Is a slide out roller topper needed?

[temccarthy1]

We have a new Bullet 285RLS TT which is 30 ft long with an 11 ft long 3 ft deep slide. I noticed quite a few TT's at the CG's we went to this season with rubberized or canvas rollout awnings mounted above the slideout. However, it seemed like most were on seasonal TT's that are stationary . Is one of these needed if we are staying only a week at a time or less in a CG. I have a stepladder and broom and know I have to sweep the slide roof off each time before I retract it, but would a roller awning eliminate that need and if so, approx. how much is one installed?.. I don't have the knowledge or desire to do the work myself since it involves screws into the side wall. Would appreciate opinions on this.

[BossCamper]

Huntindog wrote:
I have had slides for 15- 16 years. No topper. It is rare to see a TT with one in AZ. So I never saw the need for one.
This may depend on where and how one camps though.

I remember around 2006 we were in Michigan at the Proud Lake campgrond. (a really rare thing for us to be in a campground)
It was Oct and the trees were losing their leaves. I watched a family that was across the drive from us breaking camp. They had a topper, and were having a hard time getting the leaves that had gotten under the topper out so they could retract it. Three of them with brooms and at one point they even shoved a ball under it to get more room to work. I didn't time it, but It had to be close to 30 minutes that they worked on it.

I had never even thought about the need to remove debri from the slide roof until I saw this. When we broke camp, I stood on a crate and looked at the roof.. Yep, it had a lot of leaves on it. I got a broom, and with no topper in the way, had it cleared in less than 5 minutes by myself.
I think that toppers should be awnings. Able to be deployed when needed.

That's my take on the issue ... stuff getting under the topper, because it can. And my DW is paranoid about spiders and always wants me to sweep around under the slide and sides (as well as the top that I do anyway) before I run it in.
That would be REALLY hard if we had a topper.

[ReneeG]

Note that the fifth wheel in this post does not have slide toppers - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/17103149/gotomsg/28644823.cfm#28644823

[ReneeG]

temccarthy1 wrote:

tatest wrote:
If the manufacturer thinks the cover is needed, it is usually standard equipment. Slideout sealing, construction, operation strategies vary, some do fine without covers, some are easier to live with but don't really need covers, others should have covers to help stay dry in storm conditions.

Installation methods vary, in some cases the stationary edge slips into a channel that is already there, in others a channel needs to be attached.

My slides have original equipment awnings, I've had no need to sweep the top of the slide, but if the awning is full of water the slide has to come in in stages, and I've had to brush wet leaves off the awning as it comes in. The other issue, sometimes spiders start nesting between awning and slide, it is good to check the top of the slide after it comes in to see what got through the top wiper.

Thanks for the good info Tom!

Well, I've seen our same model of fifth wheel without slide toppers, and it's considered optional equipment, but ours came with them.

[ReneeG]

Fifth wheel here but same issues with or without. This is our fifth towable. This one and the previous had slide toppers, but the previous didn't come with it over the only full wall slide, we had it installed and it was about $1800 dollars. That one flapped a lot in the wind. With our fifth wheel, they don't as much. Same brands though. With our fifth wheel, we have slide toppers on all three slides. The largest gathers water, the shorter ones do not. the largest flaps a little in the wind, the others do not. So there's a pattern here with the length of the topper. Either way. We wouldn't be without them. They also keep the inside cooler in addition to cleaner. On the rigs we didn't have toppers on the slides, we would notice dirt and leaves inside. With toppers, nothing.

[temccarthy1]

tatest wrote:
If the manufacturer thinks the cover is needed, it is usually standard equipment. Slideout sealing, construction, operation strategies vary, some do fine without covers, some are easier to live with but don't really need covers, others should have covers to help stay dry in storm conditions.

Installation methods vary, in some cases the stationary edge slips into a channel that is already there, in others a channel needs to be attached.

My slides have original equipment awnings, I've had no need to sweep the top of the slide, but if the awning is full of water the slide has to come in in stages, and I've had to brush wet leaves off the awning as it comes in. The other issue, sometimes spiders start nesting between awning and slide, it is good to check the top of the slide after it comes in to see what got through the top wiper.

