Phillerup
USA
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Joined: 10/15/2002
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Greatriver wrote:All of you folks who own coaches with slides, especially quad slides. When underway would you rather have slides or no slides...or does it not make any difference? Also, what are your reasons?
We looked for a coach with two slides. We wanted the living room slide on the driver's side so it would not interfere with the patio area and the awning over the patio area. Also I keep a lot of stuff in the basement on the passenger side and hated the thought of getting on my knees and crawling around every time I went under there for something. I would have taken a coach with a third slide but it would have to be in the bedroom. Also, even when parked for the night we do not have to extend a slide to use the coach....this was important to us.
Many of the two front slide models we looked at did not increase the actual area that much over a single front slide because they went to two smaller depth front slides instead of one larger depth slide. We also did not want all the kitchen plumbing and water lines and gas line and electrical for the kitchen moving back and forth.
I would not own a coach without slides.
2003 Newmar DSDP 4005 dual slide king bed Spartan 350 Cummins 2004 Jeep Liberty 4X4 tow, SeaEagle boat in basement
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Greatriver
Eastern Virginia
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Joined: 11/11/2008
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UltimaRV wrote:We have one long slide in living and galley, but the next coach will have one or two in the bedroom.
When two slides in the living area are complimented with an arrangement that makes sense for us (i.e. Intimate for entertaining another couple and not open like an ice rink could go in) we'll consider if when closed functional and payload is still around the 9600 lbs as present.
We looked at a Marquis during our last purchase, but when closed it looked like the inside of a furniture removal van. Not our style, but everyone's different.
The "moving van" effect is my concern and the reason for the question and post. What I wanted to find out is if when slides are in was there a problem from either a user standpoint or a claustrophobic standpoint. What I'm getting is that people who have slides would not go back to a no slide coach even with the added weight and loss of CCC.
This forum is a terrific resource for this type of user information so let me dial in the question just a bit more. If two people plan to put 30,000 miles a year on the coach to tour and not go from point A to point B to set up camp are slides still important?
Larry
Decision made...the perfect (for us) DP to full time.
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UltimaRV
USA & Europe
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Joined: 04/13/2006
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Really depends, some say no, but then there is also the resale value to consider. My answer would be at least two slides (a wife will appreciate a bedroom slide).
Also think about slide technology and locking methods. Not all are created equal, but at least they all move in and out. As said, never buy without closing all up and playing house (together).
Dian, Robert & Precious - Presently RV'ing in Europe!
2000 45' Featherlite Vogue 5000, tag, slide, Detroit Series 60
2006 19' Towcorp enclosed trailer w/60" tongue
2004 13' Ultima GTR (9.9 seconds standing quarter mile)
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gone2dadesert
Encinitas, Ca
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Joined: 01/07/2004
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I went from a F350 - bumper pull toyhauler with no slides to my 'A' with no slides, so it wasn't a big deal as far as the extra room was concerned at the time. When I purchased my 'A', I didn't want to make a $100k + purchase on something I may not be happy with. My typical RV trips are weekends to the deserts of So. Cal, so I didn't need a mobile Mc Mansion. When I decide to upgrade, it'll be a coach with at least 1 (living area) slide and possibly bunks for expectant twins 
2007 Hurricane 30Q
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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Greatriver wrote:
This forum is a terrific resource for this type of user information so let me dial in the question just a bit more. If two people plan to put 30,000 miles a year on the coach to tour and not go from point A to point B to set up camp are slides still important?
yes, at least one slide is needed so you can move past each other and not continually bump each other.
bumpy
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RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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Slides are not really necessary and will be up to the individual what he or she likes. I am sure that there are many people that do not want slides and are perfectly happy. One thing for sure is that a coach without slides, there would be no water leaks to worry about. It would be sealed a lot better then a coach with slides. You would not have to worry about bumping your head on the slide when trying to get something out of the comparments and the coach would be a lot lighter. So it is not mandatory that in order to go out and have fun that you have to have slides. Slides are not for everybody. What has happened now days is that we are spoiled rotten. I remember when I was completely content with a overhead camper on my pickup.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2005 Honda Pilot EXL 4WD
Aventa III
FMCA member
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JohnnyT
Goshen New York
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Joined: 07/15/2003
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Good Sam RV Club
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Greatriver wrote:All of you folks who own coaches with slides, especially quad slides. When underway would you rather have slides or no slides...or does it not make any difference? Also, what are your reasons?
