Slide cover for snowy weather

Slide cover would be a good idea not just for snow, but any debris or rain. As to snow, without cover, you'll probably need to clear top of slide to even get the slide to retract. Pushing even a couple of inches of snow on the slide top, will pack into the top seal and jam the slide flange. Ask me how I know!!! Even with a slide cover or topper, most amounts of snow will force the vinyl down on top of the slide, but usually the stuff will fall off as the cover wraps around the tube. If anything, just have a broom handy to help knock the snow off as the slide retracts, esp if wet and heavy. You won't get any inside the trailer.

I've installed 5 toppers on 3 different trailers, and very easy to do. Your slide certainly isn't 14 ft like our main slide, and it was the only one needing a second body to help with the heavy stuff. Great model is the Carefree SOKIII. You can find install pdf at Carefree website to get an idea of how to install.

That's a tough one. If you don't have a cover you'll have to clear off the top of the slide before you retract it. If you do have a cover the snow will collapse it and I'm not sure what the effects of doing that repeatedly are.

Here is about 3" on mine. I have a long piece of styrofoam under each awning to support it in the rain - it sags bad. With the help of that, it took the snow ok but I didn't retract it that way. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had.



BTW, my TT came with a grade of Carefree slide out covers that is so cheaply made, only the OEM can buy it. I can't even get parts for it.
They really are a POC.
I've installed the consumer grade of Carefree awnings and they are twice the product these are.
I have no doubt I will have to replace them someday.
Pure junk.

We are leaving MI and it is well below freezing. I like to have the topper thawed before trying to extend the slides. If it is frozen I worry about the slide pulling the topper attachment at the roof away from the roof. Might not be a problem if not frozen but it can be if solid.

rvshrinker wrote:
I have a new ORV 23DBS with a single slide.

I plan to go skiing and camp overnight. Do I need a slide cover for the snow? Seems logical but... Anyway, is it something I can install or dealer does?

An alternative view that will no doubt raise the ire of some :R, but ...

Given the OP's use this is all the more reason to select either a floor plan that has no slide(s) OR one in which the slide(s) when deployed still allow full access to the interior so when it is snowing one can simply leave the slide in the stored position. This ORV 23DBS doesn't meet that criteria. :(

To the OP - be aware that when installing a slide topper one may have to replace the factory installed drip rail with an awning rail which secures the awning to the trailer side wall just above the slide.

FWIW, my own trailer has a shallow sofa slide and I did not install a topper ... instead I carry a 3-step ladder so I can reach the slide roof to sweep it clear of any debris, including snow, which I have dealt with.



The trick with snow though is to clear the slide top as soon as it begins to snow, then retract the slide so snow / ice will no longer be a concern. I can do that with my Coachmen 192RBS but one couldn't with the OP's trailer without severely limiting interior access so considering his intended use with a trailer he already owns it seems he has no choice now but to install a topper and try to not let it get clogged up with ice.

A slide topper is a good idea because it reduces the debris that gets swept inside when it retracts. It has been on my list of years.

Slides are slide, they add weight, they add complexities, they are one more thing to go wrong, etc. etc. Still, I would not own a TT without one.

I carry a five foot ladder in the TV and have had to remove snow and leaves more than once. It is just the price you pay of the floor plan you like.

rvshrinker wrote:
I have a new ORV 23DBS with a single slide.

I plan to go skiing and camp overnight. Do I need a slide cover for the snow?

Considering your other post about using chains for towing your trailer in the snow when going skiing, is it so important to take the trailer that it's worth all this effort & expense? Seems unnecessary to me when you can just stay in a nearby hotel room when skiing. :R

Since we would only go when snow is not in the forecast, it sounds like I can get away without a topper and just use a stepstool/small ladder with a broom to sweep off any snow dusting. I’ll keep the slide closed during the day while we’re on the slopes. The only real accumulation would occur at night, and again - don’t plan on going up if snow is in the forecast.

Seems a few pieces of rigid insulation placed on top of the slide would be an easy surface to remove snow from and I think it'd keep ice to a minimum on the actual slider roof surface for easier retraction.

We've designed our camper for just this ski area parking lots. Though many ski areas are becoming dickish about camping in their lots.
Things you may or may not have considered...
-12V mattress warmers are the absolute DEAL, they don't eat more amps than they're worth in warmth and one can use them and not run the heater. they feel warmer, uses about the same amps as the heater ( a queen size both sides going) but saves the propane and the loudness of the heater kicking in.

-Blackout/ insulated curtains for windows, doors, roof vents, greatest sources of heat loss. Don't forget to leave one open.

-Max air vent covers (or the like) so the vents open anytime, not just when you clear the snow off the roof. Clear the snow off septic vents daily.

-If you can isolate the toilet from your water system and add a pump to just it, use RV antifreeze as the fluid source one can more safely enjoy septic system in cold WX, everything else is winterized. we tried using an on-demand hand pump for water but it became easier to just pour out of jugs.
We removed our P-traps and added these ventless/ waterless traps...
hepvo

- Using non-vented propane heaters (little buddy, wave) DUMPS water vapor into the air. Humidity is your enemy in cold weather RV camping, the vented stock heater will EAT your batteries alive... so plan on finding alternative heat sources or running generator a whole lot. venting another vented stove out a window with some metal work is our go around... looking at boating stoves, gas, oil, wood and wood pellet, just down to coast and desire.


- we use a large rafting cooler to keep things from freezing while out skiing, mainly drinking water milk, beer etc.... :)

We have studded tires on the camper, chains for 2 of the 4 tires and our little truck, Tundra, has 4x4 and chains IF needed.

-Sometimes talking with the local volunteer fire department can garner one a place to park and in some cases, an electrical plug-in. A bag of good coffee and a bottle whiskey go a long way ;)

have fun

-Repo

I would get one if I could. Years ago I had my trailer out on a fishing trip in Montana. The first night it snowed a couple of inches and then warmed up a bit during the day. Another inch that night followed by a little warming. When it was time to leave there was a pretty good sized pile of ice on my slideout. I did not have a ladder so had a challenge removing the ice without damaging the roof or killing myself.

Camping in the snow will always be a challenge. I would get a topper and then retract the slideout when there was snow on top of it. Lots of snow can damage the cover.