Slide out and inclement weather?

[RICK-ards_Red]

We are researching moving from a Hybrid to a TT and would like a slide out but are there issues if you are packing up in the rain and you bring the slide in, does the water drip into the trailer? Do you need to wipe the sides down?

This past year it seemed everytime we packed up it was pouring rain.:(
thanks

[wvcampers]

I always open the slides and let everything dry out as soon as I can. Didn't do that one time and had mold on the carpet where the water from the slide drained.

[AmericalVette]

The rubber gaskets do a very good job in removing the majority of the water, but it is always good practice to use a towel to wipe away any remaining moisture from the top and sides of the slide. I have a "multi-ladder" (similar to the 'Little Giant') advertised on TV. I use the ladder to check for sticks, leaves, acorns, etc. before bringing the slide in. When it has rained I have a squeegee with an extendable handle that I use to pull off water from the slide out prior to retraction.

[hohenwald48]

I put toppers on my slides because I'm not as agile as I once was and getting on the roof to clean off the slide is something I like to avoid. I had more of a problem with pine cones and acorns than with water.

[jaycocreek]

Never had a problem in the rain but snow is another story.Ice build up is the worst.I usually back the pickup to the slide and clean it off before retracting it when it is snowing or there is an abundance of pine needles on it.

[Earl_E]

I have camped in rain over and over and never even thought about it. Just pull them in and go. I've never noticed any water dripping off and into the trailer...and that's three different trailers with slides.

[Bob_Olallawa]

If I pull in the slides while it is raining, I roll up old towels and place them along the bottom of the walls to catch any water that is left on the roof.

[RavensFan24]

I have 2 slides and do not have slide toppers. I live in FL where we get a lot of rain, but I've never had an issue with my current or older trailer with rain coming in when pulling in the slide. I never even think about it, to be honest, and I've never had an issue. If it was snow, I'd definitely be taking a broom and ladder to knock off any snow before trying to pull it in. It's a good idea no matter what to check the top of the slide if you can to make sure no sticks or anything fell off a tree that could prevent the slide from closing properly.

[SoundGuy]

RICK-ards Red wrote:
We are researching moving from a Hybrid to a TT and would like a slide out but are there issues if you are packing up in the rain and you bring the slide in, does the water drip into the trailer? Do you need to wipe the sides down?

Our current rig is a 19' couple's model and the first we've owned with a slide. It's a shallow sofa slide so I chose to not install a slide topper and instead invested in a 3-step ladder so I can clean off the top of the slide before retracting it. If we had a model with a longer and deeper slide I might be inclined to install a topper but regardless I'd still want to clean the slide top manually and not rely just on the slide seals to wipe it clean as the slide retracts ... did that once in a hurry and found it did drag in way too much water. :M

I'm here in Ontario where you are so aside from rain if you camp early or late in the season there'll always be the possibility of snow / ice build up on top of the slide so IMO you'll need a ladder for any trailer with a slide, regardless of slide size, regardless of whether it's wearing a topper or not. Kinda makes me long for our earlier days of trailers without any slide(s). 😉

Pinery - Oct 17/18, 2015

[Tequila]

Put mine in a full fledged tropic storm in Mexico last season, no water, but I have a topper

[sail2liv]

For us a topper is a must.....have had 3 ft x 6 ft sheet of ice 2 inches thick or more on it....just don t stand near when retracting....never had issue with rain....try to wipe slides some if wet.....before retracting....

[ktmrfs]

yes a very small amount of water will come in on the top of the slides.

However, we camp in western oregon in massive rainstorms, and never have had enough water on the slide to ever drip onto the floor. and we have two big slides.

IMHO it's NOT an issue to worry about.

[deltabravo]

RICK-ards Red wrote:
We are researching moving from a Hybrid to a TT and would like a slide out but are there issues if you are packing up in the rain and you bring the slide in, does the water drip into the trailer? Do you need to wipe the sides down?

Yes, water will get inside the RV, from the roof of the slide. That's one thing I hate about the slide on my truck camper.

[rekoj71]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
YES when retracting slides while raining some mositure will remain on top and sides even with fully functioning wipers.

The wipers do remove majority of water but they are NOT squeegees

You just use a towel to wipe them down

X2
I even have slide toppers and there is still usually some water on the top, I guess due to wind.

[time2roll]

Have had more trouble with snow/ice build up. Rain is not an issue. The small amount of water will dry just fine.