Hello All,I just got a new fifth wheel with three slideouts. I never had slideouts before so this is new to me. I did a search on slide awnings this forum, I know that some people love them and some do not. I thought I would post my own query on this and see what the latest thought are on the matter. If you don't have the awnings I assume you have to climb a ladder and clean the roof on the slide. One fellow told me the rubber wiper will take care of it. Guy at the rv center said just blow them off and close them up, is this acceptable? Do you need to wipe them down dry in the rain?Thanks

The best way to clean your slideouts is to not park under trees. OK, a bit obtuse, but pine trees especially.I've never had slideout awnings, but I sure don't wish I had them.

If you have a bedroom slide where your bed slides out, you will want an awning (Slide Topper) for that slide. On our first camping trip with our 5th wheel we were under trees and it rained hard. It sounded like a freight train. Then when the rain stopped, I listened to drip drip drip drip the rest of the night. Since I put the slide topper on, I sleep like a baby. As for the other slides, I agree with 2oldman. Stay away from camping under pine trees or late fall when the leaves drop and you will have little issue.

Doesn’t cost a dime to try out your new RV without awnings. After a while, reevaluate.

I think it depends on how you use your RV. We park under trees a lot and the covers keep junk from geting jambed into seals (guy is wrong about the wiper blade). They also keep direct sun off the thin roof of your slide and cut heat intrusion tremendously.If you don't care about either one of these issues then there's not much need for them. I would avoid them if you camp in the wind regularly. I added one to my last TT and I ordered them with the latest trailer (which BTW, are JUNK).I would not go without a cover again but I would elect to install them myself so I know what I'm getting. Even the cheapest model you can buy is far superior to the ones manufacurers might install. If you do order them with the new trailer, getting the alumaguard option should ensure you get quality awnings.

I vote for slide out awnings.It really helps to keep the stuff off the top of your awning. Minimizes any moisture that may enter the RV if it is raining when you retract your awning. I know that you have rubber seals but they are not perfect.The downside to a slide out awning is if you have high winds you need to retract your slide out. We normally retract the slide out anyway if we have high winds and rain so that is not a problem for us. Rolin

Slide out awnings yay or nay? | Good Sam Community

ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Feb 28, 2020
yup.. watching the gang around me up on the roof sweeping their slides roofs, while I am pushing my button, watching the needles, acorns, and stuff roll off.... priceless
DouglasC
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
We added slide out awnings to our 2 slides when our motorhome was a year old. We've never been sorry that we did it. Our MH is now 14 years old and the awnings still protect and function perfectly.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2020
Two Hands wrote:
Wouldn’t be without them.
as this is about the 300th thread about slide toppers, I'll just say I agree also.
rk911
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
solman wrote:
Hello All,
I just got a new fifth wheel with three slideouts. I never had slideouts before so this is new to me. I did a search on slide awnings this forum, I know that some people love them and some do not. I thought I would post my own query on this and see what the latest thought are on the matter. If you don't have the awnings I assume you have to climb a ladder and clean the roof on the slide. One fellow told me the rubber wiper will take care of it. Guy at the rv center said just blow them off and close them up, is this acceptable? Do you need to wipe them down dry in the rain?
Thanks

toppers? wouldn't be without them. had them on previous MH slides for 15-yrs and on our current MH for the last 4-yrs. no issues, period.
kellem
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
How opinions vary. Lol

Our previous 2 trailers had slide out toppers " Colorado " and they were a PITA to clean and left the top of the slides full of garbage and hard to get to without an extension pole, plus the wasp nests.

Latest trailer we elected not to outfit with toppers, haven't had an issue. Just wipe a coat of 303 UV protectant and forget.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2020
ktmrfs wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I wouldn't be without them. We generally are parked under trees, and they keep leaves, twigs, and small branches off the top of the slide. They block direct sun so the slide interior stays cooler. They keep the rainwater outside where it belongs, if you have to bring the slides in while it's raining.

I have read that some trailers have slideouts with no flange to trap stuff. That would lessen the benefits quite a bit.

same here. but if we typically parked in areas without trees and it didn't rain, then the advantage is almost gone.

pine needles especially area a real PITA w/o a slide topper.

I feel the biggest advantage is shielding the slide-out roof from heat! Second is keeping the top clean, third is killing the sound of rain.
Wind can make them rattle a bit on larger slides, simply throw a rope or tow strap with a little weight on it to quiet.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Feb 29, 2020
While I don't currently have any slides, I have in the past. I would not have a slide without a slide-out cover.
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Feb 29, 2020
Well, first off--NEVER believe a salesperson! I bet he (or she) never climbed on the roof to "blow" off the junk in a rain storm.
The cost of a slide cover is soon forgotten after you bring in the slide with no leaves, pine needles, or pine cones clogging up the seals.
Disclaimer: I have nothing against salespeople other then they are like politicians.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
My previous rv slides w/o awnings didn't leak but the PO of my current 5er ordered awnings and they're fine til it's really windy all night or I'm standing outside by a slide after a rainy night and the wifey puts the slide in and I get drenched. Try it without, then decide. There's pros and cons. I wouldn't miss them if they were gone. Craig
hornet28
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
wildtoad wrote:
If you don’t have slide toppers the junk from trees, snow can accumulate and cause issues when you bring them in. It is much better to have them than not.

Fact, heavy wet snow on a slide awning can prevent the slide coming in. Early June last year in Virginia City Mt I had to get up and sweep snow off the dining/living room awning as the snow bunched up and prevented the slide from coming in. Smaller bedroom slide worked fine. The blue and silver truck is our rig

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