Slide topper fabric shot - do I even need them?

[Frank B]

Our 2010 Arctic Fox 30U has gone through its second set of slide toppers. The main awning is still good. My local RV shop wants $800 CAD to replace the two toppers only. Ouch.

My question: Do I even need to replace them?

My only concern would be debris building up on the top of the slide. I'm thinking that a broom would get rid of that before I bring the slides in, assuming it is not raining when I need to bring them in.

Thoughts?

 

[Professor David]

Several different opinions on this. We like the slide toppers on our rig. We recently woke up with snow in Colorado Springs on our way back up North after two months in AZ. Glad we had the slide toppers since the snow rolled right off when I put the slide in. Without the slide toppers, I may have had to go up on roof to brush off the snow to get the slide in. Hail is another issue, when we first purchased our rig, one slide had a topper and one slide did not. One our first trip out we hit some heavy hail. The slide with the topper had no damage (the hail bounced right off the fabric topper). The slide without the topper had hail damage as shown in the picture below. Afterward, we got a slide topper on that slide too.

 

[Frank B]

Good point about the hail. Here in Calgary, we are in the hail belt. I hadn't thought about how easily the aluminum sheet on the top of those slides would dent....

In addition, if ever we sell, we'll have to replace the fabric anyway.

I guess I'm going to 'bite the bullet' and pay the nice man. My days of ladder climbing to fix slide toppers are over.

 

[rvlifer]

I like them to keep the sun and uv rays off the slide roofs

 

[RayIN]

I wouldn't be without them. MIne are the originals, it helps being stored indoors when unused.

 

[Rene T]

I wouldn't be without them. MIne are the originals, it helps being stored indoors when unused.

Same here and mine were on a 2011 Montana. It was never stored indoors and they still look like new

 

[Gizmo1137]

We hated them, too noisy in heavy winds, tear far too soon for my liking and in heavy rain and snow one needs to get on the roof to clear them less you wind up with water in side upon closing. On our 5th wheel we had, I ended up removing them and no there was no appreciable increase in inside temperatures as some seem to think. In other words at no time after did we ever think we made a mistake. On our current RV we invested in this

Well worth it and glad we did

 

[Derby6]

I don’t have them and don’t want them. I have collapsible ladder and a blower. When I am in trees I just blow off before I put them in. Since buying both the ladder and blower I’ve yet to need them to blow off slide roof. But got plenty of other uses. Especially the blower. LOL

 

[UTTransplant]

We hated them, too noisy in heavy winds, tear far too soon for my liking and in heavy rain and snow one needs to get on the roof to clear them less you wind up with water in side upon closing. On our 5th wheel we had, I ended up removing them and no there was no appreciable increase in inside temperatures as some seem to think. In other words at no time after did we ever think we made a mistake. On our current RV we invested in this

Well worth it and glad we did

We have an appointment this summer to get True Toppers put on our slides too. I am so tired of having to bring in our slides in moderate winds that have no effect on the slides themselves, but make the toppers so noisy I can’t stand it!

 

[RV_Lee1]

I'd be worried about water puddling on top of the slides and getting inside. If thats not the case (slide isnt bowed and seals are doing their job) then go for it.

 

[UTTransplant]

I'd be worried about water puddling on top of the slides and getting inside. If thats not the case (slide isnt bowed and seals are doing their job) then go for it.

If water gets inside from your slide, that is an issue with the gasket, not the topper. Toppers do little to nothing in rain with wind.

 

[Frank B]

We hated them, too noisy in heavy winds, tear far too soon for my liking and in heavy rain and snow one needs to get on the roof to clear them less you wind up with water in side upon closing. On our 5th wheel we had, I ended up removing them and no there was no appreciable increase in inside temperatures as some seem to think. In other words at no time after did we ever think we made a mistake. On our current RV we invested in this

Well worth it and glad we did

Almost looks like swatting a fly with an atom bomb.

Our rig is built in such a way that it is entirely usable with the slides in. If it gets so windy that I can't stand the topper flapping, we just bring the slides in.

And, as mentioned further up, these won't stop hail damage on the top of an extended slide. That is a consideration for the area we live in.

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I think I'm just going to shell out the cash and have them replaced again. They are a nuisance, but in retrospect, I think they provide enough value for me to keep them as they are already installed anyway.

 

[Boat Bum]

A simple innovation would be to operate the topper independently. That's not to say the implementation would be as easy.

 

[rvlifer]

A simple innovation would be to operate the topper independently. That's not to say the implementation would be as easy.

Not any more difficult than a power awning

 

[Boat Bum]

Not any more difficult than a power awning

Well, you are adding motors and electrical runs for power awnings where toppers, I believe, are tension loaded or otherwise requiring none of the above.

 

[rvlifer]

Well, you are adding motors and electrical runs for power awnings where toppers, I believe, are tension loaded or otherwise requiring none of the above.

It would require additional components but as far as difficulty to use it should be the same

 

[Boat Bum]

agreed

 

[Derby6]

Just noticed that true topper thingy could not be used on my rig.
There is a 3-4” lip around edge of slides.
Never mind. I get it now.

 

[Joezeppy]

IIRC from watching the video previously, they cut off the top lip as part of the installation.

 

[Derby6]

IIRC from watching the video previously, they cut off the top lip as part of the installation.

Yea I was coming on here to say EVERY RV has a big lip. I just walked thru where I’m staying and looked. Started thinking they must remove it. Now watched further in video and see that cutting that lip off is part of the process.