Slide Outs

[Zen Ken]

Can anyone post any sources for information about designing/building/installing slideouts in a skoolie? They sure are nice but how big of an undertaking is it to create one? Also, are there weight factors to consider? Thanks.

[Steve]

Im sure you have seen picture of the boogie bus before.

http://www.skoolie.net/gallery2/BoogieBus

I don't think you want to try to make your own but buy one from someplace I think http://www.ronthebusnut.com/ used to have them.

[Zen Ken]

Steve,
Yes the Boogie Bus slide out intrigued me. I didn't know if it was a factory job or what. Thanks to your other link I can source the slide machanism. I'm open any info anyone wants to share about how one would go about this. Thanks, Steve, I don't think I ever visit this site without learning something new.

[soused moose]

Here’s a few slide-out manufactures links I saved… that might point you in the right direction in designing one yourself
http://www.kwikee.com/Aslides.html
http://www.barkermfg.com/product_pages/ ... stems.html
http://www.validmanufacturing.com/slides.php

You don’t just have to think of slide-outs that come out from the sides of a rig….you can build them where the roof will raise.
I’ve seen a few of the Hi-Lo trailers and Alaskan camper brand rigs that rise up.
http://www.hilotrailer.com/
http://www.alaskancamper.com/sitemap.htm

Dave Galey wrote a book called Slide out Rooms, Mechanics and Structures…that also might come in handy in designing a slide-out.
I bought it ,read it and thought it was a lot like his Bus converters Bible…lots of theory and very little actual how to apply those theories stuff.
But I do have to say his section on designing the ‘hole where your slide-out will sit is pretty interesting stuff….so just that was worth the $20.00
Here’s a link to the book
http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=660&m=2

[Zen Ken]

Leave it to Michael to be Info Central. I've checked out all those links and there is a lot to consider there. I didn't know there were so many types of slide systems. I generally subscribe to the KISS method where there are fewer things to go wrong. I'll keep you all posted as the project begins. Thanks Michael and Steve for the links, and thanks to ALL you guys who go to the trouble to photographically document your projects. It sure makes it easy for us "Show Me" state guys when we can look at pictures. LOL.

[soused moose]

Here’s another good resource for slide-outs with some decent pics to see how they build/design them.
http://www.happijac.com/

Too busy at my job at radio shack , got bronchitis and the weathers a bit on the crappy side …so I’m taking a break from our bus project and focusing on getting some good links put up on my site.
Like everyone else I’ve got tons of links hanging out in the backwaters of my computer …so I’ve been searching around and finding all sorts of cool links to sites I had completely forgotten about.
I’m working on two links pages that might come in handy for someone out there.
A Mobile Homesteading type stuff links page …
http://www.mobilehomestead.com/links/links3.htm

And a RV , School Bus & Such Parts & Resources type page…
http://www.mobilehomestead.com/links/link1.htm

If anyone knows of other cool sites that apply here I’d sure appreciate hearing about it.
Thanks… Michael

[Zen Ken]

I went ahead and bought Dave Galey's book on slide outs today online. The more I think about this, the more I want to try to build two manually operated slide outs. After reading the book I may change my mind. This all seems very doable and the only part I haven't figured out is exactly how to seal it at the top against rain. I'm sure this will be covered in Dave's book.

[soused moose]

All a slide-out is ...is just a box ….with a lip on the inside and a lip on the outside.
When you run your slide out …the inside lip of the slide hits the interior wall making a seal.
Same applies when you put the slides in….the outside lip butts up against the rig making the seal.

In you haven’t seen this …Roger Beck (the fellow who wrote that excellent book Some Turtles have nice Shells )…has a section on his site showcasing a bunch of New Zealand Buses and Housetrucks….
They do a lot of home-made slides on their rigs…
Here’s the page
http://www.housetrucks.com/foreigndex/foreigndex.html

[RLLawrenceJr]

I really want to convert a school bus but I really like slides. They make for a much roomier house. What does everyone think about removing slides, hardware and all from either motorhomes or trailers? I have seen a lot that have recked or burned. I just had the thought. I have no idea if it is even feasible.

[Ceefiveceefive]

Hello!
This is a very dated thread going back to 2005! Most of the links are no good now.

I just wanted to check in and see what the community has for how-to's on diy slide outs.
I have not had much success in finding much online either in videos or websites with folks sharing step by step how to build a slide out.

In my particular case from what info I can gather, Im looking at trying out an above floor type slide out.

Other than that, Im starving for info! Any direction would be appreciated!

[ol trunt]

I've worked on slide outs and I might be able to offer a few pointers if I had an idea how you plan to use the thing.
Jack

[Ceefiveceefive]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

I've worked on slide outs and I might be able to offer a few pointers if I had an idea how you plan to use the thing.

