Foam Plugs for Slide Rails - Dutchmen Owners
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Old 10-21-2015, 01:36 PM   #1
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Foam Plugs for Slide Rails

Can someone point me to the post that discussed the purpose of the foam plugs installed at the outside end of slide track? Thanks!
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Old 10-21-2015, 04:38 PM   #2
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Are you referring to the small black ones? If so, I am interested as well - some of mine have fallen out...
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Old 10-21-2015, 07:37 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by donzinger View Post
Are you referring to the small black ones? If so, I am interested as well - some of mine have fallen out...

Yes those are the ones. I remember a discussion on them a while back.
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Old 10-21-2015, 10:46 PM   #4
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I would like to know how to make the metal sliding doohickey on the top rail stay in place...still have not figured it out.

On the bright side, Lippert came out with a new design for the slide mechanism, which makes it easy to change the motor if required...the kicker, the slide mechanism will have to fail in order to get the replacement.

Cale
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Old 10-22-2015, 12:36 AM   #5
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The rubber plugs are to prevent water running down the tracks to enter the inside of the coach.
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Old 10-22-2015, 01:01 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Camper2b View Post
The rubber plugs are to prevent water running down the tracks to enter the inside of the coach.

Looking for a solution for the ones I'm missing. Little hesitant about using something that could cause moisture to get trapped?
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Old 10-22-2015, 01:37 PM   #7
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https://www.etsy.com/listing/2501445...FYePHwodVvoN1g


http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/equa...FUMTHwodfPQAhw

Two of many online, check your local ace Hardware. Cut them to fit and press them in and slide into position.
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Old 10-22-2015, 05:36 PM   #8
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I'm having a hard time picturing these things as to where they would fit. Could someone post a photo so I'll have one more less thing to worry over?
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Old 10-22-2015, 05:42 PM   #9
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I'm having a hard time picturing these things as to where they would fit. Could someone post a photo so I'll have one more less thing to worry over?

kid of hard to see in this pic, but appear to be about 3/4" L x 1/8" thick. Also, does everyone have the small threaded holes in their track as seen in this pick?
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Old 10-22-2015, 06:17 PM   #10
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That's what I was guessing but I've never seen them in my tracks, even the last three that were replaced last year.


I have the threaded holes in my tracks. My thinking is they are there for alignment purposes while being installed, or to keep the tracks from being tweaked during shipping and storage.
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Old 10-22-2015, 06:20 PM   #11
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Actually, the plug your showing doesn't belong there! It goes on the other end to prevent water from running inside the rv from that rack.
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Old 10-22-2015, 06:47 PM   #12
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Actually, the plug your showing doesn't belong there! It goes on the other end to prevent water from running inside the rv from that rack.

Without closing slide I can't verify if I have foam inserts on the track inside of the bearing block. It's possible they installed them on the wrong side of the bearing block causing the shoe to push them outward or completely out of the track the first time the slide was closed?

Has anyone seen the track removed from slide to know if water can get behind the slide skin either thru the hole or end of shoe track?
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Old 10-22-2015, 07:03 PM   #13
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Actually, the plug your showing doesn't belong there! It goes on the other end to prevent water from running inside the rv from that rack.
That's where mine are. Couldn't figure out how they would do anything on the outside end.
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Old 10-22-2015, 07:17 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by nmroper View Post
Without closing slide I can't verify if I have foam inserts on the track inside of the bearing block. It's possible they installed them on the wrong side of the bearing block causing the shoe to push them outward or completely out of the track the first time the slide was closed?

Has anyone seen the track removed from slide to know if water can get behind the slide skin either thru the hole or end of shoe track?
You should be able to look back in there with the slide open with a bright light or at night. A small screwdriver poked in there will tell you if it's there.
I found this one under the carpet in the big slide. It must have been knocked loose when they changed the tracks.
It's about 5/8ths by 5/8ths and very soft so a poke on it will give some soft resistance.
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Old 10-23-2015, 01:55 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
You should be able to look back in there with the slide open with a bright light or at night. A small screwdriver poked in there will tell you if it's there.
I found this one under the carpet in the big slide. It must have been knocked loose when they changed the tracks.
It's about 5/8ths by 5/8ths and very soft so a poke on it will give some soft resistance.
Robert, did you just find this today? If so water has probably creeped in since your repair.
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Old 10-23-2015, 02:25 AM   #16
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Robert, did you just find this today? If so water has probably creeped in since your repair.
Hi Slim, I did find it today after following the thread about these critters. I'm sure it was left over from the original tracks because I also looked today at the new tracks to verify the plugs were in there.
Believe me, during and after a nice OK rain I go around and feel the carpets for dampness. I've had some crazy water leaks but have them all sealed now.
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Old 10-23-2015, 02:56 PM   #17
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I need to look at my front bedroom slide. Last year on vacation I noticed a wet carpet. Check & never saw a problem. Was in more rain this summer on vacation but no leaks. Angle of rain or how level must also have something to do with it.
I need to do some more looking.
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Old 10-29-2015, 04:05 AM   #18
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Why wouldn't a piece of household weatherstrip and some weatherstrip adhesive work to keep these little pieces in place? I'm missing 4 of them.
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Old 10-29-2015, 04:41 PM   #19
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I need to look at my front bedroom slide. Last year on vacation I noticed a wet carpet. Check & never saw a problem. Was in more rain this summer on vacation but no leaks. Angle of rain or how level must also have something to do with it.
I need to do some more looking.
I checked & mine are in place. So the water came in from
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Old 10-30-2015, 03:37 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by Camper2b View Post
The rubber plugs are to prevent water running down the tracks to enter the inside of the coach.
We have had heavy rains this past week and I noticed the radius corner of the carpet by the entry door and at the end of slide is damp. After reading this thread I realized were the water was coming from. I couldn't see any plugs in the rails... time to get some.

I also had a drip from my OTA antenna, that stopped when lowered.

Otherwise everything else seemed watertight.
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