Thanks for the good info Tom!

[tatest]

If the manufacturer thinks the cover is needed, it is usually standard equipment. Slideout sealing, construction, operation strategies vary, some do fine without covers, some are easier to live with but don't really need covers, others should have covers to help stay dry in storm conditions.

Installation methods vary, in some cases the stationary edge slips into a channel that is already there, in others a channel needs to be attached.

My slides have original equipment awnings, I've had no need to sweep the top of the slide, but if the awning is full of water the slide has to come in in stages, and I've had to brush wet leaves off the awning as it comes in. The other issue, sometimes spiders start nesting between awning and slide, it is good to check the top of the slide after it comes in to see what got through the top wiper.

[temccarthy1]

THANKS for all the suggestions. Looks like the first ones to respond were all pro slide toppers, then tonight, several negatives or Rv'ers who have them but don't see advantage. As one responder pointed out, cost could be about $1000.. I too only take about 5-10 minutes to get my little stepladder out and my 8 ft telescoping wash brush and sweep and clean off the slide roof before retracting. For + or- $1000, I will keep doing that. As one said, the leaves are an annoyance but easily cleaned off... not worth the $ to me to add that little timesaver. I really appreciate all the input! It is through the generous time given by fellow RV'ers, that better, informed decisions are made! THANKS everyone!

[rbpru]

The slide awning is on our list of things to get. Without it leaves, pine needles, maple seeds and etc. sneak under the slide seal and end up inside the TT or behind the slide body.

It is not a major problem, but it is an annoyance.

[DutchmenSport]

My Outback is my first camper with slides. It does not have toppers, although I've thought heavily on this issue, I've decided I don't want them. I've read, even with slides, water and derbies still catch under them. They flop in the wind, people put beach balls under them to prevent wind, not to mention what would happen if snowed a foot or two on them (we winter camper and snow on top of the slide is not fun!) But the weight of snow on top of a topper can't be good either. Too many reason for no topper in on my camper.

I carry a ladder and brush off the tops. It's just part of the breaking camp process now. Besides, I usually go ahead and wipe all the water off and any grit or dirt. I don't want dirty slides INSIDE the camper. I'll wipe down the sides also. Actually, the sides of the slides get clean every time they get retracted.

No objection to anyone having them, they are just not for me.

[wrvond]

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.

[Huntindog]

DP

[Huntindog]

I have had slides for 15- 16 years. No topper. It is rare to see a TT with one in AZ. So I never saw the need for one.
This may depend on where and how one camps though.

I remember around 2006 we were in Michigan at the Proud Lake campgrond. (a really rare thing for us to be in a campground)
It was Oct and the trees were losing their leaves. I watched a family that was across the drive from us breaking camp. They had a topper, and were having a hard time getting the leaves that had gotten under the topper out so they could retract it. Three of them with brooms and at one point they even shoved a ball under it to get more room to work. I didn't time it, but It had to be close to 30 minutes that they worked on it.

I had never even thought about the need to remove debri from the slide roof until I saw this. When we broke camp, I stood on a crate and looked at the roof.. Yep, it had a lot of leaves on it. I got a broom, and with no topper in the way, had it cleared in less than 5 minutes by myself.
I think that toppers should be awnings. Able to be deployed when needed.

[azrving]

temccarthy1 wrote:

rjxj wrote:
My guess installed $600 to 700

Yikes..:( That's what I was worried about.. Guess I'll continue to sweep it off for a while.. haha.. Thanks for the input!

I just searched and found one that was $700 but thats without labor so I revise my "guess" to $1,000 🙂

[dodge_guy]

I've never had one on this or our previous trailer. The only thing I needed to do once was rinse the top of the slide off when parked under a pine tree. Other than that I have never had an issue with debris on top of the slide out. And we go to some campgrounds that are heavily treed!

And yes I get on my roof twice a year for inspection and I've never found anything pushed up against or behind the top slide seal. Plus on our current trailer an awning would cover the sky lights in the slide out.