Keep your RV slide-out running straight and smooth with this OEM-spec Lippert replacement hat assembly. Measuring 33.5 inches and paired with a zinc-plated gear rack and structural angle (Lippert ref. 125278), this assembly provides the rigid backbone that Lippert rack-and-pinion slide mechanisms depend on for reliable extension and retraction mile after mile.
Lippert's rack-and-pinion slide-out systems are found across a wide range of towable and motorized RVs. The hat assembly -- named for its hat-channel cross-section profile -- serves as the primary structural member that carries the gear rack and transfers motor-driven force to the slide-out room. When the hat assembly is bent, worn, or the zinc gear rack is stripped, the entire slide-out operation suffers: uneven extension, grinding, and in severe cases, a room that won't fully retract.
Part number 126024 replaces the complete 33.5-inch hat assembly including the integrated structural angle (Lippert part reference 125278) and the zinc-plated gear rack. Ordering this assembly as a unit ensures the rack teeth are properly aligned to the hat channel -- a critical fit that affects both motor longevity and slide seal compression.
Hat-profile steel channel cut to 33.5 inches, matching the OEM length for compatible Lippert slide-out configurations.
Zinc-plated rack teeth resist corrosion from road grime and weather exposure, maintaining smooth pinion engagement over time.
The integrated structural angle stiffens the assembly and provides the correct mounting geometry for Lippert slide motors and guide hardware.
Sourced directly from Lippert Components -- the same part installed at the factory, ensuring proper fit without modification.
In Lippert slide-out systems, the "hat assembly" refers to a structural steel member with a cross-section shaped like a top hat. This channel is strong in bending and provides a flat upper surface on which the gear rack is mounted. The motor-driven pinion gear meshes with this rack, converting rotational motor output into the linear motion that pushes the slide room in or out.
Over time, hat assemblies can develop issues from road vibration, moisture intrusion causing rack corrosion, or physical impact when debris gets caught beneath the slide. Replacing the full assembly -- hat channel, structural angle, and rack together -- is the correct repair approach because individual rack sections are difficult to align precisely after the fact.
This 33.5-inch assembly is used in Lippert rack-and-pinion slide-out systems where the room depth or slide travel requires this specific rack length. It is commonly found in:
Replacing a hat assembly typically requires removing the slide room partially or fully to access the underside drive components. The gear rack must be properly meshed with the pinion before final fastener torque is applied. Verify motor coupling, limit switch position, and slide room seal alignment after installation before full operation.