Slide Toppers: What say you?

[THE MEEKER]

I’ve decided to get a topper awning on my super slide. We had a “gully washer” rainstorm last night (1.5 inches of rain in 2 hours) and the slide was leaking. It only leaked once before a couple of years ago under the same conditions. I am meticulous about maintenance and just conditioned all the seals two weeks ago.

I’m going with a Carefree of Colorado product. With installation and tax will set me back about $1,000. I plan on keeping this unit for about another 3 years as it will be 10 years old in 2025.

Any experiences you have on slide toppers you wish to share are appreciated.

As always, Happy Camping!

[Learjet]

Toppers can hold water...depending on how it installed...also they can flap in the wind and get dirty when retracted and wet.

[PaulB12]

Hard to clean under them.....
PaulB12

[Grumpy]

Never left home without them!..

Properly adjusted, no flapping and no water issues. I installed it on our 01 Designer MH, our 08 SENECA and 15 PINNACLE came from the factory with them.

[TCNashville]

So many pros and few cons for slide toppers. I had to replace the fabric on both my slide toppers and went with black this time because it doesn't show dirt, mold or much of anything versus white. My 12' main dining room slide will hold water but my 6.6' bedroom slide doesn't. I'm the same as Grumpy, I'll never have an RV without the slide toppers.

[RedHorse1]

I have them on the 5th and think of them as nearly mandatory. They will eventually need replacing, I’ve gotten about 8 years out them.

[SouthCo]

Dealer installed Carefree topper on ours at time of purchase. Never had any issues and would have them on any future camper with slides.

[TWP723]

I'll get on the roof and sweep the slides. The slides might not get AS dirty with them, but they still get dirty and need cleaned anyway. Just not as often. Leaf blower can clean them from a ladder as well. In my eyes, it's just another thing to break and cause a headache.

[Learjet]

Heat reduction, rain, debris? why are they so needed?

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Learjet

Heat reduction, rain, debris? why are they so needed?

All of the above....and I'll even add SNOW...

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

All of the above....and I'll even add SNOW...

[TWP723]

We camp on the ocean a lot and I'd be a little apprehensive about them as far as the strong winds and storms that could be encountered. I can bring in the awnings but what about the slide toppers? Last time at the ocean, we had a very strong 15 minute storm roll through. 40-50+ mph winds. Never took notice at the toppers as we drove around. Are they as vulnerable as the awnings?

[norty1]

Hail can damage them but I also would not be without them.

Ours have held up well and we just this year replaced the fabric on the slides and last year replaced the fabric on the main awning. They can be cleaned underneath with a long mop or sponge and rinsed off. We only had dust buildup and it was not a problem. Only problem is lubing the top seals but I have been able to spray them by using the silicone can with the long shot nozzle from both ends and then a cloth on a stick to clean up any overspray. I don't know why the factory does not install them a few inches higher where the attach to the sidewall. It would prevent most of the pooling.

Another find was the replacement fabric was heads better than the cheaper fabric that came on them.

We are set up for 2 months and have our awning anchored down with ties, also a mesh sunscreen that is also anchored to the awning and ground with bungees.
We have had several good rains/ wind events and no problems.

[Frozen North]

I use slide toppers, but not for rain; water will pool on them and it gushes off when the slide is retracted--don't be in that spot ! We nearly always camp under trees that deposit debris on the slide roofs. Since climbing onto the roof with a broom before closing slides isn't one of my favorite activities, I'll deal with the negatives that come with toppers.

[susan34982]

We had slide toppers installed when we bought our Envoy 100 in 2017 on the bed slideout and sofa slideout to prevent water coming back into the RV when closing the slideouts. They are essential. As for longevity, both of them tore from age (we live in Florida) and had to be replaced in 2021. We were in 40-45mph winds during the night in New Mexico in 2018 and the bed topper was unhurt (we had to have the slideout out to sleep) and I think we might have gotten a little tear on the sofa slideout but it didn't affect the functionality for another 3 years.

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by THE MEEKER

.

Any experiences you have on slide toppers you wish to share are appreciated.

As always, Happy Camping!

The only problems I've had with our slide toppers is when camping in the fall when leaves are coming down heavy and blowing on top of the slide. I still have to get a ladder and leaf blower or broom before closing slides. Other than that, I like them.

[videoarizona]

Slide topper, yes!

If a topper holds water, either the fabric is stretched out not installed properly or the whole unit isn't installed properly. Mine never holds water, stays reasonably clean underneath....Requiring only an occasional leaf blower to blow debris off the slope roof.

[tljwYaki]

Totally agree! Helps to keep RV cool in summer, rain water out and ice off slide.

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Never left home without them!..

Properly adjusted, no flapping and no water issues. I installed it on our 01 Designer MH, our 08 SENECA and 15 PINNACLE came from the factory with them.

[SloPoke]

We have them, and just replaced the fabric this summer after 7 years in the sun.

Others mention the benefits of rain, sun, snow and that is very true... Now also add Ice when the snow melts partially and re-freezes the next night.

[TGoldsbury]

I think the best benefit is they provide an additional deterrent to rain getting past your slide seals and into the coach. Water intrusion is your worst enemy and anything that provides an additional barrier is good with me.