When we are parked and it happens to rain, the slide toppers collect water and when putting the slides in the next day we get some overflow into the coach...just enought to get dw mad/upset...what do you do to eliminate this.:h

In my Monaco owners manual it says to retract the slides during a heavy rain.I don't think you problem is with the topper collecting water. I think it is with the topper not being wide enough to keep water off of the top of your slide or from rain blowing in the sides and collecting on the top of your slide. if you look at the topper as it operates, all of it remains outside of your coach so any water on it remains outside. Any water getting inside is coming from water that has gotten on top of your slide roof that the weather seal slide wiper is not pushing off as it retracts.

Unfortunately, there's not much you can't do about this very common problem. Some raise or lower one end of the coach with the jacks to get the water to run off. Most just learn to live with the problem. Now, if the water is on the roof of the slide and coming inside when retracting the slide, then your toppers are too short.Keith

Get a pool noodle and cut two sections about a fool long (you may want to measure first) They should be long enough to place them in an upright position on top of your slide out at each end under the topper to cause a tent like effect. This will cause the water to roll off and not pool. Remember to remove them before you retract your slide outs!Also it is a good idea to get a spray can of cloth uv protection/water repellent and seal the topper seams. Water will seep thru them.

-Gramps- wrote:Get a pool noodle and cut two sections about a fool long (you may want to measure first) They should be long enough to place them in an upright position on top of your slide out at each end under the topper to cause a tent like effect. This will cause the water to roll off and not pool. Remember to remove them before you retract your slide outs!Also it is a good idea to get a spray can of cloth uv protection/water repellent and seal the topper seams. Water will seep thru them. Pool Noodles also work good under your slide topper when it's extremely windy!

When rain has accumulated, the FIRST thing you do after the rain has stopped is to bring the rooms in 1/2 the way. That will allow the water to flow off the outside. Then retract fully and then extend. IF you have to retract and then move on, retract 1/2 way to allow the water to drain off, then retract 3/4 of the way to allow any residual to drain off and then fully retract. That will minimize water coming inside the RV. Doug

Rain on slide toppers | Good Sam Community

38 Replies

creeper
Explorer
Oct 22, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
creeper wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
When rain has accumulated, the FIRST thing you do after the rain has stopped is to bring the rooms in 1/2 the way. That will allow the water to flow off the outside.

This is a big no no with Schwinteck slides, it can mess up the timing. We use the pool noodles.

BIG fairy tale. I probably put Scwintek slides partially in and out 3 or 4 times a week. As long as you HOLD the button down for 10 seconds after fully extending or retracting, that will retime Schwintek slides. OEM's and Schwintek state this because they realize their system can be put out of time by partially extending or retracting when there is a slight problem with the system. But, as I stated, do the hold button EVERYTIME you operate a Schwintek and you will have no problems. Doug

Then Lippert told me a your big fairy tale. Bringing them in part way from full extension and then back out again will retime them as per LIPPERT, which could take a few times to retime them. Starting and stopping and partial out then partial in LIPPERT Told me was a big no no and would get them out of timing. How else would they get out of timing?

I've had my entire passenger side schwintek system replaced and sent back to Lippert as they couldn't figure out the problem with them.

As per Lippert to prevent the system from getting out of timing is out and full in until the system times out.
tropical36
Explorer
Oct 21, 2016
usersmanual wrote:
How about a 1/2 drop in roof elevation(level) from inside to out.water would have to accumulate on the very outside edge of slide roof
My toppers seem to keep the rain off the slide roof.I have one long one where the canves droops so I stick a long(12ft) 2x4 in the middle and that seems to work when we are sitting slide out for long periods

Yes and mine tilt in if anything, judging by the seal compression.
Was gonna try adjusting it, but afraid to touch it now, with all the horror stories, coming out of the factory, no less and they expect payment for this, as well.
Again, adjusted the old National, more than once. It was the of the type that didn't have a lip like Entegra's, Foretravel, etc....
Also went straight in and out, with no riding up and down in the travel.
usersmanual
Explorer
Oct 20, 2016
How about a 1/2 drop in roof elevation(level) from inside to out.water would have to accumulate on the very outside edge of slide roof
My toppers seem to keep the rain off the slide roof.I have one long one where the canves droops so I stick a long(12ft) 2x4 in the middle and that seems to work when we are sitting slide out for long periods
tropical36
Explorer
Oct 20, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
tropical36 wrote:
All keep in mind that slide toppers are not designed to keep water from accumulating on top of the slide itself, but only to keep debris off of them.
I think slid room roofs should have a slight hump in the middle as part of their design, so that water can drain off either end. Contrary to my design beliefs, it seems that many actually have a dip in the middle for pooling and holding water. Not only that, but to the point of retaining it and even with the slide being retracted and going past the top seals. Just don't get it and never gave it much thought before, since our old tropical has never done that..

