A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

I've always been taught never to assume anything so I'm asking this "not so stupid" question just
so I'm not "assuming" it will be. guess that was a mouthfull.
Anyway, I'm "assuming" when you boondock and open the slide its running off of battery. Is that
correct? Then if my batteries are dead I won't be able to open my slide so therefore I'll need to
put new batteries in. Since my rv is in the storage, how much juice will operating the slide draw
on the batteries. I'd hate to open it up to get some work done and then try to close it and find
the batteries are drained. I'm assuming with new batteries it should be fine but then there's that
word "assume". I'd hate to have to use the crank and do it manually Anytime I've
operated the slide it was plugged into electricity, so thats why I ask, cause I really don't know.

Ava, I know when we had the 5th wheel, if the batteries were really down, we could not operate the slide without connecting to the pickup to charge the batteries. Also, before Paul replaced his house batteries, he could not get the slide either in or out if they were drained.

Ava, I probably would have thought of that AFTER the fact!! Yes, you do need some battery power. Will you be taking a pick up when you do the work so you can plug the trailer in? Do you have solar or generator?

Interesting. My motorhome slides work only when the motor is running and the emergency brake engaged. Never thought about trailers or 5th wheels.

Can you operate them from the row vehicle batteries?

My slide will open on battery, but it's not advised to do it very often. If you're going to temporarily charge your batteries just to open your slide you might be asking for trouble. I'd get the new batteries first. AND I'd also install a simple kill switch, so you don't drain them with all the parasitic draws a trailer places on them when just sitting.

Laura

certainly glad I did not "assume"
Yes, I do plan on buying the new batteries first and thats why the question cause I didn't want to drain
them right off the bat.
Don't have a truck to hook up..(another reason I asked) cause I remember when my friends moved
it over for me they used power from the truck to set the levelers before they disconnected.
I don't have solar, but its on my list (Harbor Freight has a pretty good deal going right now)
I also don't have a generator but thats on the list too, the Honda eu2000i is the one I plan to get.
I can certainly get the solar package at Harbor Freight, have the rv guy (Genes RV Repair) put it
on while its in storage. Then I feel I could safely go out there on weekends and do some of my
projects.
All good plans, getting the little ducks in a row.