Forum Discussion

heathmc's avatar
heathmc
Explorer
Jun 18, 2020

Slide Topper Awnings Will Not Fit

Hello!

First time RVers here, we've owned it about a month now and have spent close to two weeks in it! It's a 2017 Evergreen I-Go 31ft, pretty rare manufacturer so that may lead to some of my issues... Anyways this will be used as a home away from home for my wife while she is on residency out of state for a few months. Because of the length of time we wanted to install slide toppers to help prevent any excess rain intrusion and of course the heat and debris benefits. Well we called a mobile tech to get a quote and he said that we couldn't install toppers because they wouldn't fit due to there not being enough clearance between the top of the slide and the roof. I started comparing ours to others and sure enough our slides close very close to the roof line compared to most. Long story short is there an alternative to the traditional slide topper awnings that might work in our case? Thanks!
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Jun 18, 2020
    I can say that I am not aware of that trailer, but found it on a Google search...

    The search showed several with a slide topper... The topper looks to be almost level when out, which is not good, but it fits..
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jun 18, 2020
    A slide topper should have zero to do with preventing rain getting in.
    I personally will not have a RV with them. In my areas, high winds, not debri is the problem. Slide toppers are not good in wind. Now since you are in the SE, I can see where it could be a good choice.... But not necessairly in this situation.
    Slide toppers work best when used for short periods like a weekend, when one just wants to pull the slides in quickly to go home.
    In an extended stay use, debri will probably find its way in under the toppers... Which would then be in the way of removing it.

    Sure it could happen in a short term use as well, if it did , it would likely be a lot less.

    IMO, save the money. Get a ladder and just clean off the slide roofs with a broom when it is time to leave.
  • pennysmom09's avatar
    pennysmom09
    Explorer
    Jun 18, 2020
    We have slide toppers and use our 5th wheel 4 months out of each year and have no problem with them. Rain water runs off and there is no problem of debris. Rather have them than climbing up to clean the top of 2 superslides and the bedroom slide. Makes rain storms a lot quieter too. JMO
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jun 18, 2020
    Flat slide toppers will puddle rain. That may/may not be a problem for you.
  • heathmc's avatar
    heathmc
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2020
    Appreciate the feedback everyone, guess we'll have to see if it really necessary afterall.
  • STBRetired's avatar
    STBRetired
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2020
    I seem to recall that Dometic had a kit for raising the attachment point when there was little slide to roof space. Might have been Carefree. Saw that when shopping for slide toppers for our MH. Did not need the kit because we had sufficient mounting space, but recall seeing it in the literature.

    Check this link to the installation manual for the minimum and maximum spacing requirements for the Dometic toppers.
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2020
    "Because of the length of time we wanted to install slide toppers to help prevent any excess rain intrusion and of course the heat and debris benefits.


    I love my slide topper, but the value of above are may not be helpful for your situation. Rain should not intrude when fully in or fully out. Water and debris that accumulates on the slide roof while extended could come in when retracted. I assume your slide will be out the whole time, not in and out every other weekend like my needs.
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Jun 20, 2020
    APT wrote:
    "Because of the length of time we wanted to install slide toppers to help prevent any excess rain intrusion and of course the heat and debris benefits.


    Snip... Water and debris that accumulates on the slide roof while extended could come in when retracted. Snip...

    I can’t see how this could happen. We have had slide toppers for over 25 years and have never had any water or debris come in when retracting the slide. It all just waterfalls over the edge or the roller as the slide comes in. Some also pours out of the side if we are not exactly level but it has never come inside the rig. If we have been in one place for a long time I will usually stand in front of the slide with a broom and brush the roller as it rolls up the topper material. This gets any stuck debris off so it doesn’t get rolled up.

    I have never had to get on the roof to clean it. I have had to use a broom and awning rod to remove a birds nest a couple of times. :). It is very rare that anything gets on top of the slide roof though and have only had to run a extendable wash brush under the topper and over it a couple of times to help clean it.
    Barney
  • kellem's avatar
    kellem
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2020
    My previous 2 trailers had slide toppers and never had an issue.

    My latest trailer has 2 slides without toppers and they stay extended year around.....again, never had an issue.

    A topper is more for peice of mind rather than a necessity, I've found.
  • kfp673's avatar
    kfp673
    Explorer II
    Jun 21, 2020
    I love toppers and put them on all of our trailers. Slide roofs after years of use look brand new because of them. It does help with the water, but more importantly to me is it keeps sticks and leaves off the roof of the slide that could potentially gt stuck and cause damage when I bring them in. I am a fan but if you cant you cant.

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