Blowing off slideouts before closing

SueAndDenM · 10-03-2020, 08:25 PM

We have a 2017 317RLOK 5th wheel, we’ve only towed it twice to a campground so far. I noticed another camper with a leaf blower blowing off the top of his slideouts before closing up his camper before leaving the campground. I thought this was a great idea but our 5th wheel is a whole lot taller than his TT was. Just wondering what y’all might be using? I was thinking maybe a leaf blower with a flexible extension like those used for cleaning out gutters? Thank you for your help!?

RogerR · 10-03-2020, 08:34 PM

Do you carry a ladder? If you do a small battery blower would be great. Also blow leaves and dust off your patio or rug. Carrying the pipe for a long extension takes up a lot of space. You also might miss that big branch that would cause damage on closing.
I do like the idea of cleaning that top area off!

2nOZ · 10-03-2020, 08:57 PM

We always clean the top of the slides off before closing them. We use a fold up step ladder to climb up on and then use either a long handle broom or a battery operated leaf blower. We take care not to let anything damage the seals when closing.

Tunce the traveler · 10-03-2020, 09:10 PM

Most of us install an awning just for that reason along with heat gain during the summer months.

Kahoneys · 10-04-2020, 06:53 AM

I have an extendable broom. The handle goes up to 9' long and our RV has the ladder built on to the get on the roof. EVERY trip I brush leaves and water off the top of the slides and then I check the roof, antenna, vents and seals.

Mopar_Earl · 10-04-2020, 07:49 AM

If needed, I use a broom to swipe the slide roofs off. I use the roof ladder to get up on the roof.

Earl

Cavie · 10-04-2020, 08:01 AM

I have a telescoping 12' ladder. Love it.

RetiredOne · 10-04-2020, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

If needed, I use a broom to swipe the slide roofs off. I use the roof ladder to get up on the roof.

This is what I do too. Before bringing in the awning and slide, I go up the ladder with a broom and sweep off any crap up there.

RAurand · 10-04-2020, 09:02 AM

I send my son up the rear ladder. Hand him a broom. He sweeps off the roof, gutters and slide. Then we close the slide. He also sweeps off as much of the awning as he can reach. The rest we sweep as we close it.

madmaxmutt · 10-04-2020, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SueAndDenM

We have a 2017 317RLOK 5th wheel, we’ve only towed it twice to a campground so far. I noticed another camper with a leaf blower blowing off the top of his slideouts before closing up his camper before leaving the campground. I thought this was a great idea but our 5th wheel is a whole lot taller than his TT was. Just wondering what y’all might be using? I was thinking maybe a leaf blower with a flexible extension like those used for cleaning out gutters? Thank you for your help!?

Pull out a leaf blower in a campground early in the morning, and be prepared for some angry neighbors....

Hazman65 · 10-04-2020, 02:17 PM

I use a small battery powered leaf blower to clean off my slide out. I climb on the roof using the ladder. I also towel it dry if it’s wet and run my hand under the seal to clean out and debris. The blower is relatively quiet and I never use it before 10 am.

TxLoser · 10-04-2020, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

Pull out a leaf blower in a campground early in the morning, and be prepared for some angry neighbors....

If early in the morning, best to run the generator at the same time and then no one can hear the leaf blower.

I actually climb up there on the built in ladder broom in hand if we’ve been somewhere long enough to accumulate much or if there’s acorns and pine cones coming down.

Lake Huron · 10-04-2020, 02:54 PM

My b-day was back in July. DW has always had this "thing" I'll say about making sure there is no debris on the slide toppers and the main awning before they get rolled up. I had to climb up on the roof and sweep them all off. This past year the caterpillars were horrible and ate a lot of leaves on the trees at our site and pooped all over our trailer. There was easily a half of a 5gal bucket on everything. Sweeping all that off was not fun and took quite a while. So, for my b-day I got a 20v battery powered Dewalt leaf blower. It's very light, stores very compact and works VERY well. Even if you dont have slide toppers it's a good idea to make sure there is no debris on the top or it could get caught up in the top seal and do some damage.

SueAndDenM · 10-04-2020, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerR

Do you carry a ladder? If you do a small battery blower would be great. Also blow leaves and dust off your patio or rug. Carrying the pipe for a long extension takes up a lot of space. You also might miss that big branch that would cause damage on closing.
I do like the idea of cleaning that top area off!

Thank you. We have a small step ladder but it looks like we’ll need to put a step ladder in the storage compartment so we can see the top of the slider before we close it.

SueAndDenM · 10-04-2020, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2nOZ

We always clean the top of the slides off before closing them. We use a fold up step ladder to climb up on and then use either a long handle broom or a battery operated leaf blower. We take care not to let anything damage the seals when closing.

Thank you, we have a folding step ladder, great idea!

SueAndDenM · 10-04-2020, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

Most of us install an awning just for that reason along with heat gain during the summer months.

Oh, I like that idea! Thank you!

SueAndDenM · 10-04-2020, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahoneys

I have an extendable broom. The handle goes up to 9' long and our RV has the ladder built on to the get on the roof. EVERY trip I brush leaves and water off the top of the slides and then I check the roof, antenna, vents and seals.

Thank you. I worry about my husband climbing the camper ladder so often, and possibly damaging the roof while he’s up there.