Jack

TY!
I appreciate all pointers you can give.

Full disclosure: the slide out I want to install right now will be on an older Class A motorhome - 1994. I was told I would have better luck asking about slide outs here rather than in typical motorhome forums. I am looking for a Skoolie next & will also be installing slides on it as well, but that is in the future.

I am hoping the installation principles will be basically the same as a Skoolie. My main concern is structural integrity. I know it can be done, just don't know quite how.

What I want and what I can reasonably get are probably going to be different. But, here we go:

1994 37.5' Pace Arrow Remodel for Solo Fulltime living by Nov 2020. Runs Great. Will not be traveling - will be parked & camping 95% of time once I sell the stix-n-brix and begin full-timing. Space is a huge deal for me.

I would like as large of a slide as I can get on the left hand side starting from somewhere behind the driver's seat going as far back as feasable. I would prefer it to be above floor or perhaps cable operated and able to hold at max 1000 pounds since I won't be putting all the furniture back (I prefer open floor plans with space).

I am in process now of gutting the rv all out for remodeling, so there will be approximately a length of 24 feet from the drivers seat to the rear bedroom door that is completely stripped down to the exterior fiberglass.

The framework is steel joists.

If you can offer any help, I'm all ears. I've already been told to see a dealer and have it done professionally. I will use that option as a last resort.

Thanks!

[ol trunt]

"Full disclosure: the slide out I want to install right now will be on an older Class A motorhome - 1994. I was told I would have better luck asking about slide outs here rather than in typical motorhome forums. I am looking for a Skoolie next & will also be installing slides on it as well, but that is in the future."

Full disclosure here too. If you ever do get a skoolie I'd be glad to help you but since you are only looking for gratis assistance on some other project and are not giving full disclosure at the get go, I have no use for you.

I hope everyone else on this forum will see you for what you are and not waste their time.

[Ceefiveceefive]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

"Full disclosure: the slide out I want to install right now will be on an older Class A motorhome - 1994. I was told I would have better luck asking about slide outs here rather than in typical motorhome forums. I am looking for a Skoolie next & will also be installing slides on it as well, but that is in the future."

Full disclosure here too. If you ever do get a skoolie I'd be glad to help you but since you are only looking for gratis assistance on some other project and are not giving full disclosure at the get go, I have no use for you.

I hope everyone else on this forum will see you for what you are and not waste their time.

Fair enough and I respect your view. That is why I was honest at the beginning of my response.

I cannot find assistance for what I need at other forums and was directed here.

No harm in trying.

Thank you for responding.

[joeblack5]

Ceefive... Did you read David galey's book?. If you are getting a slide out from a wrecked rv then get the supporting structure at the same time.
I think you are right that a slide out makes a bus or rv more liveable. Sofar very few people have actually done it ...so you would be in the pioneering group. Please keep us posted about your thoughts and progress.
Good luck..J

[Ceefiveceefive]

Originally Posted by joeblack5

Ceefive... Did you read David galey's book?. If you are getting a slide out from a wrecked rv then get the supporting structure at the same time.

I think you are right that a slide out makes a bus or rv more liveable. Sofar very few people have actually done it ...so you would be in the pioneering group. Please keep us posted about your thoughts and progress.

Good luck..J

Hi Joe!
Thank you for responding.
I read about Davids book in the thread and would like to buy it.

I searched Amazon for the book and it was not available at this time. I tried emailing him to see if he has copies in print but have not heard back from him yet.

My local library did not have a copy either.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Zen Ken

Can anyone post any sources for information about designing/building/installing slideouts in a skoolie? They sure are nice but how big of an undertaking is it to create one? Also, are there weight factors to consider? Thanks.

500 lb, 48" drawer slides - $222 CAD - ( approx $166 US$ )

https://www.amazon.ca/Heavy-Duty-Dra...592144&sr=8-15

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

500 lb, 48" drawer slides - $222 CAD - ( approx $166 US$ )

https://www.amazon.ca/Heavy-Duty-Dra...592144&sr=8-15

Man, this is giving me ideas I don't need to be having right now.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Ceefiveceefive

Hi Joe!
Thank you for responding.
I read about Davids book in the thread and would like to buy it.

I searched Amazon for the book and it was not available at this time. I tried emailing him to see if he has copies in print but have not heard back from him yet.

My local library did not have a copy either.

Dave passed away several years ago. A definite loss to the bus conversion community. Dave is the one that encouraged me to buy my first bus. He was an all around nice guy.

His books are now scarce and expensive. I am kicking myself for giving away my copies.

[brokedown]

Not really helpful but the only Skoolie I've seen in person with slide-outs is Rickey's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNocSBs-GnM