|
10-26-2016, 09:47 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Gainesville
Posts: 697
|
Need Slide Topper Reviews
Now that I've camped in my 5th wheel for a few weekends in the fall, I've decided you guys are right - I need slide toppers.
I searched the forum but many of the posts on toppers that contain review's or comments date back a few years. So I thought I'd ask for new opinions.
1) Carefree or Dometic?
My 5th wheel has a Dometic awning and I'm tempted to try and match - but the awning is black fabric and black hardware and I haven't found black in Dometic slide toppers online.
Carefree has a larger number of options and can match almost any color. But what about reliability and quality.
2) I'm seriously looking at the Carefree Accent line - it has a metal case to enclose the awning when rolled up and is still reasonably priced. But it also uses a very different mounting style bracket than most of the other awnings on the market. And the Eagle HT 26.5 RLS has some VERY WIDE flanges around the BR slideout.
Has anyone installed an Accent awning on a Jayco 5th wheel?
3) Black or White. I want black hardware to match all the other hardware on the RV. But since the fabric rolls up in the (black) case, it could be white. After all, the top of the slideout is white. So is there really a heat difference since there is several inches of space for airflow under the awning?
4) Back in 2011 there was a lot of discussion about "billowing" during the wind and water pooling. The technology of slideouts has improved, including auto lock devices to prevent billowing. Any of you with newer toppers have any recommendations?
__________________
Buddy Ray - Atlanta
---------------
Jayco 2016 Eagle HT 26.5RLS
Ford 2016 F150 Lariat, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost
Max Tow Pkg, 36gal tank
Reese Sidewinder and Reese Titan 16k hitch
|
|
|
10-26-2016, 10:13 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
|
Re: Need Slide Topper Reviews
I can't help with most of your questions and don't know the brand, but I have a couple of generic observations regarding my slide topper:
1) Rain puddles in mine and a partially inflated beach ball under the topper doesn't fix it. It just creates 2 smaller puddles on either side of the beach ball. I gave the beach ball to my grandkids.
2) My topper is 1/2" to 1" narrower than the slide. When the rain puddle in the topper reaches capacity, it drains down over the window at the rear of the slide (I park slightly nose high). Now regardless of wind speed and direction, we have to be sure that window is closed when it rains. I'm not sure if my topper is narrower than usual or if the dealer goofed on their measurements.
We got our topper to keep the sun and debris off the top of the slide. It does a great job for of both of those and I'm glad we have it.
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 02:02 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Jersey
Posts: 310
|
I have the Carefree 3 awning and couldnt be happier with them.Fitment,finish and not having to clean slideouts has been one less thing to do when packing up.Unfortunately during heavy rains water does seem to build up a little on them,i just simply bump the slideout in little bit (as Carefree tells you to do also) and the water comes right off.My trailer aslo has wide flanges around the slideouts and the fitment is fine.Also i have a skylight over the main slide,it let in a ton of sunlight and heat,the toppers block almost all the sun and heat and helped keep it cooler in the summer.My awning is also a Dometic,they are both black and look fine together.
__________________
06 2500 Duramax. Air lift 5000 air bags,Equalizer WDH, EFI live,fass fuel system,4" straight pipe
2015 Jayco Eagle Premier 314BHDS
IBEW local 94 Electrical Worker
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 04:42 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Upstate N.Y.
Posts: 488
|
Can't give you a review yet but I went with the dometic deluxe with the metal wrap. All Black including hardware. You should be able to see them on the CW site. I purchased them back in July. Installation was 90.00 each.
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 10:02 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MD
Posts: 3,856
|
We had the dealer install our slide out topper on our new camper before picking it up this past May. Our dealer only offered Carefree brand unless I misunderstood them. We got the Carefree SideOut Kover 3.
http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/pr...kover-III.html
I have nothing to compare it to as it's our first topper but it has worked flawlessly this season.
