Stuart RV Repair fixes stuck, grinding, and dead slide-out motors on-site. Lippert, Schwintek, hydraulic systems. Motor replacement, controller boards, gear packs. We come to you anywhere in Stuart and Martin County.
Stuart RV Repair fixes RV slide-out motors on-site. Lippert, Schwintek, and hydraulic systems. Motor swaps, controller boards, gear packs, and stuck slide emergencies. $200-900 depending on the system and repair. Serving Stuart, FL and all of Martin County. Call 772-280-3915. Need slide-out seal replacement too? We handle that in the same visit.
Slide-out rooms are one of the best features of a modern RV, and also one of the most common failure points. The motors, gears, controllers, and mechanisms that push thousands of pounds of wall in and out take a beating over time. We see slide-out motor failures every week across Stuart, Palm City, and Jensen Beach. And when a slide fails, it's usually at the worst possible time, either stuck out when you need to travel or stuck in when you need the space.
The three main slide systems we see on the Treasure Coast are Lippert rack-and-pinion (the most common), Schwintek in-wall systems (found in lighter travel trailers), and hydraulic systems from HWH and Lippert (common on Class A motorhomes and high-end fifth wheels). Each one fails differently and needs different parts. According to Lippert Components, their slide-out systems should be maintained annually with lubrication and alignment checks. Most owners skip that, and that's when we get the call.
The good news is that most slide-out motor repairs can be done on-site in 1-3 hours. We carry common Lippert and Schwintek motors, controller boards, relays, and fuses on the truck. If it's a hydraulic issue, we've got pumps, valves, and cylinders available for most systems. You don't need to tow your rig to a shop for a slide motor repair. That's the whole point of mobile service.
Start with the basics: battery voltage, fuse, and relay. A dead slide is an electrical issue until proven otherwise. If the battery is below 11.5V, the motor won't have enough power. If the fuse is good and voltage is fine, we test the controller board and motor windings. About 40% of the time it's a corroded connection or blown fuse, which is a quick, cheap fix.
Grinding means metal on metal somewhere in the drive system. On Lippert rack-and-pinion slides, it's usually stripped teeth on the gear or the rack itself. On Schwintek slides, it can be a worn worm gear inside the motor housing. Don't keep running it - every cycle strips more teeth and makes the eventual repair more expensive. A gear pack replacement costs $300-600.
A slide stuck mid-travel is usually a mechanical binding issue, a motor that overheated and shut down, or a controller board fault. If it's hydraulic, it could be a valve stuck open or a cylinder that's lost pressure. We can usually get it moving again within an hour. If you need to travel soon, we'll get it retracted first and do the full repair later.
On electric slides, this often points to a relay issue or a directional fault in the controller board. The motor works in one direction but not the other. On hydraulic slides, it can be a check valve or a seal failure in the cylinder that lets fluid bypass. Either way, don't force it. Manual override will get it in safely, and then we diagnose the root cause.
Schwintek slides use two motors that need to stay synchronized. When one motor gets ahead of the other, the slide room tilts and can jam. The fix is usually a re-sync procedure through the controller, but if one motor is weaker than the other, it'll keep going out of sync until that motor is replaced. We carry Schwintek motors on the truck.
Hydraulic fluid on the ground under your slide usually means a cylinder seal has blown, a hose fitting is loose, or the pump has developed a leak. You'll notice the slide moving slower or not holding position. Don't run it dry - hydraulic pumps burn up fast without fluid. We carry replacement hoses, seals, and hydraulic fluid to get your system back to spec on-site.
Every slide-out system has different motors, controllers, and failure patterns. Here's what we work on every day across Stuart and the Treasure Coast, and what you should know about each one.
The most common slide-out system on the market. Uses a 12V electric motor driving a gear that meshes with a toothed rack. Simple, reliable, but the gears wear over time, especially if the slide rails aren't lubricated. According to Lippert Components, these systems should be greased at least once a year. We see gear failures accelerate when that maintenance gets skipped.
Found in lighter travel trailers and mid-range fifth wheels. Schwintek slides are thinner and lighter than rack-and-pinion, using a worm-gear motor design. They're great for floor space, but the motors work harder per pound of slide weight. We replace Schwintek motors more often than any other type. The dual-motor sync issue is the most common call we get on these systems.
Common on Class A motorhomes and high-end fifth wheels. Uses a hydraulic pump, fluid lines, and cylinders to extend and retract the slide. Stronger than electric but more complex. Hydraulic leaks, pump failures, and solenoid valve issues are the usual problems. Parts are more expensive than electric, but the systems last longer when properly maintained.
