My old TT had a slide out awning. New 5'er doesn't. On my old TT I never worried about leaves and twigs dropping. When I closed the slide they'd just fall off from the awning.Has anyone ever had leaves, twigs etc. damage their slide out seal when closing? Is it standard practice to get a ladder and sweep off the top of the slide before closing?

We camp a lot in the Northwest...lots of trees dropping stuff and often lots of rain...Our slide awnings solve lots of problems for us. I refuse to haul along a ladder and fool with cleaning the slide roof off.We also often camp on the Oregon Coast and it can get real windy - no problems with our toppers.If I bought a new rig I'd also have it equipped with slide awnings.

I'm with downtheroad and for just the same reasons. Had slide toppers on my fiver and have them on my coach, wouldnt be without them. I'm too old to be sweeping stuff off the slideouts.

I did 'one' trip without the slide out awnings.I won't leave home without them.Yes you have to get up there each and every time you go to leave before you bring your slide in. So many of the trees across America have some sort of disease and small dead branches are always falling off. No matter how small they jam up. So unless you want to be dragging out a ladder every time you are ready to leave, IMHO they are important to have.

They also help keep extreme heat off the top of the slide...

Slide Out Awnings worth it? | Good Sam Community

Allworth
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2013
Yes!

Always!
bukhrn
Explorer III
Aug 07, 2013
jnharley wrote:
Not interested in slide toppers. Most of them look terrible after a short period of time and they flap in the wind . We have a trucker spot mirror on an extension pole that we use to look at the top of the slides. Most of the time, we do not have anything to clean off. Our manufacturer did not recommend them or offer them as an option. I think the issue with water on top of the slide toppers is that it eventually causes sagging and the dreaded flapping where you have to bring in your slides to sleep. I have even read where people use straps to stop the flapping. Not worth the aggravation to us. I know we are in the minority
If they do, the tension isn't adjusted correctly, I have two of them & have Never heard or seen them flap in the wind, & water does Not pool on them.
jody_h
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
I have one on mine and like it. Water pooling on it isn't a problem as it comes off when you bring the slide in. Flapping in the wind never happen to me. Maybe its has to much tention. But its has held up for 9 years and to me worth every penny.
LoudDog
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
Never had one, never carry a ladder, never climb up to clean the top of the slide, never had a problem.

If i park under a tree that looks like it might drop stuff I'll figure out a way to take a peak (stand on tailgate, find a good angle somewhere...) or just pay close attention while closing it. in 4 years going on 15+ trips per year in the wooded northwest I've never needed to remove anything.

Even if something was up there and you closed it I highly doubt you'd break anything (I may be wrong). I forgot to close a cabinet door and pulled the slide in once. the slide stopped when it hit the door, didn't even leave a mark.

The reason I don't have them, camped next to a guy with one on a very windy night once and had to listen to it all night... in the morning it was trashed.

Maybe some day I'll have a problem and change my mind? until then, the risk of damage is acceptable and potential cost of repair is probably about the same as the awning.

And I just knocked on some wood...
frankdamp
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
Our Class A has them. The big one over the living room slide had rotted out and we didn't realise it until we got water in the overhead cabinets in a NW "heavy" shower (half an inch of rain in 12 hours!).

We replaced the awnings on both slides, on the assumption that, if they were basic equipment, maybe the top seals weren't as good as they could be. At least it's an additional way of keeping things dry.
samsontdog
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
My last cover ripped off and I never replaced it. Do not miss it at all
jnharley
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
Not interested in slide toppers. Most of them look terrible after a short period of time and they flap in the wind . We have a trucker spot mirror on an extension pole that we use to look at the top of the slides. Most of the time, we do not have anything to clean off. Our manufacturer did not recommend them or offer them as an option. I think the issue with water on top of the slide toppers is that it eventually causes sagging and the dreaded flapping where you have to bring in your slides to sleep. I have even read where people use straps to stop the flapping. Not worth the aggravation to us. I know we are in the minority
ependydad
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
I'm surprised to see 2 people who had them and won't have them again. As evidenced by the thread, they're definitely in the minority (from what I've read).

I have them on this camper and my next one will have them again.

I, too, don't worry about water pooling on them.
Mr_Beebo
Explorer
Aug 07, 2013
There are most certainly worth it to me.
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Aug 07, 2013
Last two had them. This one dosent. Wish it did.