Pine trees and slides ??

[kellem]

Well, had to eat my words on latest camping trip.

Our previous 2 trailers had slide toppers installed, our latest trailer with 2 slides we elected not to because of where our trailer parks at the house. We leave slides out year around and have easy access to the tops of slides for inspection.

To my point:
Our latest trip I failed to inspect the canopy of fallage above trailer while setting up. Next day noticed large dieing pine hanging over trailer so reported it. Campgrounds was full because....um Covid crowds so couldn't move.

Got home and hopped on cooler to find what looked like the Forrest floor resting on top of slides from interior. Quite the job to clean.

This is the first issue we've had without toppers so watch those DA#* pine trees.

[aftermath]

I had a slide on my small hybrid years ago. Went fishing in Montana one late fall and we had a little snow the first night. It warmed during the day and then we got another inch or two. It warmed again and didn't snow any more. When I got ready to leave I had an ice block on top of the slide. Warming and freezing over a few days was the trouble. No ladder, but we did still have a few rounds for firewood and that worked. Sold the trailer shortly after that but if I hadn't, I would have installed a slide topper.

[deltabravo]

Being in the PNW, I camp under the trees all the time.
I finally got tired of climbing up on the roof to clear off the forest debris when breaking camp, so I installed a slide topper myself.
Here's how it's done. It was time consuming but not terribly difficult.

[GrandpaKip]

Durb wrote:
How do you inspect the top of your slide when it is 10 feet off the ground? Climb up on a wet roof or drag out a ladder? No big deal? Sounds like a big deal to me. Sweeping wet Douglas Fir needles off a wet TPO covered slide is no picnic especially in the rain. Just the idea of carrying and storing brooms, ladders and extension handles seems like a pain. Slide toppers for me all the way.

I installed a ladder on the back of the camper.
If I couldn’t do that, I would have gone for one of those collapsible ladders.
Whatever your situation, cleaning the slide roof should be part of the departure routine.

[Huntindog]

It really depends on where/when you camp.
I have personally watched others struggle with them in high winds, and in situations where leaves etc. found their way under them.
Though I have never seen this, I bet snow would be problematic as well.

If you are a fair weather camper, who sets up for short weekend stays in wooded areas when high winds are unlikely,,,, then toppers make sense.

The more of the factors I listed impact your style of camping, the less they make sense.

Choose wisely.

Now if they made toppers that one could choose to deploy or not based on prevailing conditions.... That would be a no brainer.

I have never seen or heard of such a topper though.

[Terryallan]

Durb wrote:
How do you inspect the top of your slide when it is 10 feet off the ground? Climb up on a wet roof or drag out a ladder? No big deal? Sounds like a big deal to me. Sweeping wet Douglas Fir needles off a wet TPO covered slide is no picnic especially in the rain. Just the idea of carrying and storing brooms, ladders and extension handles seems like a pain. Slide toppers for me all the way.

Many RV have ladders on the back. I carry a 6' ladder just to check the slide. Just part of having slides. And when it is raining. I wash it off with a hose. Then put it out when I get home to dry.

[Durb]

How do you inspect the top of your slide when it is 10 feet off the ground? Climb up on a wet roof or drag out a ladder? No big deal? Sounds like a big deal to me. Sweeping wet Douglas Fir needles off a wet TPO covered slide is no picnic especially in the rain. Just the idea of carrying and storing brooms, ladders and extension handles seems like a pain. Slide toppers for me all the way.

[ksbowman]

GrandpaKip wrote:
Sweeping off the slide is part of our departure routine. Not a big deal.

X2. I always do the same then, nothing gets in seals and I'm sure it extends the life of them if there is no abrasive present.

[GrandpaKip]

Sweeping off the slide is part of our departure routine. Not a big deal.

[Terryallan]

I always check my slide top before bringing it in. If it has leaves, or limbs on it. I brush them off.
Just one of the things that go with having slides. Close it on a limb, and your slide seal is toast.

[wanderingbob]

Several years ago we stayed a couple days at a campground that was doing a lot gardening and planting . Time to go , I closed the slide and took off . Down the road a hundred yards or so I looked in my mirror . I had closed my slide on a just planted 15 foot maple tree and tore it out of its new earth and was taking it back to Sopchoppy ..

[rhagfo]

Not only do toppers keep stuff off the top of the slides, they greatly reduce heat gain through the slide roof.

[wildtoad]

So perhaps you should rethink your decision on slide toppers. ??

[Old-Biscuit]

We traveled FT for 7 yrs
3 slideouts...no toppers
Slides went out/back in on a weekly bases

Routine was to 'sweep' roof of slides prior to retracting
Long paint roller 'extension; pole and a 90* long 'duster'
Takes roughly 5 minutes to walk around and sweep the tops

[Family-of-five]

I had toppers installed on mine just because of that. Wouldn't have it any other way