There are parkers and drivers.. We fall in the driver category This year we will log over 20,000 miles on the road so the usability and livability with slides in was a factor in our selection of floor plan.
Our floor plan was available in 2, 3, or 4 slide versions. We opted for the two slide version with the slides on one side of the coach the drivers side.
Our choice was a no compromise on the patio side so the awning was not compromised nor was our space under the awning compromised. This decision also allowed us to have bus styled basement doors for maximum access.
With the slides in we can cook, bathe and sleep and have access to all essential areas . We even can do our laundry.
The only compromise with the slide in is that should the lure of going to the bathroom strike me in the middle of the night with the slides in I will have to quietly crawl over my beloved snoring wife
Our current floor plan is perfect for us... But I would add a third slide in the bedroom to allow for extra room when parked.
In terms of the forth slide in the living area... I am not sure I would go that way since the number of times where the extra 18 inches would make a difference is small.
JohnnyT
2004 40DS02 Travel Supreme ISL 400
Jeep Grand Cherokee
M&G Brake & Break Away
Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow bar
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Cloud Dancer
San Antonio and Livingston TX USA
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Joined: 06/08/2001
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Phillerup wrote:Greatriver wrote:All of you folks who own coaches with slides, especially quad slides. When underway would you rather have slides or no slides...or does it not make any difference? Also, what are your reasons?
We looked for a coach with two slides. We wanted the living room slide on the driver's side so it would not interfere with the patio area and the awning over the patio area. Also I keep a lot of stuff in the basement on the passenger side and hated the thought of getting on my knees and crawling around every time I went under there for something. I would have taken a coach with a third slide but it would have to be in the bedroom. Also, even when parked for the night we do not have to extend a slide to use the coach....this was important to us.
Many of the two front slide models we looked at did not increase the actual area that much over a single front slide because they went to two smaller depth front slides instead of one larger depth slide. We also did not want all the kitchen plumbing and water lines and gas line and electrical for the kitchen moving back and forth.
I would not own a coach without slides.
I chose 2 slideouts over 3, same reasons as Phil. ALSO, did NOT want to overload the tires. You have to know what you're doing in order to properly load the 2003 Dutch Star.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
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StanleyandIris
Louisiana
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Joined: 06/17/2007
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2 slides, one in L/R one in B/R. It is great when they are extended, lots of room to move around and we don't have to move out of each other's way. I don't feel squished.
We can get to everything we need while underway. If we are lot-docking and do not put the slides out, it is impossible for us both to watch TV in comfort. It is mounted over the dash and the forward slide wall means we both must sit on the passenger side sofa and strain our necks. Miserable, really. So DH sprawls out on the sofa and I have a folding stool that sits near the stove where I perch.
We exchanged the short, uncomfortable queen mattress with a pillow top regular sized queen. Since it doesn't fit under the headboard and is longer than the old one, it overhangs several inches at the foot of the bed platform. There isn't room enough to walk around the bed or to reach into the vanity drawers if the slide is not extended. We manage.
After a couple of days it starts to be aggravating and we go somewhere where the slides can come out all the way. If we were shorter in stature and could sleep in the shorter queen, had two swivel chairs on the passenger side instead of the J-sofa and the dining table was parallel to the driver's side wall instead of perpendicular, we could do without any slides at all.
Iris
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Greatriver
Eastern Virginia
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Joined: 11/11/2008
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Thanks to all I've gotten a real good feel from what you've said. We are just about at the end of what has been an almost three year education into the world of motorcoaches. I think the wife and I have studied well to make sure we make the proper selection to full time. Actually, the only thing delaying our purchase was selling our house and as of last week that seems about to happen...thank goodness.
As my signature indicates we have settled on the make, just not the coach. It will be a 43' to 45' tag axle all electric MH. We are looking at several, two don't have slides and two have two driver side slides. As Johnny T mentioned in his post we will be drivers traveling between 20 to 30,000 miles a year and fulltiming. So there is a lot to consider that slides play a role in. In addition to my concern about the closed in feeling with slides in, I also am concerned with overall coach weight and CCC, front axle loading and the ability to safely drive the max. interstate speed limit or 75 MPH.
Your comments will be valuable and in the mix as we finalize our decision.
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