Slide Topper Rec?

I installed my toppers mostly to help with water intrusion when the slides were closed. Sweeping the slide roof is OK but with a bedroom slide on a fifth wheel they can get pretty high. Climbing up and walking on a slick roof held no appeal for me. Blowing off a slide top may work for big leaves and sticks but not so good for wet Fir and Hemlock needles. They were a good add for us especially when they ejected a thin sheet of ice at Yellowstone. Installation was easy even though my trailer did not have the top channel pre installed.

In various trailers and fifth wheels, I’ve had 3 Dometics and 1 Carefree (current one). I’m not impressed with Carefree and would pick the Dometic. I’ve found Carefree much more susceptible to wind and from what their manual states, there is no adjustment. Both pool water but the Carefree is the worst, numerous times when retracting with pooled water the Carefree requires multiple times to extreme and retract so the fabric isn’t bunched up. IMHO, the Carefree slide toppers are a POS, when the fabric goes I’ll replace them with a complete Dometic.

Since temps are already reaching the 90s, having them is useful for us because it lowers the heat on the tops of the slides (rather the ceiling inside on the slideouts - by at least 20 degrees).

But I wouldn't go to the expense of adding them if the TT didn't already have them installed.

We got our Dometic slide toppers from Makarios RV, great service, great price, and great measuring instructions!! We got speedy service, had ours within a week.

Makarios RV

We have full awnings instead of toppers and don't have the noisy billowing when the awnings are out. If we do not put the awning out, then the toppers can be noisy. The awning are usually out unless it's just a short 1 or 2 day stop.

brianosaur wrote:

ScottG wrote:
If you don't mind spending more, the Alumaguard is sure nice.

Link? My Google search didn't go so well.

accsys wrote:
Tough Top Awnings

Is Tough Top just replacement fabric?

Made to order. That's why they want all of the measurements. The new awning will attach to your awning hardware (sliding into the slots in the awning cover and side of the RV) just like the old awning cover.

I think the Alumaguard is an option on Carefree awnings.

I sure wish I had bought and installed my own or at least specified the Alumaguard option on ours (I think it was another $600). The S/O awnings it came with are pure junk.

ScottG wrote:
If you don't mind spending more, the Alumaguard is sure nice.

Link? My Google search didn't go so well.

accsys wrote:
Tough Top Awnings

Is Tough Top just replacement fabric?

the only issue I had was with my bedroom slide that I would have to bring in a couple of times because of excessive wind noise.
bumpy