What are the pros and cons to using the awning covers over the slideouts

Cost to buy and install. Another item to set up and take down. Eventual awning replacement. Still need to check slide out top for leaves etc. Another potential mechanical item to fix. Another catching point for tree limbs.

It seems that those who have slide toppers wouldn’t be without them and those who don’t have them don’t want them or could care less. I’m in the former group. They keep stuff, like leaves and twigs, off the top of the slide.

Two Hands wrote:It seems that those who have slide toppers wouldn’t be without them and those who don’t have them don’t want them or could care less. I’m in the former group. They keep stuff, like leaves and twigs, off the top of the slide.X2I am also a believer, not only do they keep leaves and stuff off the top of the slides. They also keep the SUN off the top of the slides in summer. We have a 12' supper slide and a bed room slide, 5er is much easier to cool with them.We also full time and spend much of storm season on the Oregon coast, they help to keep the weather out.

We woke up to almost 4" of snow in northeast New Mexico. We had a slide topper and just brought in the slide and the snow rolled off. My BIL did not have a topper and without thinking brought in the slide and brought in gallons of water from melting snow. Just one example of why I would not be without them.

A slide topper/awning can also hold enough snow that it won't go in. We had this happen with the living room slide on our Crossroads this year. The bedroom slide came in fine but the snow bunched up and prevented the living room slide from coming in until I got it swept off. It was to 5-6 inches of wet snow. But I still like the toppers for keeping junk off the slide

Slide out awning covers | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

schlep1967
Nomad
Oct 21, 2019
When we first got our 5th-wheel it didn't have them. Actually bought a battery powered blower to take up the ladder with me to blow the tops of the 4 slides off before bringing them in. Nothing like climbing up a wet slippery ladder in the rain to clean the slides. Had the slide toppers installed. Now I have no reason to climb up the chintzy ladder on the back of the trailer. I use a real ladder when I'm at home if I need to go up there.
campigloo
Explorer
Oct 21, 2019
I’ve had toppers on my last two trailers over the last 12 years. I’ve replaced the fabric on two out of the four of them. If you’re the least bit handy you can easily replace them for only the cost of the fabric. I wouldn’t have a slide without them.
I’ve had more problems from my porch awnings than the toppers.
ependydad
Explorer
Oct 21, 2019
Justhavenfun wrote:
What are the pros and cons to using the awning covers over the slideouts

Pros/cons here:
https://learntorv.com/slide-toppers-aka-awnings-definitely/
Campinghoss
Explorer II
Oct 21, 2019
Had a fiver a few years ago without and now with. Definitely prefer slide toppers.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2019
Lwiddis wrote:
Cost to buy and install. Yes, similar to everything else pertaining to RVing.

Another item to set up and take down. They go in and out with the slide. Nothing to setup or take down.

Eventual awning replacement. Possibly, but mine are 9 years old and still going strong.

Still need to check slide out top for leaves etc. Nope, that's why you have the toppers. We never check and never have any leaves inside.

Another potential mechanical item to fix. Possibly, but did you take off your regular awning because it could fail? Again, ours is 9 years old with no issues. We did, however, have to replace the regular awning fabric.

Another catching point for tree limbs. I suppose if you're careless enough to not watch what you're doing. Ours has never been an issue. Maybe we're just more cautious than you.
bukhrn
Nomad
Oct 21, 2019
Lwiddis wrote:
Cost to buy and install. Another item to set up and take down.What "Set up and Take down",they are permanently attached, they go out when the slide is extended, and retracted when the slide is brought in. Eventual awning replacement.EVENTUAL, maybe, but mine are 12 years old and still going strong. . Still need to check slide out top for leaves etc. I never do anymore, after checking them the first few years we had it and never finding debris, i quit checking Another potential mechanical item to fix.Again, 12 years, NO problem, the Only "fix" I've
ever heard of is a re-tensioning after a number of years as some of them do sag a bit, no major surgery. Another catching point for tree limbs.Have never had a limb catch my awning Or slide toppers, have lost a couple gutter extentions though
After watching a fellow camper/Rv'er drag out and set up a ladder,in the rain, so he could get up and sweep of his slide outs before he could bring them in, confirmed my joy in having toppers on mine, i'm one who wouldn't have slides without them.
Dick_B
Explorer
Oct 21, 2019
For even more information search this Forum for `slide' then search the results for `cover'.
We would not be without one.
WTP-GC
Explorer
Oct 21, 2019
I’ve always had them, so I couldn’t really offer too many pros and cons not already mentioned.

Several years ago, we were camped in the mountains during the fall. The people at our neighboring campsite did not have them on their RV. On the day they left, it was raining pretty steady. They had to climb on top of their rig with a broom and sweep off the mountain of leaves that had fallen on their slide roof. Not a position I would have wanted to be in, especially on a cold rainy day when the frost may or may not have already melted off.
valhalla360
Navigator
Oct 20, 2019
Prefer toppers.

Only downside is in strong winds, they can start flapping if it comes from the right direction.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2019
K Charles wrote:
Wouldn't be without them here.
Ditto.