Slide out awnings yay or nay?

Lantley wrote:
I have witnessed pooling toppers dump water when retracted.

That is the very purpose of toppers. To dump the water OUTSIDE the trailer rather than let it find its way into the trailer. Toppers dumping water when being retracted is a GOOD thing.

I have awnings on my slideouts and they seem like a great idea. I don't know why someone wouldn't want them.

MarkieBob wrote:
Hi guys!!! I have had many rv's--all of them with toppers. So I haven't had one without to comment there, but toppers have been fine for me EXCEPT: I have to bring it in and stop so the water runs off or I WILL get some water seep into the rig. It's happened. The biggest problem is the flapping. It keeps me awake at night worrying they might rip. Hence my rope idea above. Of course I haven't tried it yet because the rig has sat since January. Boy am I getting anxious!

Thanks for the testimonial that some toppers do flap. I've been accused of parroting what I've read or heard because I don't actually own toppers. While I do not have toppers on my rig by choice. I have personally witnessed them flapping and pooling on other RV's at the CG.
I have personally been awakened by the RV next door's flapping toppers.
I have witnessed pooling toppers dump water when retracted.
Bottom line I don't think you have to own a set of toppers to experience/witness their pitfalls.

solman wrote:
For those that sweep the top of the slides before retracting them do you work from a ladder or climb onto the roof of the rv? I had thought perhaps a leaf blower while standing on a ladder might be easy enough. I have 3 slides but one will not get an awning for sure as the adjacent patio awning doesn't allow enough clearance for a slide awning as well. I may do an awning on the other two slides so as less to do when breaking camp.

I use a collapsible ladder and an electric leaf blower which works well for me. I've considered getting them, but so far have not.

Only saying that in case someone makes an Assumption on something they think I'm commenting on without actual experience, because I may or may not have actually stated I did have them, hence saving the need for any rebuttals to my post.

Not criticizing, but am curious how water gets into the trailer when you bring in the slides. Are they too short for the slides, and water gets under the topper and on the slides?

Really, just curious.

Hi guys!!! I have had many rv's--all of them with toppers. So I haven't had one without to comment there, but toppers have been fine for me EXCEPT: I have to bring it in and stop so the water runs off or I WILL get some water seep into the rig. It's happened. The biggest problem is the flapping. It keeps me awake at night worrying they might rip. Hence my rope idea above. Of course I haven't tried it yet because the rig has sat since January. Boy am I getting anxious!

Lantley wrote:
I don't have toppers because I don't want them. I haven't missed not having them. Just read this thread and you can see from other post why I don't have them.
A few of those post are of mods and gadgets they use to avoid some of the pitfalls of the toppers.
If toppers did not pool or flap I'd might consider them. I agree they don't all pool and flap. I also agree pooling and flapping are not deal breakers for everyone. many tolerate the pooling and flapping. Some use mods to control the pooling and flapping.
I prefer to avoid toppers all together because I feel the potential pitfalls outweigh the benefits.
If you like toppers that's fine many do find them beneficial, but I think pretending there is no downside or somehow imply that because I don't have toppers I should not comment on their downside is not helpful.
Like it or not, tolerate it or not there is a down side to toppers.
Those interested in toppers should beware of the pitfalls before making a decision.
I special ordered my RV to get the exact features I wanted and did not want. I considered toppers, but ultimately decided against them.
Currently I have no desire for toppers, maybe one day I will experience circumstances that will make me wish I had toppers, that's possible. But for now I a happy without toppers and do not regret my decision to omit them for the reasons I mentioned.

Thank you for the very informative response. I certainly respect your desire to have what you want, and not have what you don't want.

But, of course there is a "but" :), when you cite these "problems" "downsides" "pitfalls", you are merely parroting what you've heard/read. You really have no first hand experience, and hence, have no personal data to add, just passing along anecdotal assumptions. If doing so you really should be sure to state it is all supposition and hearsay, that you have no experience with them.

