Slideout awning thoughts/recommendations

Another alternative to climbing up on the roof is to use a broom from the ground. I purchased a microphone boom off of ebay, rigged an attachment for a 12" broom head and clean debris off from the safety of terra firma. The broom can be attached to a convential handle for double duty inside the camper as well. Works well for me and no issues cleaning debris off the slide trapped under a slide out awning.

The awnings keep debris, ice and snow off the top of the slide. They also shade your slide in sunny weather reducing the solar heating on the thinner slide ceiling.

Mike008 wrote:
Excuse my ignorance on the topic. Do slide outs commonly leak? Is that the main reason for a slide out awning? Having recently purchased a TC with a small slide out and having spent some time looking it over, I can't help but think the slide out is a potential leak spot. Ive considered having a white aluminum shield made up that I could install over the slide out. So when it's closed the rain would not be able to get on top of the slide.

Slide out awnings are primarily designed to keep debris (leaves, twigs, pine needles, etc) from accumulating on top of the slide out while camping. They keep the debris from being carried back into the TC past the seals and possibly damaging the slide out seals. The seals are the primary defense against water intrusion. Slide out awnings probably only add a secondary layer of protection against water getting into the TC.

Yes and yes and a proper awning will do what you're trying to accomplish.

Excuse my ignorance on the topic. Do slide outs commonly leak? Is that the main reason for a slide out awning? Having recently purchased a TC with a small slide out and having spent some time looking it over, I can't help but think the slide out is a potential leak spot. Ive considered having a white aluminum shield made up that I could install over the slide out. So when it's closed the rain would not be able to get on top of the slide.

I wouldn't have a slideout without one (well, our last RV had air-sealed slides, so awnings were needed, but I digress). I've only had Carefree Colorado ones, so can't comment on other makes. I upgraded both of ours with the Slideout Kover III with wind deflectors. About as close to a box awning as it gets for a slideout. I would defiantly recommend. Oddly, Camping World (online) had the best prices for them. Replaced the wall slide last year and the dinette slide a couple weeks back.

The only time I have had wind noise with the slide awning is in big gusts when the TC is facing forward or rearward to the wind direction. I have not had problems with it freezing when going skiing nor snow or other debris under the awning.

I had more issues with snow and ice when the slide did not have an awning. If I knew it was going to snow, I would typically pull the slide in and now I don't worry about it.

Regardless whether you have an awning, flexibility in orientation to the wind makes a big difference. Fumes from the LPG fueled appliances is always my first concern.

When we got our 1150 we decided not to get them. I even PM'd a few members of the forum before ordering. The big disadvantageous we were warned about were:

- noise and problems in high winds
- still needing to check for wind blown debris under the cover.
- Icing of the awning in cold weather. One person told us they had to cut the awning off to retract it.

If you search the forums there are lots of threads regarding the topic with mixed results. We don't have them on our 1150 so I can't personally confirm these disadvantageous.

I don't check mine every trip. Only if under trees in the wind. I haven't had a problem with debris, the "seals" which sweep the slide seem pretty robust. When I do go up to check I also use it as an excuse to look around the roof for problems.

Good luck

Thanks for the feedback...sounds like something I could tackle with wifey's assistance. Get a little nervous thinking about drilling holes, etc in the side of the TC. Now I have to narrow down the right one.

I installed ours, its an A&E. Technically very simple install. Drilling pilot holes, driving screws. Study the instructions as far as placement etc, though I found the install simpler than the instructions trying to explain. Again an easy dyi install. However, other than the mechanical part that a person can do themselves, having a second person (and second ladder) to help, simply due to length of tube makes it a lot easier.

I still get up and check that its clean, if dry most stuff falls off as topper rolls up. If stuff is stuck to it, usually just tapping the edge I can reach without getting on roof will 'walk' of debris. If needed though cleaning (throwing a towel while holding one end to sweep) due to greater slope is a lot easier.

Ive never heard ours flap in the wind, but I have tried to sleep with rain before installing it. Our slide roof is like a drum. Helps with heat. Ive also never had anything blow under but still on occasion Ill lay a towel on roof-push it thru with broom to wipe.

I had to replace fabric at 7 years-that was more difficult than the original install.