__________________
2017 JayFlight 28BHBE
2014 JayFlight Swift 264BH (Sold)
2007 GMC 2500 Sierra Classic Crew Cab LBZ Duramax / 6spd Allison
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 12:58 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
|
My Crappy of Colorado has actually worked well for the last few years.. but I can tell you they SUCK on customer service.. I had arranged with Carefree and camping world in Denver to install my cover they knew the trailer I had.. one optional but necessary part was missing and it was a super hassle to get that part from Crappy of Colorado. That and the way they treated me with a previous failed awning ..will never use them again
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 03:19 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Way down here........FL
Posts: 2,097
|
Have not checked in to pricing on these, but they look like they are well made from website.
Domestic Elite EZ
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 03:25 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Gainesville
Posts: 697
|
Agreed, but the Dometic's only appear to come with one color of Vinyl - Satin.
__________________
Buddy Ray - Atlanta
---------------
Jayco 2016 Eagle HT 26.5RLS
Ford 2016 F150 Lariat, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost
Max Tow Pkg, 36gal tank
Reese Sidewinder and Reese Titan 16k hitch
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 05:17 PM
|
#9
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Belleville
Posts: 29
|
The dealer put toppers on ours as we were doing the PDI and doing all the paperwork. They put on the Dometic's Deluxe toppers which come in 3 colors Polar White, Black and Satin. We also have the matching Black hardware, so everything on ours match's. We don't have a problem with billowing or water pooling.
__________________
2016 Ram 3500 Big Horn 6.7 TD
2016 Jayco Eagle 317RLOK(rear living rm outside kitchen)
|
|
|
10-27-2016, 05:51 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 447
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by BuddyRay
Agreed, but the Dometic's only appear to come with one color of Vinyl - Satin.
|
According to CW's site you can get Black or White.
Product Wizard - Camping World
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC Duramax
2016 Eagle 323LKTS Java
Pull Rite SuperGlide #4100 Hitch w/Mor-Ryde Pin Box
|
|
|
10-28-2016, 08:54 AM
|
#11
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: gatineau
Posts: 70
|
you should take black, the whites one doesn't stay white long. they always seems to be dirty.
|
|
|
10-28-2016, 10:04 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Way down here........FL
Posts: 2,097
|
Keep us posted on which ones you end up getting........I want to get them also at some point. The dealer had my Pinnacle for a month and still could NOT even get a price for me.
|
|
|
07-14-2020, 08:31 PM
|
#13
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Ray
Posts: 5
|
I have a Jayco HT Fifth wheel trailer the kitchen slide has 3/4 inch of clearance between the slide and the awning arm has anyone installed a topper on the eagle HT and how did you handle the clearance issues
|
|
|
10-23-2020, 05:54 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Boiling Springs
Posts: 533
|
I had Carefree on my previous FW and have Dometic on my Eagle. Both are good and you will be happy with either. I like the Dometic I have now as it has a anti billowing Arm on it. After a rain storm, I have a 6 foot pole (long broom handle) that I push up on the anti billowing arm and this allows any water on the topper to dump off.
__________________
RipinSC
2019 Eagle FW 321RSTS
2015 GMC 2500 HD 6.0 Gas
|
|
|
10-23-2020, 08:16 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Natalbany Creek Campground, Amite City, LA
Posts: 3,244
|
If you have water puddling on your slide topper it's because it is not taut enough and needs adjustment. I never have water puddle on mine no matter how hard it rains. Also they never flap and make noise when it's windy. Mine have the metal wrap or case that they retract into which I like a lot. However, the wrap should be removed about once a year to be cleaned out because anything that is on the topper when closing ends up in the metal case. Acorns can wreak havoc on a slide topper
__________________
AL & JANET KRUEBBE
2019 PINNACLE 37RLWS
2018 NORTH POINT 315RLTS (TRADED)
2017 RAM 3500 DRW DIESEL/AISIN 4.10 AIR BAGS
B&W COMPANION TURN OVER BALL HITCH
Formerly from Sequim, WA
|
|
|
10-23-2020, 10:21 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Boiling Springs
Posts: 533
|
You are correct on the awning tension. My awnings have allot of tension. The issue is the location of the awning rail Jayco installs on the side wall. If it is not high enough, you will not get proper water run off. The location Jayco mounted my rails only gives me about 1 inch of pitch on the awning. With the build tolerances they adhere to, I am lucky to have that much pitch.
__________________
RipinSC
2019 Eagle FW 321RSTS
2015 GMC 2500 HD 6.0 Gas
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|