Water pump and slide out questions....

I completely drained all the water from my 5th wheel this winter to avoid freezing (last year I did not do this and the thick plastic water filter case cracked) I filled the fresh water tank today and the pump just runs and runs and never builds up pressure. Do I need to prime it? I hooked the hose to the water connection and ran water through all the faucets, but the pump still wont work.

Also, am I supposed to lube or grease the slide out rails underneath? Thing makes all kinds of creaking when it goes in and out and I have never lubed it.

Any advice?

Make sure you have one or more fawcets open when you are trying to get the pump to pick up; it has to have a way to push the air out. If it does not pick up after a couple minutes, check to make sure the pump is not sucking air. Check hoses, clamps, valve if you have a winterizing kit.

Yeah, the slides make noise. I lubed mine once, but it didn't make much difference. In any case, don't get carried away with lube; it will just attract dirt. Better to keep it clean and dry.

Here is what Lippert has to say about it:

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The Lippert Hydraulic Slideout and HLG System has been static tested to over 6,000 continuous cycles with out any noticeable wear to rotating or sliding parts. It is recommended that when operating in harsh environments (road salt, ice build up, etc.) the moving parts be kept clean and can be washed with mild soap and water. No grease or lubrication is necessary and in some situations may be detrimental to the environment and long term dependability of the system.

Thanks Scottz, I was worried about running the pump without water in it. How long can I let the pump run without water?

Well, I know they'll run at least 3 days without damage..

The story

If you have a outside shower make sure both the cold and hot water are turned off so it doesn't suck air.

I figured it out this weekend.... the little plastic cap that holds the screen filter was cracked and broken. Must've froze this winter. Had it out this weekend, and now the foot vavle on the toilet started to leak... after messing with it all weekend, it is now POURING out and we had to disconnect from the water.