HWH systems often combine slide-out operation with the leveling jacks on a single hydraulic pump. That means a pump failure can affect both systems. HWH uses proprietary valves and controllers, so you need someone who knows the system. We've worked on HWH slides and leveling systems for years and carry the common failure parts.
Call 772-280-3915 or request an estimate. Tell us what's happening - stuck out, stuck in, grinding, slow, clicking, dead. If you know the system type (Lippert, Schwintek, hydraulic), that helps. We'll schedule same or next day for standard calls. Emergency slide retractions get priority.
Our tech tests battery voltage, fuses, relays, the controller board, motor function, and the mechanical drive system. On hydraulic slides, we check pump pressure, fluid level, and cylinder seals. You get a written estimate explaining exactly what failed and what it costs to fix before we start any work.
We carry common Lippert and Schwintek motors, controller boards, and gear components on the truck. Most slide-out motor repairs are done in 1-3 hours at your location. We run the slide through multiple full cycles after the repair to verify everything is operating smoothly. No towing, no waiting weeks at a shop.
| Repair Type | Price Range | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Schwintek motor replacement (single) | $200-400 | 1-1.5 hrs |
| Lippert electric motor replacement | $250-500 | 1.5-2 hrs |
| Controller board replacement | $300-600 | 45-90 min |
| Gear pack / rack repair | $300-600 | 2-3 hrs |
| Hydraulic pump or cylinder repair | $400-900 | 2-4 hrs |
| Emergency slide retraction | $100-200 | 30-60 min |
Slide got stuck fully extended at the campground on a Sunday and we had to drive home Monday. Called and the tech came out that afternoon, used the manual override to get it in, then came back Tuesday with the replacement motor. Whole thing was done in under 2 hours. Saved our trip home.
Both Schwintek motors on our bedroom slide were out of sync. The slide was tilted and making a horrible noise. Tech re-synced the system and replaced the weaker motor that was causing the problem. Slide runs smooth and quiet now. He also lubed all the rails while he was there. Really thorough.
Hydraulic slide on our Class A was leaking fluid and moving slow. The tech found a blown cylinder seal, replaced it on-site, topped off the fluid, and bled the system. Also found a loose hose fitting that was about to fail. The kind of attention to detail you want on a $200K motorhome. Very professional.
RV slide-out motor repairs in Stuart typically run $200-900 depending on the system. A motor replacement on a Lippert electric slide costs $250-500 parts and labor. A Schwintek motor swap is $200-400. Controller board replacement runs $300-600. Hydraulic pump or cylinder repairs are $400-900. We give you a written estimate after a full diagnosis.
A completely dead slide usually points to an electrical issue first. Check your battery voltage - slides need 12V+ to operate. Then it could be a blown fuse, bad relay, failed controller board, or a dead motor. We start with voltage checks and work through the system. About 40% of the time it's something simple like a corroded connection or blown fuse that costs under $100 to fix.
Lippert makes several systems including rack-and-pinion gear drives and hydraulic systems. Schwintek (now owned by Lippert) uses a worm-gear motor design with two motors per slide. Schwintek slides are thinner and lighter but the motors burn out more often. Lippert rack-and-pinion systems are heavier duty but the gears can strip over time. We work on both systems regularly.
Yes. Most electric slides have a manual override, either a hand crank or a drill adapter on the motor shaft. Hydraulic slides have a manual bypass valve. If you're stuck at a campground and need the slide in to travel, call us. We can walk you through the manual override over the phone, or come out and do it for you. Getting the slide in safely is priority one.
A single motor swap takes about 1-2 hours depending on access. Schwintek motors are usually easier to reach. Lippert rack-and-pinion motors sometimes require removing interior trim panels. If both motors need replacement on a dual-motor system, plan on 2-3 hours. Controller board swaps run 45-90 minutes. All done on-site at your location.
Yes, stop running it. A grinding noise usually means stripped gear teeth, a worn gear pack, or debris caught in the mechanism. Every cycle damages more teeth and makes the repair more expensive. If the slide is currently extended, use the manual override to retract it gently and then call us. A gear pack replacement costs $300-600, which is less than the emergency call when it fails completely.
We handle all RV roof and slide-out repairs including roof leaks, recoating, seal replacements, and vent repairs. If your slide motor issue uncovered other problems, we can address everything in one visit.
We cover Martin County and surrounding areas for all RV slide-out motor repairs. From Stuart and Palm City to Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and beyond.
Call us or request a free estimate. We'll get a tech out with the right parts for your system. Same or next day. Emergency retractions get priority. All work done at your campsite or driveway.