How do you clean the top of your slideout?

[EV4D]

Happy New Year!

We have an X213 which has a big bed slideout in the rear. I believe I should probably be sweeping that off before I slide it in but its high up and there is no ladder on the trailer (because of the slideout in the back). I was curious how important it is to clean and/or dry it out before sliding it in and how would you go about doing it?

thanks!

[bansai]

Originally Posted by EV4D

Happy New Year!

We have an X213 which has a big bed slideout in the rear. I believe I should probably be sweeping that off before I slide it in but its high up and there is no ladder on the trailer (because of the slideout in the back). I was curious how important it is to clean and/or dry it out before sliding it in and how would you go about doing it?

thanks!

Unless you have debris on your slide you don't have to really worry about it at all. but how do you know if you do - or don't - unless you have the ability to check it out before 'retracting'?

I stay off my roof as often as possible, but I think it's pretty important to survey whats going on up there before assuming all is ok.

If I didn't have a ladder attached, I'd take a portable one with me.

How to clean off any problems you might see is pretty simple... ranging from broom, to electric leaf blower that allows you to stay mostly on the ground, to other options depending on your needs, where you camp, etc. I do think it's pretty important to be able to visually inspect the top of your slides from time to time without a lot of effort or stress, otherwise you won't do it at all and that's when you break something.

[TxTwoSome]

It can be very important to clean the slide all kinds of debris can collect and damage the slide when retracted.

I bought an extendable ladder from Amazon to clean mine.

https://www.amazon.com/Telescopic-Te...apsible+ladder

[Kahoneys]

I sweep our slides every time that we pack up to leave. I am very surprised how many leaves, sticks and other debris gets up there. I also am happy to sweep the morning dew off the slides before sliding them in. One time I didn't get the water off and when I got home we had a puddle on the floor. We have a ladder and I use it a lot!

[Crabman]

Small ladder and an electric leaf blower work well.

[Nighthawk 96]

I have a ladder on my trailer with a bike rack on it. I carry a 6' ladder in my truck to be able to get onto the trailer ladder over the bike rack. I sweep the roof of my slide with a broom before we leave a camp site.

[Marcm157]

I do have a ladder on the rear of my camper but I also carry this one 7' Double-Sided Rung Ladder so I can get a good look at whats on top of my slide before I retract it. Many time I can use a broom from this ladder and I don't have to go up on my roof...

[secal48]

I also climbed up to check and after a couple of trips sweeping off a collection of leaves, twigs, and water I invested in a slide topper (slide awning) and enjoy watching everything roll off of it when the slide retracts.

[bansai]

Originally Posted by secal48

I also climbed up to check and after a couple of trips sweeping off a collection of leaves, twigs, and water I invested in a slide topper (slide awning) and enjoy watching everything roll off of it when the slide retracts.

I love the idea of those toppers, I know they work great for a lot of people. We get a lot of wind out here sometimes. When my awning is turning our TT into a sail boat, I decided to hold off on the toppers. Do you guys with them have any problems in that area? Or with cleaning / other slide maintenance that the toppers might / could get in the way of?

[Wanderer]

I carry and use the following every time before slide retract

https://www.amazon.com/Telescopic-Te...apsible+ladder

https://www.amazon.com/O-Cedar-Dual-...cedar+flip+mop

[namusmc65]

I have climbed up on top to sweep my units off for over 10 years. However, after climbing up on a 13 foot tall 5th wheeler, I had toppers installed on my 2014 before it ever left the lot! I will be 72 next month and fortunately my wife told me no more climbing on ladders and especially roofs! I still get to climb in my deer stand but that is about it! It is very important to check before sliding those slide outs in. I wish I had access to a picture I took a couple years ago at a local McDonalds. A unit pulled in for fuel with three slides. Each one of them had a ton of leaves and sticks sticking out from the tops of the slide outs. That unit was probably going to need new seals all the way around!

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Small ladder and an electric leaf blower work well.

I second that. We bought a B&D rechargeable leaf blower and a small 4 step ladder. Works great. Every once in a while, I'll get on the roof or a longer ladder and thoroughly clean the tops.

[namusmc65]

I found the picture up on the cloud if I can get it down here I will post it. There were two slides if I remember correctly and they both looked like this with leaves and sticks poking out the top. That unit would need all new seals after this!

[Hohenwald48]

I believe in slide toppers. However, I'm not sure that's an option with one of those big rear bed slides. Ladder and blower is about your only option.

[BCK]

I clean my slide every time too. A broom for debris and a window squeegee for when its wet.

[secal48]

Originally Posted by bansai

I love the idea of those toppers, I know they work great for a lot of people. We get a lot of wind out here sometimes. When my awning is turning our TT into a sail boat, I decided to hold off on the toppers. Do you guys with them have any problems in that area? Or with cleaning / other slide maintenance that the toppers might / could get in the way of?

Hi. Haven't had any wind issues and don't really expect to. The main awning doesn't have any sort of wind block under it so it can fill up with a breeze and take off. The slide topper only sits a few inches over the slide so there's not much room for a stray breeze to get into. At least in our experience. And I haven't heard of a wind problem here from anyone else. Good luck and happy camping.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by namusmc65

I found the picture up on the cloud if I can get it down here I will post it. There were two slides if I remember correctly and they both looked like this with leaves and sticks poking out the top. That unit would need all new seals after this!

Wow, that had to be a crunchy slide retract. Darrrrrnnnn.

[spoon059]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Small ladder and an electric leaf blower work well.

Yup, thats what we use.

[StormPOD]

Has anyone tried this
Slide-Out Sweep | A Must Have For RV Owners

[rcmike]

I have a slide awning on my slide but Home Depot makes a telescoping hand held mirror that tilts in the tool dept that allows me to extend it to see if anything is on top of slide under awning. Its just a preventive habit to check when I'm ready to load up and leave the site. Its about $10 made by husky and the last one I bought had a light on it.