I have decided to add slide out awnings to my 5'er, primarily to keep debris off the slide roof and to keep rain off the slide. I had pretty much decided to go with Carefree Sideout Kover II with full covers. However, this past week my spouse and I went trout fishing and it rained almost every day. I observed several 5'ers with slide awnings and I noted that most awnings longer than 7 or 8 feet pooled water on the awning. Most living room slide awnings were full of water and sitting on top of the slide (adding considerable weight to the slide supports) and I noted the Carefree awnings had rollers which were bowed in the middle toward the slide wall (actually touching the slide). I visited with one owner who had Carefree awnings on his 5'er and he is the one who pointed out his bowed slide roller on the LR slide and suggested I investigate A&E slide toppers because he "thought they might be stronger".
I like the look of the Carefree units better than the A&E (I don't like the extended "square" rail holder on the A&E slide topper). However, if the roller is stronger I would purchase A&E. To my knowledge, these rollers are made of Aluminum and this flexing can't be good for the roller.
So, Carefree and A&E owners, I know the rollers on longer slides flex when the awning fills with rain. Has this flex caused damage to your slide toppers? Do A&E toppers flex like the Carefree? Thanks for your input...
Take a look at the Carefree Guardi-Awn. It is a slide awning AND window shade awning that works independently on the slide. I would think it would have rain run-off better. You could also run the slide in for a brief time to drain off any ponding.
Bob Leiper
Retired Fire Chief
Baytown, Texas
2007 GMC C3500 SLT, CC, DRW, D/A, 56 gal tank, added NAV radio
2004 Open Road 357RLDS-5 #3730, Added Disc Brakes, 2nd AC, Doran TPMS
RBW 15K swivel, Prodigy
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