An actuator for operating a slide-out compartment slidably installed in an opening in a wall of a structure, the slide out compartment having an inboard end and an outboard end, the actuator comprising: an elongated U-shaped column; a bi-directional drive motor attached to the column, the motor including a selectively rotatable motor shaft extending therefrom; a first toothed sprocket attached to said motor shaft; a second toothed sprocket spaced from said first toothed sprocket and rotatably attached to said column; a first drive block (168, 168') including a first hollow passage (168F, 168F') therethrough; a second drive block (168, 168') including a second hollow passage (168F, 168F') therethrough; a single length of drive chain extending through the first and second hollow passages and connected to the first and second drive blocks; a first cable guide; a second cable guide; a third cable guide; a fourth cable guide; a first cable having a first end attached to said first drive block and a second end attachable to said outboard end of said compartment, said first cable engaged with said first cable guide; a second cable having a first end attached to said second drive block and a second end attachable to said inboard end of said compartment, said second cable engaged with said second cable guide; a third cable having a first end attached to said first drive block and a second end attachable to said inboard end of said compartment, said third cable engaged with said third cable guide; and a fourth cable having a first end attached to said second drive block and a second end attachable to said outboard end of said compartment, said fourth cable engaged with said fourth cable guide. an elongated U-shaped column; a bi-directional drive motor attached to the column, the motor including a selectively rotatable motor shaft extending therefrom; a first toothed sprocket attached to said motor shaft; a second toothed sprocket spaced from said first toothed sprocket and rotatably attached to said column; a first drive block (168, 168') including a first hollow passage (168F, 168F') therethrough; a second drive block (168, 168') including a second hollow passage (168F, 168F') therethrough; a single length of drive chain extending through the first and second hollow passages and connected to the first and second drive blocks; a first cable guide; a second cable guide; a third cable guide; a fourth cable guide; a first cable having a first end attached to said first drive block and a second end attachable to said outboard end of said compartment, said first cable engaged with said first cable guide; a second cable having a first end attached to said second drive block and a second end attachable to said inboard end of said compartment, said second cable engaged with said second cable guide; a third cable having a first end attached to said first drive block and a second end attachable to said inboard end of said compartment, said third cable engaged with said third cable guide; and a fourth cable having a first end attached to said second drive block and a second end attachable to said outboard end of said compartment, said fourth cable engaged with said fourth cable guide.