Slim Rack system

[Beachcamper]

I am looking at downsizing from my 303rls and found GD has a new line of Reflections in the 26’ range. Fell in love with the 22RK floor plan, ccc and length of 26’ 11”. The big negative issue is the slide system in the only slide in the floor plan. It houses a refrigerator and theater seats which are heavy items. I looked at Lippert site and it’s a Slim Rack system. Looks like plastic with a very thin metal gear rack.

Has anyone heard anything about this system?

[Country Campers]

This is a "newer" system that Grand Design has started to use, last year, and most if not all other manufacturers have switched to. The reason for the switch is the Slim Rack is more forgiving in the squareness of the opening and the box.

Brian

[Beachcamper]

This is a "newer" system that Grand Design has started to use, last year, and most if not all other manufacturers have switched to. The reason for the switch is the Slim Rack is more forgiving in the squareness of the opening and the box.

Brian

Country Campers I figured it had something to do with trying to get away from Schwintek system. Been doing some research and I will carry this to Tampa Show to verify if within tolerance on models I see and interested in. Might look at it and steer clear if it looks as flimsy as I see in LCI documents. Below is rated weight max for room stroke. Also, visual inspection tolerance.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

The Reflection 100 series has what they call 'lightweight' construction. I have not looked at a GD lightweight trailer, but in other brands I was not a fan. Go over how it is made as best you can.
A friend of ours with a lightweight Jayco would not buy one again.

[howson]

Beachcamper

Interesting chart. The room stroke will be easy to measure and is (obviously) a significant factor. Long stroke combined with a kitchen slide might be a concern.

The room weight will, at best, be a guestimate on your part, right? Do you have a plan on how to come up with that guestimate? (Just curious how you'll approach that issue.)

I haven't done much research on the slim rack -- is there a manual, mechanical override to open or close? The lack of a mechanical override on the Schwintek is one of it's most glaring faults IMHO. (I realize it has the electrical, controller-based override.)

Howard

[Beachcamper]

howson what I like about the motor disengagement procedure of the slim rack vs schwintek is the screw that holds the motor to base is under the motor. You don’t have to have slide out in a position to access from the outside. Otherwise same as schwintek.

https://youtu.be/yKW0vCpi5RQ?si=f8YchrjeqcVjWD_-

To figure weight if serious about buying something with a slim rack can estimate based on weight of appliance or seating. That would be very difficult to do if looking at one housing cabinets with dinette.

[Beachcamper]

The Reflection 100 series has what they call 'lightweight' construction. I have not looked at a GD lightweight trailer, but in other brands I was not a fan. Go over how it is made as best you can.
A friend of ours with a lightweight Jayco would not buy one again.

I do plan to, just in research stage. From what I can see it’s the same as the construction of the 150 series but shorter sizes so they have their own line. I just would like to stay with GD for customer support. What’s interesting is the ccc is 3000 lbs! Other than buying an Outddors RV or Northwoods, all these Indiana manufacturers are pretty much same. The Rockwood mini lite is also in the mix of short trailers to look at. Need to be 25’ or less on a travel trailer and 27’or less on fifth wheel for next 3 years of trip plans. We will be done with our US and main Canada destinations this summer. So can go to something smaller to get into places we want to explore further.

[Dennis2313]

Is the slim rack system designed to support any of the weight of the slide room?

[howson]

Is the slim rack system designed to support any of the weight of the slide room?

An (educated) opinion -- unlikely. The Slim Rack is (as far as I can tell) similar to the Schwintek in design. The weight of a room in a Schwintek system is carried by rollers (or a slide bar).

Lippert has a technical course on the Slim Rack that will probably answer that question definitively.

Howard

[Beachcamper]

Is the slim rack system designed to support any of the weight of the slide room?

As howson mentions it is similar to schwinteck as to the rollers carrying weight with rails guiding system. The tolerances are much more for slim rack allowing for less errors by manufacturers.

[TedS]

https://support.lci1.com/slide-outs-support-slimrack

Specifications in this sheet from Lippert.

[ThePowells]

Not sure about a previous post: we had a "super slide" system an different SOB. I thought it was great! We went to the factory service center and the slide wasn't even on our list. The tech picked up on the first morning that the plate were mounted wrong. I thought that they were ok.