Carefree of Colorado

tropical36 wrote:
Don't think any springs are broken and they don't look all that bad, until they start retaining rain water. I mean this coach really sits level and could really use a slight tilt, so maybe when I figure out manual operation of the jacks.
I'm told that toppers are only to keep out debris and for nothing else. Certainly doesn't keep out rain water, that's for sure.
With our old coach, the slide never held water and think maybe there was a hump in the middle instead of a dip. Either that, or the slide wasn't as level, front to rear, as it seemed to be.

1. Slide covers are mainly for keeping debris from getting on the slide roof and causing problems with the seals when retracting.
2. Some Slide toppers are required(Monaco/HR products) to keep the slide rooms from leaking when fully retracted. The slide covers were not an option but Standard equipment.
3. Depending on the height of the slide room depends on the SLOPE of the slide cover. Most Motorhomes, the slide roofs are so close to the upper roll wrap that the slope is almost none. Towables usually have at least 6 inches from the top of the slide room to the top edge of the sidewall and you can get a pronounced slope when extended to prevent water pooling on the slide fabric when raining. Doug

Get a plastic pool noodle, they come in several diameters and lengths. Whenever the slide is extended, just put the noodle under the fabric to 'tent' it a little...but closer to the RV side then the street side to help prevent water from entering the RV. Should be able to get a few more years out of it that way.

Don't think any springs are broken and they don't look all that bad, until they start retaining rain water. I mean this coach really sits level and could really use a slight tilt, so maybe when I figure out manual operation of the jacks.
I'm told that toppers are only to keep out debris and for nothing else. Certainly doesn't keep out rain water, that's for sure.
With our old coach, the slide never held water and think maybe there was a hump in the middle instead of a dip. Either that, or the slide wasn't as level, front to rear, as it seemed to be.

We have also had to replace springs in our main awning and the bedroom slide awning. They did droop/sag with no tension. All over though, not just in the middle like a stretched awning would do.

Not getting email alerts to these posts, it seems and not like I'm ignoring potential help here.
Well, it does sound like that's the only way and with drilling out the rivets. One could be right about not being able to help things much, although I did have a loose one once and after cutting back and resewing, which required complete disassembly, 13 turns from scratch, sure straitened it up and still is on my old coach, Doesn't pool water like our newer one, either, but could be that the REV sits more level, too. Still trying to figure out manual operation of the jacks, so maybe letting it down or up a bit in the front and an inch or two could do wonders for getting rid of water, wherever it may be.
Back to adjustments, I'm thinking that the main manual slides can be tightened by turning the arms and after disconnecting them from the coach body of course. Gonna take a couple of people and a couple of ladders for this though.

Executive wrote:
The only way I know of is to drill out the rivets. It's not an easy one person job. I had all mine replaced due to tornado damage a couple years ago by a mobile person who changed them in the campground. After drilling out the rivets, he used SS screws in case I needed to tighten or replace them in the future.....Dennis

Smart move and I never replace anything with rivets, either, if it can be helped.

ADDING tension to a slide topper will not remove the sags. The fabric has stretched. You can verify adding tension will not work by grabbing the awning tube and using your hands pull/roll the tube tighter(simulating adding tension). You will find it will not roll tighter. Adding TOO MUCH tension may also affect the slide room when extending. Doug

The only way I know of is to drill out the rivets. It's not an easy one person job. I had all mine replaced due to tornado damage a couple years ago by a mobile person who changed them in the campground. After drilling out the rivets, he used SS screws in case I needed to tighten or replace them in the future.....Dennis

Are you sure that you do not have a broken spring? I had one spring break on one topper and it caused a sag.
I drilled the rivets and changed both springs. Not the easiest for one person but it can be done if you are careful.