A positioning and parking guide for a recreational vehicle (10), consisting of two, or more power-driven telescoping rods (12), extended to provide a visual horizontal and vertical frame of reference (33), in determining the distance required to avoid any fixed object, or to not exceed any boundary, when parking such unit within a campsite or other parking space, after slide out rooms are extended.

A slide out room is glidingly supported from a main structure by a flexible tension member defining first and second lengths, each length trained about a set of rotatable support members carried by the main structure such that the tension member supports the room from the rotatable support members in both its extended and retracted positions. A tensioner connected to the tension member is used to adjust the tension in the tension member. A leveler carried by the room includes a longitudinal adjustment member that engages the tension member, whereby the room may be leveled relative to the main structure by adjusting the adjustment member.

A slide-out mechanism for laterally moving a platform relative to a stationary floor fixed to a vehicle between a retracted position and an extended position which is easily assembled and adjusted. The mechanism includes a first member fixed relative to the platform, and a second member telescopically mounted to the first member for slidable movement between an extended position and retracted position. A rail shaft cage mounted to the first member has a pair of sides with a slot formed in each of the sides, and a rail shaft assembly having a rotatable shaft, wherein the shaft is supported by the slots. In one embodiment, the slide-out mechanism includes bearings having inner and outer races mounted on the shaft, and each bearing outer race is supported by the slot cradle. A portion of the slot and the outer race are polygonal shaped, and the bearing inner race is eccentrically mounted in the outer race, wherein rotating the outer race in the cradle changes the relation between the shaft and the first member. In still another embodiment, a flute tube is used to connect the rail shaft to a coupling shaft which rotatably drives a second rail shaft of a second rail shaft assembly. The second rail shaft assembly drives another second member parallel to the first second member. The flute tube simplifies synchronizing the parallel members of the slide-out mechanism.

A slide-out drive member controllably moves a slide-out section that is associated with a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle, from a retracted position to an extended position. The slide-out drive member includes an inner driven member with embedded teeth with tips that are preferably substantially flush with a bottom surface of the inner driven member; and an outer member that houses the inner driven member along with a gear mechanism that engages with the teeth in the inner driven member to drive the inner driven member, thereby driving the slide-out section. The present slide-out tube overcomes the deficiencies of conventional slide-out tubes by driving the slide-out section in a smooth, uniform, even manner while providing a low profile.

A low-profile sideout drive mechanism includes a movable support rail for the sideout formed of an outer channel and a nested inner channel having a vertical height less than the outer channel. The inner and outer channels define a tubular rail or ram wherein the inner channel is formed with slots therein to define a gear rack wherein the vertical space requirements of the tubular rail and a cooperating drive gear are minimized.