Slideout Cover Rain Sag
There are lots of threads about slideout awnings holding rain, and many ways others have taken to help prevent sagging and stretching from a big puddle of water on the fabric. Here is a way I will be trying this camping year to prevent or lessen rain sag and fabric stretch on our 169" wide slide!!
Picked up a pool water bag 1 ft X 8 ft and modified to be air filled. Those with pools and use covers know what these do. They can be bought in many lengths, double tube, etc. Figured that 8 ft will keep the center raised enough to drain better, but can always go for a longer one if need be.
Went to dollar store, bought a couple of kids pool toys with the typical vinyl air valve. Cut out valve, cut hole in pool water bag, and practiced with a couple of diff adhesives. The Loctite pictured worked great, actually seemed to weld the 2 vinyls together!! The large water fill plug doesn't leak, very low pressure in bag when inflated. Takes aboot 5 mins with Harbor Freight compressor to fill to a nice firm size. Have left inflated for about a week in garage with very little loss of pressure, probably temp change the biggest culprit.
I carry a 5 ft folding ladder (don't really want to go up any higher except in a major emerg!!) and can reach the top of slide and push bag into position easily. Longer bag probably even easier to position!! Bag has stayed in place even in some good winds lately. Time will tell how well this works, and I'll report any negs and pluses as the spring goes!!!
So far total cost of this idea has been about $8, and have extra toy valves if need to go to a longer bag.
Picked up a pool water bag 1 ft X 8 ft and modified to be air filled. Those with pools and use covers know what these do. They can be bought in many lengths, double tube, etc. Figured that 8 ft will keep the center raised enough to drain better, but can always go for a longer one if need be.
Went to dollar store, bought a couple of kids pool toys with the typical vinyl air valve. Cut out valve, cut hole in pool water bag, and practiced with a couple of diff adhesives. The Loctite pictured worked great, actually seemed to weld the 2 vinyls together!! The large water fill plug doesn't leak, very low pressure in bag when inflated. Takes aboot 5 mins with Harbor Freight compressor to fill to a nice firm size. Have left inflated for about a week in garage with very little loss of pressure, probably temp change the biggest culprit.
I carry a 5 ft folding ladder (don't really want to go up any higher except in a major emerg!!) and can reach the top of slide and push bag into position easily. Longer bag probably even easier to position!! Bag has stayed in place even in some good winds lately. Time will tell how well this works, and I'll report any negs and pluses as the spring goes!!!
So far total cost of this idea has been about $8, and have extra toy valves if need to go to a longer bag.
