Our new trailer has a slide topper on it. We have never had one since this is the first trailer with a slide. Our slide topper sags as soon as any water gets on it. A light rain will make it sag. I have looked at several other trailers in the past few weeks and it seems that there are a lot that do sag but also many that do not. Ours is on a new trailer with an average size slide. The slide holds the dinette and the couch. My parents motorhome has the same size slide and my dad says his does it too. The tech at the dealership said to talk to the service writer about getting it replaced. I have already had it back at the dealer and they were supposed to adjust something. My question is, should it stay tight to allow the rain to run off?Thanks

If you search this Forum you will find that most sag. There have been various methods suggested to eliminate the sag but we think it is too much trouble: beach ball, rack of pvc piping, etc. The water runs off as soon as the slide is retracted.

Trying to keep a topper from sagging over time is like herding cats; they all end up sagging at some point. It's not an issue, rain will find it's way off either end. To me, the prime purpose of a topper is to have leaves, needles, water etc... come off as you bring the slide in.

The larger the slide the more the topper will sag. It doesn't hurt at all. and....when you retract the slide, the water on the topper will spill off.

I installed mine with enough tension and angle that it will never sag or hold water.

Some can being installed with enough slope for runoff but there's not enough room for most to have a good slant. So, they sag. Usually not a problem. They keep water and trash out when you bring in the slide even with the sag. People who don't see the need never tried to bring in a slide with a dozen pinecones on it. I'm too old to climb on the roof just retract the slide.

Slideout Topper | Good Sam Community

3oaks
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
big_murph_279 wrote:
I guess my main concern was that we camp year round. I worry about water sitting on it and freezing. If I had to leave while it was frozen I would have a problem.
I witnessed a camper with just that problem in October while in Custer SP, SD. It was on a motorhome. Fortunately he was able to drive his motorhome onto a vacant site and allow the warm morning sun to soften the ice enough to brake it up, allowing it to fall off as he retracted the slides. They departed about 1-1/2 hours later than planned.
Community Alumni
Aug 15, 2016
big_murph_279 wrote:
I guess my main concern was that we camp year round. I worry about water sitting on it and freezing. If I had to leave while it was frozen I would have a problem.

Happened to us twice, once in South Carolina and once in Virginia. We also hated the flapping noise in strong winds along the beach. I ended up taking mine off.
ashnic
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Only real issue with them is weight from water..and if its a large slide it can be heavy. The wife and I installed a pair last spring on our outback and love them. 1 was 16' and the other 8'. Took about 4 hrs to install both..
big_murph_279
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
I guess my main concern was that we camp year round. I worry about water sitting on it and freezing. If I had to leave while it was frozen I would have a problem.
3oaks
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
The water will run off when you close up...just stand back.
Or tell your wife to stand in front of it to see if anything comes off while you go inside to push the button to retract it. :B

Ok, ok, very bad idea. :E
pennysmom09
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
Not sure why it matters if they sag. The water will run off when you close up...just stand back. We stay put in winter, and have had heavy rain, it runs off eventually.
Sillybugs2
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
We plan to get one soon for our slide. Brand recs anyone?
Greydennyhawk
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
If it's time to close up, and move on, and it's full of water, first jack up the front or rear a bit and make sure that most of the water runs off. It's better than bringing the slide in and the rubber seals do not remove most of the water. Occasionally the water collects between the slide and the topper.
Good luck !
old_guy
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
I just don't worry about it. come to think of it, I've never looked at mine when it rained
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
IF your installation doesn't allow for enough slope, then toppers are going to sag in the middle when it rains. IF you tighten a slide topper which doesn't have enough slope to keep the sag out of the middle, then you will be back in a year or two saying that the ends of your toppers are starting to tear. As others have already mentioned, toppers are to keep debris off of the top of the slide.

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