Topper awning collecting rain water = annoying

[Drum]

I had topper awnings installed on the slides by a large dealer a few months ago. I love the awnings but the larger one collects rain water and cups down so that the water has to be pushed out prior to closing the slide. It's a good bit of water that falls out. The smaller one doesn't do that at all. Is there some kind of tension adjustment that will keep the awning taught during heavy rain? It's quite annoying, especially with the amount of rain we're experiencing in my travel areas these days.

[love2rvcamp]

We have had water, ice and one time 7 inches of snow on our topper. Weighs it down but like previously said it just rolls off when you pull it it. The main goal is to keep it off the top of the slide for when you bring it into your trailer.

Happy camping.

[Drum]

CincyGus, I wondered if that may be part of it. The slide is long to accommodate a sofa and dinette, plus it's kinda deep as well. When extended, there's not nearly as much angle as with the smaller one that doesn't collect water. In a light rain, it all rolls off, but when it rains hard is when the flow overwhelms the slight angle and pools up. Since it was a very well-known dealer who did the work, I may ask if there's anything they can do. I'm not sure it's worth more holes, though, if it would require remounting.

[CincyGus]

One other thing I have read is to make sure the part of the topper that is attached to the trailer is mounted as high as possible so it helps increase the angle of the material. Some installers don't mount it as high as possible and then you end up with a nearly flat angle.
Something to think about before the installation I guess for those in teh future that may self install.

[ScottG]

When I installed my topper I added an extra turn in the material against the spring. It stays tight enough that water never collects on it.

[ktmrfs]

downtheroad wrote:
That's what they are suppose to do...water collects on the slide awning and not on the slide roof.

Retract your slide about half way after a rain storm and the water will shed off the awning and be gone...

Slide awnings have extra material and are spring wound so that they can flex down with a water pool.

x2. or
1) reach up with a broom handle under the awning and lift it a little to drain before retracting.
2) run the tongue jack up or down before retracting to let the water run off.

I don't bother doing anything till I'm ready to leave. then I do (1) or (2) above or just ratract it a foot or so and stop and then most of the water will drain off.

I don't use balls, noodles etc. because more than likely I'd forget they were on top then retract and squish them.

[ford_truck_guy]

Ask that pesky neighbor to come over and listen for a creek when you retract it in!! Only kidding , like stated already, there is no reason to get the water off before its time to roll up camp... It is better then having all that debris and water to sitting directly on the roof of the slide...Joe

[Drum]

Okay thanks I'm kind of new to this. I just assumed that it was supposed to run off instead of collect. I was also afraid of pulling that load of water into the room with the slide as it dumped. I'll try not to worry about it any more.

[PA12DRVR]

As previously posted, awnings are meant to collect the water vs. it collecting on the slider roof.

I never worried about it: just retract, perhaps slowly to ensure no one got deluged by the runoff.

I did carry a beach ball tied to an old broom handle for the very rare instance when the trailer wasn't level and the awning would be self-dumping towards the door.

[skipnchar]

Can't see ANY reason to empty the water before retracting the slide room. It will roll up and the water will run off AS you close the slide room. If you have a deep slide like mine, the awning does not have a large pitch and this makes it nearly impossible to NOT collect water and/or luff in high winds. Very shallow slides don't have as much of this problem. Even ICE will roll right off as the awning rolls up and the slide is retracted.

[downtheroad]

That's what they are suppose to do...water collects on the slide awning and not on the slide roof.

Retract your slide about half way after a rain storm and the water will shed off the awning and be gone...

Slide awnings have extra material and are spring wound so that they can flex down with a water pool.

[tomdinwv]

Perhaps you could contact the dealer that installed them and see if there is an adjustment that you or they can make. Good luck

[JayGee]

Some people put pool noodles or beach balls under the awning. I never worry about it but make sure no one is standing there when you bring the slide in unless you want to soak them.

[Dtaylor]

I have seen people put beach balls and other things between the slide and the cover. In a way it kinda defeats the purpose of having the cover