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Old 02-07-2012, 08:05 PM   #1
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Slide out topper blues!!! HELP

Just bought a 2010 Designer 35RLTS, love it so far. Fit and finish is very impressive and seems to be very well built. I have one problem, slide out toppers! Being my first 5er with toppers, I was very excited to have them. They add a certain class to the RV that I liked. The likes ended there, they hold water with even the slightest rain and you don't find out till you close the slide outs. By that time water is all over the slide out and the topper rolls up with creases from the stretching Can someone give me few tips or maybe some products that make them a little easier to deal with. Maybe something to keep the water from collecting during heavier rains. Also, is this normal for slide toppers ? Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:09 PM   #2
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I just get a long brush and hold one end down with the brush until most of the water has drain off, then I stand on the thidr step and push the brush bteween the topper and slide out. u I go outside after every rain and drain all 3 slides. i know it a pain but that the only way that i can keep the water off.
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:15 PM   #3
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Yup...that's pretty much what you have to do.

We tend to camp out here in the West where we don't have to worry about much rain.
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:35 PM   #4
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I was afraid you were going to say that. Guess I will need to buy a long broom. What are the advantages to having slide toppers anyway?
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:41 PM   #5
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I don't sweat it. Just leave water up there. When leave, slide slide in, water drains. Recycle the slide and topper corrects itself.
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:44 PM   #6
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I was afraid you were going to say that. Guess I will need to buy a long broom. What are the advantages to having slide toppers anyway?
Toppers help prevent leaks, in hot sunshine they provide cooling and under trees they keep the debris away that you do not have to clear away before sliding in the slide. If you leave the debris up there, over time your rubber seal will be damamged and it will leak.
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Old 02-07-2012, 08:46 PM   #7
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Toppers help prevent leaks, in hot sunshine they provide cooling and under trees they keep the debris away that you do not have to clear away before sliding in the slide. If you leave the debris up there, over time your rubber seal will be damamged and it will leak.
We ordered our Pinnacle with the slide awnings just for the reasons you mentioned.
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Old 02-07-2012, 09:11 PM   #8
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Toppers help prevent leaks, in hot sunshine they provide cooling and under trees they keep the debris away that you do not have to clear away before sliding in the slide. If you leave the debris up there, over time your rubber seal will be damamged and it will leak.
Same reason we got them too.

Yes they are a PITA, but the pluses out weight the minuses
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Old 02-08-2012, 07:25 AM   #9
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Ours seem to drain automatically. The weight of the water makes them sag and drain off the sides. As the water drains, we can hear the roller mechanism creep back up and tighten. Have not timed this process, but, it usually is finished within a day.

Another trick is to place a small beach ball under the awning to make a tent like structure. My neighbor constructed a PVC device that he slides beneath each topper; it has the same affect as the beach ball.
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Old 02-08-2012, 08:36 AM   #10
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Ours seem to drain automatically. The weight of the water makes them sag and drain off the sides. As the water drains, we can hear the roller mechanism creep back up and tighten. Have not timed this process, but, it usually is finished within a day.

Another trick is to place a small beach ball under the awning to make a tent like structure. My neighbor constructed a PVC device that he slides beneath each topper; it has the same affect as the beach ball.
I will have to try the PVC contraption. Sounds like a good solution, for some reason mine won't drain on its own. Thank you everyone for the responses, sure is a big help. Now that I know the toppers are serving a good purpose, keeping them dry wont feel like as much a PITA as it did before. Just felt like a whole lot of work for nothing. Thanks again.
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Old 02-08-2012, 12:43 PM   #11
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I just run the slide in for a moment... dont even have to go all the way in to dump the water....
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Old 02-08-2012, 10:19 PM   #12
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Not to be an smart a--------, you can allways leave the slide in and the topper won't get wet.
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Old 02-09-2012, 12:02 PM   #13
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Not to be an smart a--------, you can allways leave the slide in and the topper won't get wet.
The problem occurs when we are in the 5th wheel camping and it rains. So that might not be the best solution although it would keep them dry while in storage I think it is just going to take a little extra effort on my part. Just being lazy i guess, also felt like I was doing all this extra work with not much benefit. I figured that if I have to maintain these toppers I might as well maintain the top of the slide and do without the toppers. Now that some that responded to my post made me realize all the benefits it doesn't seem so bad anymore. Very doable and actually kind of excited that they are on there keeping my RV cooler in the summer and making the seals last longer.
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Old 02-09-2012, 03:00 PM   #14
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I would not be without them. Even with the extra problem of rain pooling.
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Old 02-10-2012, 11:15 AM   #15
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if you are really that worried about rain pooling on the topper.. you can place a beach ball under there at the center of the slide-out and that will help the water run off
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Old 02-10-2012, 02:07 PM   #16
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I have the same Designer and I just run my slides in and then back out after a rain. That gets rid of any leaves, etc. that has collected up there since the last time also. It also keeps the slide mechanism working occasionally as well. I full time so moving the slides occasionally can't hurt the mechanism.
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Old 02-15-2012, 10:21 AM   #17
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Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the great responses to my post. All were very helpful and made me feel much more confident and happy to have the slide out toppers on my 5er.
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Old 02-16-2012, 04:02 PM   #18
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You can also drop the nose of the unit a couple of degrees to unload the water. If you have multiple slides, this is quicker and faster. Only takes a little out of level to work!!
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Old 02-16-2012, 05:05 PM   #19
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You can also drop the nose of the unit a couple of degrees to unload the water. If you have multiple slides, this is quicker and faster. Only takes a little out of level to work!!
Why did'nt I think of that? Great solution, definitely going to try it. So simple!
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Old 09-28-2012, 06:39 PM   #20
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Rain Water Collecting on Slide Toppers

Awningairwedge.com They are made just for this purpose. I bought 2 of them for the 2 big slideouts and they work great.

You can also get small toy inflatable balls (they have a shiney finish) from Wal-Mart's. $1 each. Deflate them a little bit and they work great. Way more durable than a beach ball. You can space them out evenly under the topper and they easily keep the topper tight so the water doesn't collect. I used 2 of them under the kitchen slide topper. Just don't forget to take all of this out when you pull the slide in. By the way, once I set up I am on a site for the entire Summer.
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