Replacing Under Bed Nylon Slides

**Camping Carpenters** · 11-08-2019, 08:22 AM

The 1/8" thick nylon slides that hold the outside bed supports on our 2720 have needed replacement. One has been "wavy", cracked, and opened up enough that the lower washer has slipped partially through several times. We cut 1/8" thick aluminum, with the old pieces as templates, and added new nylon washers. The new slide works very well, is "stiffer", stronger and should last as long as we own the TM. One side was left alone for now; it is not in quite as bad shape, but we will probably replace it in the spring. One thing we learned...there is a trick to removing the locking nut from the bottom of the bolt that runs up inside the compartment. It's tough to get a wrench on the top of that nut. Anyone with slides as bad as ours were should take a look. Simple and low cost project (around $15 a side). Here's two pics of our new slide and the one we haven't replaced yet.

FlyboyTR · 11-14-2019, 05:47 AM

Very nice job. At some point I will need to replace mine and will use aluminum as well. Excellent!

**B_and_D** · 11-16-2019, 07:17 AM

Aluminum is the way to go.

**Camping Carpenters** · 06-16-2020, 10:15 AM

It certainly was, has held up well .

Splash · 06-18-2020, 09:55 AM

Well, darn. That is beautiful - I wish I had seen that before I ordered white plastic slides a week ago. Well, I'm sure they will wave and crack again, so... next time!

Mostly just wanted to say, "great job thinking of alternatives".

**Camping Carpenters** · 06-19-2020, 04:01 PM

Thank you, Splash. As B and D said, 1/4" aluminum is the thing for this job.

ProjectAlex · 12-06-2022, 01:17 PM

How is this holding up 2 years later?

**B_and_D** · 09-04-2023, 08:29 AM

Ours has held up quite well. We haven't closed it down in a long time but last time we used the slides it was AOK.

**Bill** · 09-04-2023, 03:37 PM

I replaced mine with aluminum a year or so ago.

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ight=bed+slide

My only comment is that 1/4" flat bar seems awfully thick, and I see no reason to go there. I considered using 1/8", but finally used 1/16". I think the plastic on mine was 1/16" thick, so compatibility is good. And 1/16" aluminum flatbar is plenty strong - you will rip the screws out of the MDF bed base before the aluminum bends.

Most likely no problem with 1/4", except that you will have to use longer screws up into the MDF bed foundation. Handy, since I was able to re-use the same screws in the same holes.

Bill