight....scary as he'll...Just wife and small dog...No kids with us thank God....

tderonne · 08-26-2011, 05:56 PM

New news?

I had to replace those bolts on mine. If I recall correctly using standard bolts wasn't an option. I remember welding bolts to the lower end of stock "bolts" after cutting off what was there. Used slightly larger bolts, and better washers.

rgvtexan · 08-26-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rkh

Thanks guys...I'm waiting to hear back from Mountain RV park...They may have someone that can get out here...As for roping it up,,,I'm too chicken to do that...I need someone to bring bolts...By the time I figured out that standard 1/2" x 6" bolts would do the trick, it got dark....So, on the side of the road I'll stay for tonight....scary as he'll...Just wife and small dog...No kids with us thank God....

Are you still on the side of the road? Hope not!

dirko · 08-27-2011, 08:18 PM

Hi Ho: Maybe no reply is good news...maybe not. Anyway, Wendover has a couple of interesting things: The airport is where the Nola Gay took off for Japan. It has a museum and some stuff from WWII. The casinos has no interest for me except that they have a great buffet. Give it a try if you are still there. I have been known to fly our little plane to Wendover just for lunch. Anyway, good luck.

Rkh · 08-28-2011, 09:43 AM

I got off the side of the road after 30 hours. The one or two roadside emergency guys are busy 24x7. The bolts that secure the inner side of the 15' section of storage bay to the underside of the room slide are unfortunately and needlessly unique...One piece bolt fine thread 12mm at the top where they screw into the rail asm. and standard 3/8 thread lower section as it attaches to the storage bay box...Without these bolts, you cannot safely move the coach...never..The bolt is fully threaded to allow the support arm of the box to be trapped by two nuts.
Every place in our country has something interesting to offer. That's why I bought the RV...It's just that some places are better than others to break down in. I secured the storage box with a regular fine thread bolt and made it to Placerville CA where I had the right bolts air shipped to me there.

So, what happened to the slide? I have a chicken or egg problem...After putting it all back together, I noted that I was low on hydraulic fluid..filled it, punched the extend slide button and the front of the slide began to move but the rear acts like it's stuck..At the same time I can hear fluid shooting out on the ground from some point about 10' from the front of the coach...Is the rear of the slide stuck causing the leak, or is the leak there first causing the rear of the slide to lag behind...
I'll be wenching the slide in and heading south to visit son in southern CA...There is a Camping World along the way and I may see if they have time to look at this...

Triker56 · 08-28-2011, 10:00 AM

I take it you don't pull a toad? To go after your own bolts.

But! GS should have gotten you a flat bed tow truck to move you to a repair place.
You did tell them it couldn't safely be driven?
That is what you pay them for. Not sitting along the road for 30 hours.

Rkh · 08-28-2011, 10:18 AM

No toad..GS offered to tow me but I never considered a tow that meant the whole coach was up on a flatbed...This learning experience is on me I guess...I was focused on getting someone to drive me back and forth to town to secure temporary repair parts..GS never specified a flatbed type tow but maybe it was me that wasn't thinking through all the options available to me. The closest repair center would have been Salt Lake City about 100 miles back where I came from....

JohnRR · 08-28-2011, 11:31 AM

If your concern the way I read it was moving the unit and having the slide move if that's the case the slide would have the possibility of moving, falling off, or causing more damage when moved (which ever your concern was) regardless if you drove it, towed it with a conventional tow truck or used a flatbed. When the unit goes down the road at whatever speed, over whatever road surface, it moves and shakes the same no matter what power is being used to propel it down the road.

SVTotem · 08-28-2011, 11:38 AM

Not sure of your coach/slide manufacturer, but in my case a hydraulic leak resulted in lost pressure allowing the slide to partially extend on the highway.

It was caused by a pin hole leak in a line on the rear side wall of the curbside slide. It had suffered rubbing wear each time the slide was operated.

The point here is to secure the slide before driving further so that it will not deploy. In the absence of slide locks, 2x4s cut to length would work when placed above slide on the inside.

Good luck.

Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43' · 08-28-2011, 11:47 AM

In the past when I have had problems with chassis I've found that over the road trailer repair facilities are excellent and all provide road service. Just an idea rather than 30 hrs on the side of the road.

Rkh · 08-28-2011, 11:12 PM

1998 Winnebago Chieftain WB...One long living room/galley slide. New to me and first RV...Previous owner replaced flooring and carpet. Never put back any slide locks/latches. I knew I needed to get them installed and had the parts on the coach. intended to put them on after our first stop...Waited one stop too many, my fault. I'm not sure what happened first...

The slide came out a foot after hitting a ruff bump..Immediately pulled of the hwy...

Successfully cranked slide in with on board wench. Thought I was at least back on the road...

I then noticed that the bay storage section below this slide was dangling by it's outer mounting hardware..This model coach used what's called a "store more" design where the bays come out with the slide for easier access...The inner bolts at the front and rear both sheared. The coach could not be moved...

Had replacement bolts sent and replaced them. Slide is now in, and bays are secure...

Leveled the coach and punched the slide extend button and poof, hydro fluid is spewing from under the coach..It is coming from a broken line off of a unit mounted at the end of the front slide rail...

Not sure if the line blew off because there is a bind in the slide or if the line blew first, period..

pkmesser · 08-28-2011, 11:32 PM

The line leak would not have been caused by the slide binding up. The hydraulic systems are designed to withstand the full pressure the pump can provide, even deadheaded, and then with a reserve above that, you just plain had a line leak, or broken fitting.

flash1942 · 08-29-2011, 10:04 PM

Rkh, Where did you order your replacement bolts from? Since i have an older Winnebago with the same slide configuration,maybe I should carry two of these bolts. Thanks,Lloyd

Rkh · 08-30-2011, 12:03 AM

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John Hilley · 08-30-2011, 08:13 AM

What was the part number for the bolts and cost?

Rkh · 08-30-2011, 09:16 AM

Bolts were cheap and there is more than one style. You have to call the guys to make sure you're ordering the right ones.

cmwilk · 09-02-2011, 09:33 AM

I'm begining to wonder if tese bolts have an experation date on them.. Lucky for me mine broke in the driveway right before we were ready to pack up and head out. The bolts are not easy to find. I had to drive 3 hours 1 way to get them. I did buy and extra set. We lost 1 day of out Laborday Vacation but it could have been much worse. Brokendown on the HWY is no way to enjoy your last summer vacation. Thanks for the help, I was convinced we were just scewed. this is quite simple to replace if you can get the bolts out.