Slide out topper Yes or No?

[ccarrington99]

I have had my TT for about 5 months now and thinking of getting a slide out topper? Shop said it would cost about $350 for topper and $420 to install. Is it worth it?

Is it easy to install yourself to save the $420?

Thanks

[goducks10]

I can see the pros and cons. Just not sure if, in my case $300.00+ is worth the trouble. If you don't hardly ever get debris on your slide roof then that's one less reason. I could see the water issue, but if you don't do a lot of rainy camping then how many nights/days are we talking about being exposed? Also what's to protect the side seals from the sun? With a topper only the top seal is protected.

With that being said if my unit came with one I would be happy. Not sure I would order one. Of all the times we go camping I've only had to clean the slide maybe 4-5 times. I always look before closing the slide also. I really doubt that the average camper would really benefit form one considering most would only camp 20-30 nights a year. That's less than 1 month out in the sun. And that's just protecting the top seal or not exposing the top to rain. There's still the side seals for sun and rain that are exposed. I see it as a full timer or 3 season camper mod.

[hogcard]

I know they make them in different widths but do they make them with different slide out distance? For instance my slide is only about 18". Not sure I would want to pay for one that is capable of covering a slide about 40" and never using that extra fabric.

[ReferDog]

Colman 2012: No holes in roof, most new trailers with slides have that rail already installed. Must drill into slide out flange that goes around the slide. Look at RV lot (used ones) you get the idea. The 12ft are better with 2 people but it can be done with one. I just use that sticky calk that comes in a roll to seal the brackets, easy to trim off later. $450 way to much, @ 100$ an hour 1hr to install.

[ol__yeller]

I had one added to my TT when new. On the first trip out, it wasn't very tight. We experienced winds that night of around 50MPH off the ocean. The topper flapped all night and in the morning, I found that it had torn where it attached to the side of the TT. Took it back to the dealer under warranty and on the third try, the fumble fingered technicians finally figured out how to install it correctly. I then had 7 years of trouble free, noise free enjoyment.

[ReneeG]

JJBIRISH wrote:
IMHO and experience if they flap and make noise, they are not installed correctly, period… mine are going on 10 years old and don’t flap ever, the sons don’t flap ever, friends don’t flap ever …

Mine will pool water, but I sure don’t worry about that… it hurts nothing and in a short time the wind blows it off… if it does bother you just run the slide in a few inches and it will run off… with a big slide pooling is normal…

That's what I said! Thanks for confirming it too.

[thomasmnile]

Had them on our fifth wheel, don't have them on our TT. When I saw the number of holes in the walls of the trailer and slides (READ:Leaks in waiting) to install them and the additional caulking and maintenance required, not for me. I'll broom the slide roof if necessary.

[JJBIRISH]

IMHO and experience if they flap and make noise, they are not installed correctly, period… mine are going on 10 years old and don’t flap ever, the sons don’t flap ever, friends don’t flap ever …

Mine will pool water, but I sure don’t worry about that… it hurts nothing and in a short time the wind blows it off… if it does bother you just run the slide in a few inches and it will run off… with a big slide pooling is normal…

[Pop-Pop_C]

IMO. Save your money. They catch water, and whe it is windy, they will keep you
Up at night. Course the Pro's are you don't have to sweep themoff after camping in the woods.
And mayb keeping the sun off the slides.

[Caryite]

ccarrington99 wrote:
I have had my TT for about 5 months now and thinking of getting a slide out topper? Shop said it would cost about $350 for topper and $420 to install. Is it worth it?

Is it easy to install yourself to save the $420?

Thanks

My thread recently covered this same topic here.

Slideout topper install topic here

$420 was near double what I paid. Check around, don't just go with the cheapest install.

[Marsland]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o-qWz-nDIM

Trailer life video, Topper Installation.

[ReneeG]

past-MIdirector wrote:
Just had the material replaced after 9 years so they do last a long time. Took about an hour at Camping World in Belleville, MI, for the 2 toppers. Would never own a rig with the toppers.

Did you mean "Would never own a rig without the toppers" since you replaced them?

[ReneeG]

Big Love wrote:
I think it depends on the type of camping you do. Pros have been outlined above. Some cons are flapping in the wind and pooling of water on the cover. More noise in RV if flapping in the wind. Some need a beach ball or similar device underneath the cover to prevent this. Airborne stuff can still get underneath the cover which may still require some attention before closing the slide.

If the slide awning is adjusted correctly, you will have minimal flapping. Placing a ball up there only places stress on it and another hassle to climb up to place it and then to retrieve it, unless you forget it was there and bring your slide in, then wham!

[past-MIdirector]

Just had the material replaced after 9 years so they do last a long time. Took about an hour at Camping World in Belleville, MI, for the 2 toppers. Would never own a rig with the toppers.

[Drippin]

We have a topper on ours and it is nice to not have to worry about what is on the top of the slide when we bring it in.
The only issue that we have had is in very high wind, something like 25mph+, at the right angle to the TT the topper starts to flap. On the couple of times this has happened we pull the slide in.