Snow and Ice on Slide out tops problem?

[sandy43]

Going to the panhandle of Texas late Dec.. I do this every year and I have always had problems with snow and ice on the slide tops. Is their a product that I can spray on the top of slides to keep the snow from sticking? Thanks

[Braces]

Recently had a problem with ice build-up on slide topper. Topper always sags with rain and I was not aware that water had frozen into about 1/2" of ice. When I retracted the slide the ice jammed and put enough pressure on the cable slide gearbox that it broke off several of the gear teeth. Still would function but with a terrible noisy,jumpy action. Had to replace gearbox. Will check for ice from now on.

[ORbiker]

Bird Freak wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I don't think slide toppers would be any defense against snow anyway.

If it were me, I would cut a piece of plastic to cover the roof area of the slide. Then lift it off just before bringing the slide in.

I didn't think the topper would help much with snow and ice but I was wrong. As the topper rolls up it dumps it just like a conveyor belt.

That's exactly how mine worked on the camper. Just like a conveyor belt. plop. plop. plop

[4bearhug]

memtb wrote:

memtb wrote:
You probably won’t like my remedy! This is something that we experience a few times a year... we winter camp in Wyoming. The method is “not” fun and is dangerous, I sweep off the tops of the slides soon after the snowfall, before it melts and then re-freezes. The experience can take years off of your life just from the stress....more if you fall off ?? !

On another forum, a gentleman had a good remedy....if you have slide toppers. He built a support system (kind of like a tent ridge pole) out of pvc tubbing and fittings. He would slide the support between the slide roof and the topper. Helped minimize the snow/ice buildup, plus with a little creativity...remove the buildup off of the topper, without it getting on the slide top.

This is exactly what I do with the one topper that droops a bit and collects water when it rains. Really easy to do and it works great at keeping tension and slope so water runs off. I just made it out of 3/4" pvc pipe and don't glue it together so it disassembles and packs away compactly. Works like a charm.

[shadows4]

ScottG wrote:


If it were me, I would cut a piece of plastic to cover the roof area of the slide. Then lift it off just before bringing the slide in.

I have a slide topper and it worked great the one time we have been out in snow.

But I was thinking along these same lines as ScottG. The OP'er could take a plastic tarp and fold it or cut it to fit on the slide out roof, attach a couple of ropes and tie it up under the slide. Then when your ready to retract the slide, just untie and pull it off along with the ice and snow.

I do something similar on my truck covering the windshield so I don't have to scape the windshield in the winter.

[Bird_Freak]

ScottG wrote:
I don't think slide toppers would be any defense against snow anyway.

If it were me, I would cut a piece of plastic to cover the roof area of the slide. Then lift it off just before bringing the slide in.

I didn't think the topper would help much with snow and ice but I was wrong. As the topper rolls up it dumps it just like a conveyor belt.

[ORbiker]

I was a Crater Lake Ski Patroller for 12 years. I took my pickup camper up there. Studded tires all around.
For a few years I didn't have the slide topper. I tried covering it with a plastic tarp. It stuck to the ice. I ended up taking tea pots of hot water to melt off the ice after shoveling the upper portion off. That sucked and was dangerous.
I chatted with other campers here on the forum. That said they did not have any problems rolling in the slide. They were right.
I installed the topper and it did very good. Sometime when I would roll it in, the blob of snow would just hang there till it was sticking out about a foot before it would fall off.

I sprayed the complete slide and topper with a silicone spray. Nothing stuck to the topper, but sometimes I would have waterfall chunks of ice stuck to the sides of the slide that would come past the slide seals when I slid in the slide.

[ScottG]

I don't think slide toppers would be any defense against snow anyway.

If it were me, I would cut a piece of plastic to cover the roof area of the slide. Then lift it off just before bringing the slide in.

[old_guy]

they make stuff you spray into the chute of snow blowers to keep the snow from sticking in them. they sell it on amazon and it is about $13 a can

[rhagfo]

Sandy43 doesn’t like slideout toppers. I got that response in the Keystone forum.

[memtb]

memtb wrote:
You probably won’t like my remedy! This is something that we experience a few times a year... we winter camp in Wyoming. The method is “not” fun and is dangerous, I sweep off the tops of the slides soon after the snowfall, before it melts and then re-freezes. The experience can take years off of your life just from the stress....more if you fall off ?? !

On another forum, a gentleman had a good remedy....if you have slide toppers. He built a support system (kind of like a tent ridge pole) out of pvc tubbing and fittings. He would slide the support between the slide roof and the topper. Helped minimize the snow/ice buildup, plus with a little creativity...remove the buildup off of the topper, without it getting on the slide top.

[colliehauler]

Slide-out awning.

[memtb]

You probably won’t like my remedy! This is something that we experience a few times a year... we winter camp in Wyoming. The method is “not” fun and is dangerous, I sweep off the tops of the slides soon after the snowfall, before it melts and then re-freezes. The experience can take years off of your life just from the stress....more if you fall off ?? !

[Second_Chance]

Slide tops are usually the same EPDM or TPO materials that are used for the roof of most fifth wheels. Be VERY careful of what chemicals you put up there - and how hot the water is. You could end up with some very expensive repairs. We've had the same problem once or twice and used warm water - not hot. The best cure is prevention. Slide toppers, tarps or rubber mats all work.

Rob

[Sam_Spade]

time2roll wrote:

Consider adding a slide awning to just keep the snow off.

Don't they all HAVE awnings already ??

And I know it is not always possible but wouldn't closing the slides while the show is happening be a good idea......if practical ??