[rheavn]

I spoke with Tom Ellis at Newell service. He stated a Valid slide would be lighter due to the mechanisms needed are lighter than the HWH mechanisms. The Valid slides work with an electric motor and a rack & pinion system. HWH slides are hydraulic. He did not consider the weight saving to be "significant". though. Also when comparing coaches, you have to remember slides come in different sizes and therefore different weights. The flat floor mechanism for a Valid slide is lighter and simpler as the floor raises straight up. On the HWH the flat floor raises at an angle and then flattens out.

Even comparing same year coaches with the same number of slides can cause a misunderstanding. A two slide, rear closet coach of my year has a bigger rear slide than mine. On the other hand some floorplans weigh more. This discussion kind of reinforces the fact that no two Newells are the same and the best way to determine a coaches' weight is to weigh it.