Is a slide out roller topper needed?

temccarthy1 wrote:
We have a new Bullet 285RLS TT which is 30 ft long with an 11 ft long 3 ft deep slide. .

Slide toppers, like everything else have their pros and cons. Some folks say they can cut down on heat from the sun, but that's not my experience. As you have deduced, a slide topper can help keep debris off the roof of the slide. On the other hand, if it is left open any length of time, birds do like to build nests in such a cozy spot. A topper can also help prevent leakage around the rubber seal. Of course, making sure there is a little bit of a tilt away from the seal will do just as much to keep water out.
For my part, I don't use a topper. Cleaning the top of the slide after retracting it isn't really that hard for me.