Sliders Unite!!

[ggoat!!!]

Originally Posted by ggoat!!!

Is that shiny vinyl original??? It looks so uneven and bunched up...especially under the dinette and the front of the sofa...is that Airstream's ultraleather? It doesn't really look as fake as Airstream's pleather...maybe it's just really thick actual leather?

I just want to take this opportunity to express that I meant no ill will in my original post; I tried to edit it but the site won't let me. I didn't realize that "vinyl" was a bad word...I actually prefer high quality vinyl as nowadays it tends to age better and doesn't become as brittle, wrinkled, and worn out as cheap leather does. High quality modern vinyl also doesn't crack and become hard like it did in the 70's.

If someone did that work themself or had someone do it, my sincerest apologies; if Airstream did it (I'm not up on the options with Classics over the years) I would expect it to be a bit more even and finished; that's all I was originally trying to say...along with my comment that Airstream should call their ultraleather what it really is, i.e. "pleather" or vinyl.

To me, "shiny vinyl" wasn't meant as insulting but one of my friends here on the forum alerted me to how it could be taken that way. I didn't mean it as such; please accept my apologies.

Now I will go pound sand.

[jcanavera]

We got our slide out in November 2003. It's a 31' Classic and it is heavy. Hitch weight for the 2004 models was about 1,260 lbs or so. I had to upgrade the hitch platform on my van since it was limited to 1,000 lbs. I ended up putting in a Class V platform and am using a Equal-i-zer with a 1,400 lb rating.

Slide has been flawless and I have no regrets other than we couldn't order one without a carpet. I remember the slide out shell was built in fiberglass and was aluminum clad. I saw them at JC back in 2001 and remember them being white in color. The 31' Classic slide out is still the heaviest trailer that Airstream has ever built on a tandem axle.

I remember asking the dealer if they could build one without the carpet and at the time he said that the carpet was necessary for the rollers supported the slide when it moved inside. Supposedly the roller would damage a hard floor and the factory refused to build one without even though I requested. Later models did come without the carpet but I was told that the roller system had been modified to not cause floor damage.

Hard to believe though that only 81 were built since there were also Safari slides built.

Jack

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

I remember asking the dealer if they could build one without the carpet and at the time he said that the carpet was necessary for the rollers supported the slide when it moved inside. Supposedly the roller would damage a hard floor and the factory refused to build one without even though I requested. Later models did come without the carpet but I was told that the roller system had been modified to not cause floor damage.

We have friends in our unit that have a 34' couch slide that came from the factory with carpet, and they have had the carpet changed out to wood flooring. The wood flooring is damaged where the slide goes over it.


I'm wondering what the procedure is for changing out the carpet under the slide.

[jcanavera]

Steve I'm not sure. I wonder what year your friends trailer was built? I know that when I extend the slider, I can see the track marks in the carpet. The pile is not damaged though and the tracks vacuum right out. I now can see that a hard floor might be damaged by the rollers. I'm not sure what year Airstream started allowing hard floors on the slide outs.

Jack

[SteveH]

My friend's trailer is either a 2000, or 2001. And yes, we see the tracks in the carpet pile also. Do you think the slide must be removed to replace the carpet? That seems a little extreme to me, but might be possible.


Just wondering because I can see where in the future we will want to replace it.

[boondockdad]

Airstream slides are the best.
When you want to set-up camp, you've got all that extra room at your fingertips.


Without compromising the purity of an Airstream


and when you're underway, and stop for a lunch/legstretch/diaperchange, you've still got all the space and functionality of a standard 31' Dinette, without having to drop the stabs and extend the slide (you won't find that versatility in most SOB slide models).

[TinShack]

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

We purchased our 30' Classic S/O new in 2004 and have had fun changing things and making it our own. Can't think of ever trading it as Airstream makes such a great platform.

Did you change out the flooring from carpet in your slideout? If so, you can make a lot of slideout people happy if you would explain what you did!

[pappy19]

Our 2002 S/O has carpet and I am sure looking to change it out to wood, at least in the kitchen. Makes no sense to have carpet in the kitchen. That's my only complaint with our S/O. We may stop at the mother ship on our upcoming 7,000 mile trip, and see if changing to a wood floor will be possible.

[m.hony]

Our SOB trailer had carpet only in the slide. The rest of the trailer was vinyl flooring. You could tell where the carpet was matted down from the slide going in and out.

