Forum Discussion

blueglide's avatar
blueglide
Explorer
Oct 31, 2015

Slideout awning thoughts/recommendations

We have an Arctic Fox 1150 that does not currently have an awning over the slideout. At the end of each camping trip I have been climbing up the ladder to brush away any debris on top of the slideout before retracting it. I am considering getting an awning to make things a little easier. Any thoughts, first hand experience, recommendations on brands,etc. I want to install it myself if possible.
  • IMOP if you can remove any one of the awnings and recaulk and re-intall it then you should have no problem installing a new awning. I would not let anyone install an awning on my rig unless i could watch them do it. Cheers
  • Curious if anyone has done the install themselves? I like doing my own work so I can be as picky as I want but I also know when to hire a job done if its over my head.
  • I've also got the slide awning on mine.

    Love it, wouldn't be without one.

    Noise or water on the awning have never been an issue for me.
  • Not all awnings are equal. I've only had mine 9 1/2 years, and I haven't had any issues. In winds that are really high > 40 or so, I usually put my slides in. I don't usually camp in high winds, but they are relatively short. There are a lot of brand options and material quality options.

    I never leave the back awning out in winds over about 20. The do make awning savers for the back awning, but I have no reason to leave it open.

    If you search youtube, there are examples of different awnings and service/replacement of the material as well.
  • We went for years without a slide awning. Like you, I climbed up before we put it in each time to clean the top. Early mornings was always slippery.

    Put one on our 5th W. 3 years ago and one on our TC 2 years ago. I haven't climbed on the roof while traveling since.

    It sometimes makes a bit of noise when out west in real wind. It doesn't bother us.

    Very heavy rains will puddle on the awning, but since it extends about 5 inches past each edge of the roof it doesn't cause any problem. We learned real quick not to stand too close to the end walls when retracting the slide as you could get a sudden waterfall shower.

    We won't be without one now.
  • We have an AF 1150 as well. Our slide does have an awning and we are pleased with it. We have not found it to be noisy even when windy. For the most part it has worked well to keep debris out. We are glad we got it.
  • SDcampowneroperator wrote:
    In my experience, slideout topper awnings are a mixed bag.
    First the bad. They flap in the wind, debris blown under is unseen, difficult to remove,
    The good, I guess they shade the slide roof and shed rain some so you don't get a slide seal leak.
    to us, They are an expensive fair weather gimmick.


    Good points to consider...hadn't thought about debris blowing under the awning. I'm on the fence whether to install one or not. The older I get the more I wonder how long I will be able to safely climb around on top of my TC to remove leaves, pine needles, etc.
  • In my experience, slideout topper awnings are a mixed bag.
    First the bad. They flap in the wind, debris blown under is unseen, difficult to remove,
    The good, I guess they shade the slide roof and shed rain some so you don't get a slide seal leak.
    to us, They are an expensive fair weather gimmick.
  • We had the same same issue with our toy hauler so ordered our TC with the slide awning. I think it is a Carefree model (like the rear awning).