Stabilizers up or down while bringing in the slides?

[Kamper Dave]

Slide-outs and Stabilizers:

10 years ago I read that the rear stabilizers should be down prior to bringing the Slides in or out. It had something to do with the frame being straight and this method has worked well for us. Only once did I need to give the slide a push in while DW pushed the electrical switch. (We are always leveled and hooked up to shore power while activating the slides.)

This year I read (Trailer Life?) that the rear stabilizers should be up prior to bringing in the Slides to prevent jamming the slide.

So, which method is correct?
What works for you?

[travelin texans]

I would totally agree with your method, keep as level as possible while operating the slides, but in my opinion they aren't quite as fragile as they would have you think, it's a CYA thing on their part. We extend our slides at rest areas for lunch all the time without leveling & no problems in 10 years of fulltiming with 3 different 5ers.
The stabilizers are just that, they weren't/aren't designed to "level" the coach so there shouldn't be so much weight on them as to flex the frame in any way. If you have abused them to the point that the weight is off the axles, then I'd agree the frame may be sagging in the middle, if doing this you aren't using the "stabilizers" correctly & they won't hold up to that kind of weight.