I still see no real reason to even have the topper! I had a slide on my 2000 trail and for 8 years never needed a topper.
With all of the complaints I'm glad I opted for a ladder as opposed to the toppers, then if I really want to claen or wash the top of the slide (while away from home) all I have to do is drag my self up to the roof and do it with the mop.,simple business.
2008 Silverado D/A,CC 4x4 ,3.73,IBC LTZ+
2008 322FKS Jayco
17.5 Nova Craft canoe (49 lbs.)
2 Trek 1500 mountain bikes
Honda EU2000i
It must be time to go, the suns out and I've got a full tank of diesel and an empty charge card!
For those of you who have used the awning air wedge, please report back on how you like it.
As another poster stated, I am now on the Oregon Coast and it is August 11, 2008 and very windy. I live in a local RV park. My big slide topper (15-feet long) is rattling and shaking the entire 35-ft RV. I have an awning guy who will remove both of the toppers for me since our 25-mph winds are already too much for it, IMO, and when it hits 50+ mph those toppers are going to rip off and maybe tear off the side of my fifthwheeler.
Do you think the awning air wedge will keep the air out from under the topper? Will that solve the problem of the topper ripping apart in high winds?
Let me know ASAP! They are coming to take my toppers away soon!
One more thing I forgot....I live full-time in my RV. I have extra furniture (this n that) and some braided rugs over the carpet. In the bedroom where the slide would go if brought in, I have two two-drawer file cabinets and three plastic drawer units (Wally specials). I use all this stuff.
So for me to bring the slides in in 45 seconds would be impossible. Yes, if I anticipate a huge storm here on the OR coast, I will clear a path to move in the slides.
In addition, my big slide won't come in without a couple of people to nudge it along. Yep, it needs repair, but since I don't travel in my RV (move it occasionally), I can't see putting the $$ into a ten-year old rig just so the slide goes in easily. It DOES move, just on its own plan!
thecampingman wrote: The water just sits in there for days sometimes. The longer it sits the baggier the topper gets. Then it holds more water. The water gets nasty and discolors the topper.
Please excuse me here. I'm not trying to be a "Smart A**", but if the problem is the "water sitting in there for days...", then simply don't let it sit in the slide topper for days!
Takes just a minute to run the slide in, or whatever.....just my $.02
Enjoy the journey.....
"HUTCH" '07 SILVERADO 3500HD 'CLASSIC' DRW - CC - 4 X 4
'07 NEW HORIZONS 34' 5th.Wheel 'MotoMover'
'06 HONDA 106hp.VTX1800 w/'HANNIGAN' Sidecar
My main slide topper needed replacing & I'm fortunate to live close to several marine upholstery shops. I checked in to having some (living room & bedroom) made. The 1st thing I was told is how inferior the factory material is, as compared to the aftermarket material (made by the same supplier).
I too wanted to address standing water issue...here's what we came up with...
Did a 2x5" hole (backed with a mesh fabric) in the topper fabric where water tended to gather. Formed a v shaped gutter out of the same topper fabric on the underside. Gutter is simply stitched in place. It runs from the mesh hole to the back edge of the slide. It also tapers, from the mesh hole , starting at about 1" deep to 6" deep. Works perfectly...rolls up with the topper....nothing to remember...nothing to forget...I also had the 1st 6" of the leading edge done in double fabric, double stitched, so no more ripping from traveling. & being as the fabric is much more heavy duty there is no more popping in high winds.
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When I get lots of water in my slide toppers, I raise the front elevators on my rig, so the water runs off the back of the topper. Only need to raise the front elevators about a couple of inches. After the water drains off, I return the elevators to make the trailer level again. Remember to crank up the rear stab's, before raising your front elevators. You can get wet when you crank up your rear stab's, so be careful.
Closing the slides with all that water in them does dump the water out. But I do get some inside the coach sometimes. So I prefer to drain it off by raising the elevators, as described above.
2006 F350 V10 4X4 SC SB SRW 4.30 22,500 GCWR
Keystone Sprinter 33'9" 12,500 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Super Duty, Super Cab, SuperGlide
I had one of the permanently mounted slide toppers that rolls out when you roll out the slide but I had two problems with it. First water would collect on it.......lots of water. Second, when the wind kicks up (I camp at the beach a lot) the topper would flap and crack and make a terrible racket. On one windy night, I was amazed that the topper was still there in the morning.
I solved the problems by getting a Care Free slide topper that works independently of the slide. You can roll the topper out or you can choose to leave it rolled up. It works in a very similar fashion to the main awnings on the front of the camper.
Wind is no longer a problem with the Care Free but there wasn't enough room above the slide to get a decent pitch to the slide topper so it still collects water. I made a wedge shaped framework out of two inch thick blue foam that I put in the center of the slide top before I lower the awning. The wedge prevents the water from pooling. I've seen wedges that sortof look like an odd shaped air mattress that'll do the same thing.
The best solution, for water at least, is to mount the slide topper high enough so that there's some pitch to it so water will run off without any additional equipment.
2002 F-250 full size ext. cab Powerstroke
2005 31' Prowler Bunk House TT (for the grandkids)
Always try to be the person your dog thinks you are!
In response to Lightload....my two toppers on my Alfa Ideal are going to come off tomorrow. I bought this RV used four years ago and it is now ten years old. The rubber roofing on top of the big (15-ft) slide and smaller bedroom slide looks brand new other than some dust. There is no evidence that any water has ever gotten past the slides into the RV. When I lived in Rogue River (moved to Bandon, OR) two weeks ago, I was parked under diseased sycamores which lost their new leaves as soon as they matured in late spring. Covered with worms, spiders, and a virus. We had two leaf falls there each year. The branches of the sycamores snap off and lie across the bigger branches until they finally fall onto the top of the rig. I spent hours trying to keep the main roof clean. Slides did fine with the toppers, however. But the wind in the "pasture" I am parked in here in Bandon is intense. I don't really mind it as long as the topper doesn't make the "flap and crack and racket" Lightload mentioned. And it is only 25 mph with gusts now. Wait till it hits 50 mph and above! We are going to block this RV as well and are keeping an eye on the rear stabilizers so they don't get ruined. I just can't deal with the toppers here. Will leave the hardware up there if I never need to use it, but the big topper was NOT put up high enough and it is even lower on one end than the other. Watch who you do business with (RV dealers) in Medford, Oregon. They were aware of this problem but refused to fix it. And I was too naive as a newbie full-time RV'er to fight with them. Lucky for them! I just don't want to spend any more $$ on this old a rig, but I love it--well built and it IS HOME to me and three cats!
I can't agree more with the thought that the toppers are an invention of someone marketing them. They are a mostly useless part of your trailers stuff. I have posted in the past that after 10 years of having a slide I never repeat "NEVER" needed a topper. For those of you with them good luck for the rest of us "go camping!"
I'm not here to ruffle anyones stuff but there is a point where the rubber meets the road if you know hat I mean.
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