Closing slide out in rain

[Westerncanuck]

Hey, I have a question, just got back from a weekend camping trip and it was the first time I had to close the rear slide on my X213 in rain.....how do you stop the seat cushions and sofa from getting wet? There wasn't alot of water but enough to bug me. I know the slide has gaskets that are supposed to squeegie the water.....but I still have some water drip on the seats..

[82corvette]

We don't have that problem with our 308 because it has a slide topper. On our old Terry I would raise the tongue jack a little bit so the water woul run off , then run the slide in.

[3'senough]

You could tilt the unit uneven while hitching up so the water runs off the roof first.

[Seann45]

That is why I have the slide topper...

[Rustic Eagle]

I don't have a slide topper on my slide.., so I get on my step ladder (the compact multi purpose kind) to check for debris before closing the slide. I do the same in the rain, but I throw an old bath towel over the end of a broom and drag it across the top of the slide getting most of the water off before closing the slide.

Works for me

Bob

[clutch]

We just run ours in and wipe off the top from inside if it is wet.

[Quantum]

Well because the 213 can't have a slide topper (not possible) I usually just drag the picnic table over and take the broom and brush off the top of the slideout. The squeegee seems to do a pretty good job on our slideout. We have also started putting the couch cushions on the bed instead of on the dinette as my slideout has marked up one of the cushions while it slides in and out.

[jayeagle12]

Check for level on the width of your trailer when you set up....If anything favor a tilt twards the bumb out.

[Westerncanuck]

Thanks everyone, I will bring my little giant ladder with me. Next time we go camping......there was a few pine needles too when I opened it up after getting home. No more weekend camping for us until the end of June......I am on call for work....sigh....lol

[Murphie]

I think I came across this idea on this forum but not sure. Most of the sites we camp at have electricity so I bought a small leaf blower. My slide is about 19 feet and so is my awning. Cleaning them both off is a chore when breaking camp. I have a small stepladder that gets me high enough to blow both debris and water off. It was a great idea on someones part.

[gcmcal68]

Murphie,
Thanks for passing that along, very helpful

[Murphie]

Your most welcome.

[Camperwithkids]

We own a X213 and since you can not put a topper on the rear slide, I lay two large beach towels on the cushions at the corners of the slice and let it drip on those. There usually isn't that much and it will just get the towels damp at the most. We just got back from a 4 day trip in the rain and it worked great for us. Hope this helped.

Steve

[Crewmaniacs]

Originally Posted by Murphie

I think I came across this idea on this forum but not sure. Most of the sites we camp at have electricity so I bought a small leaf blower. My slide is about 19 feet and so is my awning. Cleaning them both off is a chore when breaking camp. I have a small stepladder that gets me high enough to blow both debris and water off. It was a great idea on someones part.

That's a great idea, I know they make a cordless leaf blower as well. Just need to make sure the battery is charged. ... now I just need to convince the DW that we need a leaf blower.... :hihi:

[jmoors]

Originally Posted by Murphie

I think I came across this idea on this forum but not sure. Most of the sites we camp at have electricity so I bought a small leaf blower. My slide is about 19 feet and so is my awning. Cleaning them both off is a chore when breaking camp. I have a small stepladder that gets me high enough to blow both debris and water off. It was a great idea on someones part.

Murphie ... Fantastic idea ... I just bought one from Amazon, under 40 bucks and very powerful. Doesn't take up much space! Now if I can just convice the little woman that it will work well on the inside, cut my chores down to no time. ;-) hahahahaa

[4Ms Jayco]

Hi, I've got a X26P (with the large rear slide that also comes in over the couch). I purchased an cheap vinyl mattress cover. I believe a double should fit. I pull the cover over the couch, put a few towels on top, then before I bring the slide in, I tip the trailer towards the back, then bring in the slide.

[JohnnyCW]

Originally Posted by Camperwithkids

We own a X213 and since you can not put a topper on the rear slide, I lay two large beach towels on the cushions at the corners of the slice and let it drip on those. There usually isn't that much and it will just get the towels damp at the most. We just got back from a 4 day trip in the rain and it worked great for us. Hope this helped.

Steve

I know this is an old topic but since I've read a few different posts on various forums from folks stating that their Jayco and other model travel trailers with rear slides wont accommodate a slide topper, I thought I'd add my 2 cents...

I have a 2009 Jayco 213EXP with the rear slide. Such slides extend further than the 42" that standard slide toppers accommodate.

I solved the issue quite easily. Thought I'd post what I did since I've never read anyone else being able to resolve the challenge elegantly.

I simply purchased a standard slide topper (Carefree brand) of the appropriate width for my slide which is standard practice. However I also ordered a custom length replacement fabric for the topper (many suppliers on the Internet). My slide extends 50" and the replacement fabric I ordered is 56" long. That is 8" longer than the OEM fabric that came on the roller.

My 213EXP has an aluminum extrusion that acts as a gutter above the slide. I riveted the topper's rail to that gutter which had about a 1/2" flat flange. I used 1/8" aluminum rivets and mounted the topper rail upside down. The reason I mounted the rail upside down was because I would not have had enough clearance between the bottom of the rail and my slide otherwise.

The stock roller spring easily accommodates the added few inches of the custom length topper fabric and I suspect it would accommodate much more. In fact, I actually relieved the roller spring tension two complete turns because it seemed excessive out of the box. The rest of the installation was the same as if the slide topper were being used on any standard slide.

The custom replacement fabric cost me about $80 though that was nearly four years ago. The slide topper has served me well for those four years and I expect many more years of service.

[JohnnyCW]

Here is a pic of my installation...

[JohnnyCW]

Here are pics of my rear slide topper installation as described in the previous post...

[JohnnyCW]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCW

Here are pics of my rear slide topper installation as described in the previous post...

Not sure why the pic links don't seem to be working in that post. One more try with the pic of the slide extended...