It would be like me, who owns a Dodge pickup, citing all the issues with the Ford pickup even though I don't own one, and have no idea whether any of the issues are even real, but I will pass them along like they are real. When a person asks for opinions/experiences about a product, they have the right to expect actual opinions from people who own/use the product, not passed along hearsay, speculation, and rumors. I have passed along things I have read/heard, but I try to state that when I post them.

Okay, I'm done. No more rebuttals.

fj12ryder wrote:

Lantley wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Explain to me what the "REAL problem" is with water pooling on the toppers. I honestly don't see an issue with it. Yes, some people don't like it, but that's personal preference, not a problem. Please expand on the problem, and a problem more than just "I don't like it". I honestly am curious why water pooling is a problem.

I don't like blue cars and would never have one. But that's personal preference, I don't say that blue causes my skin to break out, or runs off the car in the rain, just "I don't like it", no excuses.

Pooling is a problem because it stretches the fabric.
It can cause the fabric to be loose which leads to more flapping and the topper not retracting properly
Also the topper can dump the water at once which can drench and unaware person standing beneath the camper. Pooling can also lead to water inside the RV depending on how much water is dumped at once.
Pooling is not desirable and can be one more thing to deal with when its time to retract the topper.

So no real problems? FWIW I've never, ever had water come inside when dumping a full topper, which has happened quite a few times. I have gotten splashed but again, not a real problem. Never, ever heard of anyone having an issue with a topper not retracting due to water pooling. Snow, I have heard of, water? No.

Just curious if you have ever had slide toppers, or whether you're stating what you have heard are problems, from people who don't like them.

I don't have toppers because I don't want them. I haven't missed not having them. Just read this thread and you can see from other post why I don't have them.
A few of those post are of mods and gadgets they use to avoid some of the pitfalls of the toppers.
If toppers did not pool or flap I'd might consider them. I agree they don't all pool and flap. I also agree pooling and flapping are not deal breakers for everyone. many tolerate the pooling and flapping. Some use mods to control the pooling and flapping.
I prefer to avoid toppers all together because I feel the potential pitfalls outweigh the benefits.
If you like toppers that's fine many do find them beneficial, but I think pretending there is no downside or somehow imply that because I don't have toppers I should not comment on their downside is not helpful.
Like it or not, tolerate it or not there is a down side to toppers.
Those interested in toppers should beware of the pitfalls before making a decision.
I special ordered my RV to get the exact features I wanted and did not want. I considered toppers, but ultimately decided against them.
Currently I have no desire for toppers, maybe one day I will experience circumstances that will make me wish I had toppers, that's possible. But for now I a happy without toppers and do not regret my decision to omit them for the reasons I mentioned.

Our ORV has a 13+ ft slide with a topper. I started using a 8ft pool cover water tube between the slide roof and topper. Works great for water pooling and pretty good in winds. It occasionally will dislodge in certain winds and angle. This year I'm going to use a 10ft one, and put aboot 1 to 1-1/2 of water in it to stabilize better. Can't fill with air through the water port, so glued a pool toy air valve on and fills pretty quick with 12V compressor. Very little water stays on topper, hardly get wet retracting!!!!

Lantley wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Explain to me what the "REAL problem" is with water pooling on the toppers. I honestly don't see an issue with it. Yes, some people don't like it, but that's personal preference, not a problem. Please expand on the problem, and a problem more than just "I don't like it". I honestly am curious why water pooling is a problem.

I don't like blue cars and would never have one. But that's personal preference, I don't say that blue causes my skin to break out, or runs off the car in the rain, just "I don't like it", no excuses.

Pooling is a problem because it stretches the fabric.
It can cause the fabric to be loose which leads to more flapping and the topper not retracting properly
Also the topper can dump the water at once which can drench and unaware person standing beneath the camper. Pooling can also lead to water inside the RV depending on how much water is dumped at once.
Pooling is not desirable and can be one more thing to deal with when its time to retract the topper.

So no real problems? FWIW I've never, ever had water come inside when dumping a full topper, which has happened quite a few times. I have gotten splashed but again, not a real problem. Never, ever heard of anyone having an issue with a topper not retracting due to water pooling. Snow, I have heard of, water? No.

Just curious if you have ever had slide toppers, or whether you're stating what you have heard are problems, from people who don't like them.