1. Having a hump is NOT practical. How would you get the room in and out of the wall cut out and SEAL correctly if the roof was not flat???????
2. The DIP in a roof is caused by age and the partial collapse of the slide room roof structure. But, this is NOT common, when they build a slide room box, they have to make the roof as thin as possible for the interior ceiling height when you are in the slide room box. They cannot make a reinforced roof like they can on the main roof of the motorhome. Doug

I feel if it can stand a dip in it, then it can stand a slight hump as it's doubtful any of them are completely flat. Now how is it that when the slide comes in, it brings the water with it inside, rather than be expelled by the top seal? Doesn't spill a drop either, until you retract the jacks and then it's holy Niagara!
Also, it seems that these particular American coaches, all have this problem and they will even admit to this, including the new ones. Just wasn't used to something like this, as our old Tropical never collected water on top, ever. Then again, when we considered it level (using the bathroom door), it's possible that the slide top wasn't.
10forty2
Explorer
Oct 19, 2016
I rarely have water accumulating on my slide topper since I rarely have the coach completely level on purpose. I do so in order to keep the A/C condensation running off the roof in the opposite direction of where we are sitting and have camp setup....usually have the front elevated slightly above level to make it run off the back. Unless there is REALLY heavy rain, the water doesn't build up on the topper. And when it does, it dumps right off when I roll in the slide. I guess my topper is sized correctly and my sweep seal does a good job sweeping since I haven't had water come inside from the slide.
BulldawgFan
Explorer
Oct 19, 2016
dougrainer wrote:
tropical36 wrote:
All keep in mind that slide toppers are not designed to keep water from accumulating on top of the slide itself, but only to keep debris off of them.
I think slid room roofs should have a slight hump in the middle as part of their design, so that water can drain off either end. Contrary to my design beliefs, it seems that many actually have a dip in the middle for pooling and holding water. Not only that, but to the point of retaining it and even with the slide being retracted and going past the top seals. Just don't get it and never gave it much thought before, since our old tropical has never done that..

1. Having a hump is NOT practical. How would you get the room in and out of the wall cut out and SEAL correctly if the roof was not flat???????

By designing the wall cut out to mirror the slide roof perhaps?! Not only practical, it's been done. I have seen 5th wheels with a pitched slide.
2. The DIP in a roof is caused by age and the partial collapse of the slide room roof structure. But, this is NOT common, when they build a slide room box, they have to make the roof as thin as possible for the interior ceiling height when you are in the slide room box. They cannot make a reinforced roof like they can on the main roof of the motorhome. Doug
dougrainer
Nomad
Oct 19, 2016
tropical36 wrote:
All keep in mind that slide toppers are not designed to keep water from accumulating on top of the slide itself, but only to keep debris off of them.
I think slid room roofs should have a slight hump in the middle as part of their design, so that water can drain off either end. Contrary to my design beliefs, it seems that many actually have a dip in the middle for pooling and holding water. Not only that, but to the point of retaining it and even with the slide being retracted and going past the top seals. Just don't get it and never gave it much thought before, since our old tropical has never done that..

1. Having a hump is NOT practical. How would you get the room in and out of the wall cut out and SEAL correctly if the roof was not flat???????
2. The DIP in a roof is caused by age and the partial collapse of the slide room roof structure. But, this is NOT common, when they build a slide room box, they have to make the roof as thin as possible for the interior ceiling height when you are in the slide room box. They cannot make a reinforced roof like they can on the main roof of the motorhome. Doug
xctraveler
Explorer
Oct 18, 2016
Our old Southwind would accumulate a little water on the driver side living room slide in a very heavy rain or if wind was blowing just wrong. The first time I became aware of this was the first time I hit the brakes on leaving a campground after said rain. All that water unloaded down my neck :) fortunately I had my foot on the brake not the throttle.
tropical36
Explorer
Oct 18, 2016
All keep in mind that slide toppers are not designed to keep water from accumulating on top of the slide itself, but only to keep debris off of them.
I think slid room roofs should have a slight hump in the middle as part of their design, so that water can drain off either end. Contrary to my design beliefs, it seems that many actually have a dip in the middle for pooling and holding water. Not only that, but to the point of retaining it and even with the slide being retracted and going past the top seals. Just don't get it and never gave it much thought before, since our old tropical has never done that..
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2016
Thanks Doug. That make sense. I guess I have been fortunate that my toppers have always extended far enough on each side to prevent water from running on to the slide roof. I also follow the manufacturer's warning to close the slide during a hard rain.

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Rain on slide toppers

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