[SeeMore]

There are a number of posts about carpet removal in the Airforums if you can formulate your search query correctly. It took me quite a while to find what others did. Here are a couple:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ml#post1399401

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f461...ml#post1143976

I am just starting the design phase for a flooring overhaul in my 28 S/O and assessing various materials, patterns, colors, etc. I only parked the trailer at my shop today to conjure up my plan and execution methods plus start the measurement, inspections, etc. My research has only just begun and my interest is either cork or maybe the new 100% waterproof, loose lay solid vinyl planks that are dimensionally stable. I guess I need to photograph the event and add to the database of knowledge on the forum.

What I have learned, but not verified on my unit, is that two methods were used for easing friction when the slide moved. Some models had wheels mounted to the slide bottom that move across the floor surface and others had wheels mounted to the floor on which the slide sat. The first method is an issue with hard flooring surfaces due to marks and buckling on floating floors. The change happened around the '03-04 timeframe in the various comments/information I've read online.

[jcanavera]

I just don't think you can remove the carpet in those older slide outs without risking damage to the new floor. The question is whether the old slides could be retrofitted with whatever changes were made in the newer slides.

I have an '04 and the rollers move across the carpet pressing on the carpet.

Jack

[carpenter]

You have 4 rollers mounted in plywood floor at outside wall on a lounge s/o these rollers do not move in or out. If you open up compartment under slide you will see the roller plate on back side of plywood at the out side wall These roller plates will be slightly above or even with plywood bottom . My slide bottom rides on this rollers. These rollers are fastened on top side. If you adjust slide adjustment bolt vertical down you can put a lot of pressure on these rollers when it closes up.These rollers are a pivoting point between slide bottom and slide mechanism and adjustment bolt. If you open slide half way you can rock slide up and down on what i call the pivoting point rollers. As slide moves into trailer the inside front bottom of slide will tilt forward causing more drag on carpet or wood floor because of pivoting point changing . I have 3/8 wood floor in mine i use a piece of felt under one corner of slide going out or in.

[SeeMore]

@shamrock - Thanks for the clues. I have never had any marks on my carpet and the front edge barely touches the top of the carpet nap. My slide must be perfectly level with the floor, an Airstream first? I may try the half way trick to see under the edge. I suspect my rollers may match yours with a mounting to the floor.

If so, the flooring issue will be a bit easier to cope with. I will just have to figure how to make a big enough floor section to slide under the leading edge when the slide is out and ensure I have a secure boundary.

[ZoominC6]

Originally Posted by CA Streamer

Did you change out the flooring from carpet in your slideout? If so, you can make a lot of slideout people happy if you would explain what you did!

CASteamer,
We didn't remove the carpet ourselves. Some years back, 6 or 7, we had our dealer remove the carpet for us after seeing work he'd done on another Airstream. He removed the sofa and anywhere carpet was installed underneath then installed a faux wood flooring that has a wood grain imbossed into the planking and installed it on a diagonal as shown. It's so much easier to keep clean. We did leave the carpet in the bedroom. A couple of years ago we had the fabric removed from the dinette and sofa, had premium backing installed under real leather then had the slide out flanges wraped in a vinyl that matches the color of the mouse fur on the walls.

[Air-Texas]

Originally Posted by ZoominC6

We purchased our 30' Classic S/O new in 2004 and have had fun changing things and making it our own. Can't think of ever trading it as Airstream makes such a great platform.

I really like your colors. It all goes together very nicely.

[pappy19]

I am getting an estimate for my carpet removal and hardwood replacement; around $1,800.00, is this a fair price?

[rasjad]

Just purchased our 30 ft so classic. We have 2 big dogs so the floor space is appreciated. Just taking our first trip to Utah.

[ZoominC6]

Originally Posted by pappy19

I am getting an estimate for my carpet removal and hardwood replacement; around $1,800.00, is this a fair price?

Pappy,
That's about what we paid for our synthetic installed on the diagonal about eight years ago. Sounds good. Enjoy.

[GCinSC2]

rasjad,

Welcome to Airforums. More experience here that we'll ever know. I think the S/O is a special model you'll get more questions about it than you imagined. Folks will want pictures and we'll ask for model specifics so be prepared.

Now, how about the year info?

Gary

[GCinSC2]

Pappy,

No idea on price but I'll be watching and hoping you post the pic's.

Gary