Bedroom slide (schwintek) will not retract

[vaheyventures]

Hello,

Posting here in case anyone else has had a similar experience and wants to share their wisdom.

We just got a 2021 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS on 3/24/21. After dealer orientation, got it home, leveled it, connected it to shore power, then prepared for our first “shakedown” trip, as recommended by all. We were packed and going through our departure checklist. Slides 1 and 2 retracted fine. Then we experienced that slide 3, the bedroom slide (schwintek), would not retract. When we pushed the slide button to retract the bedroom slide, the slide moved only a couple of inches and then stopped. We extended the slide using the electric switch and it did extend back the couple of inches it has just traveled inward. Repeated attempts to retract the slide gave the same results. We went to the LCI control panel in the pass-through storage bay and operated the slide from there. Each time we tried retracting the slide (several attempts), a fault condition was noted on the monitor. We checked the motor controller box for diagnostic information and saw that the *controller was sensing a short somewhere between the controller and motor 1* (1 green LED flash followed by 8 red flashes).

We followed the instructions, reset the motor controller and conducted the override technique (within 60 seconds using the inside switch). This did not change the slide’s behavior; it was still unable to retract. We also swapped cables between motor 1 and motor 2. Did not change the slide's behavior.

We couldn't move/tow the trailer and worked with GD to get authorization for a mobile RV repair. Mobile RV repair discovered that all the weight of the slide was resting on the forward slide track and the aft wheel could be spun freely indicating no weight was resting on the aft slide. Repair technician wants to check a couple of other things.

It's likely that we'll have to disconnect the motors and push the slide in manually (yikes!) so we can tow it to the dealer.

If anyone has any wisdom or tips to share, please do! Thanks!

Update 4/10: We were able to get the slide to retract fully, by using the slide controls a few inches at a time going first out, then inside. Eventually it was all the way in. We'll take to the dealer on Monday.

Terry

2021 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
2021 Ram 3500 Duallie, 4x4, long bed