Trash on top of slides? How do you manage?

[tuckerdog1]

Originally Posted by Platokidd

I use a battery powered leaf-blower when needed.

DITTO

[Tundra 2014]

I carry a broom and sweep it off, especially anytime around Pine needles. The needles will rot the seals. I tried an older cordless blower, it did not have enough power. Sounds like a good idea, if you have the storage space.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

I love how folks assume NM is only desert and that we only RV in NM

I didn't say it was desert and I know it isn't all desert. I love Angel Fire, NM, one of my favorite places in the US.
I was referring to your statement that debris isn't a problem, even in heavily wooded forests.
"Debris on the slide happens rarely and really isn't a problem, even in a heavily wooded forest"
So my point was that heavily wooded forests on the West Coast, may be different from your heavily wooded forests, in NM.

[Gumpster808]

Check the ryobi 18 volt blower. Works great for cleaning our roof etc.

Uses same batteries as work light, drill, impact wrench, etc that we also carry.

Used it in NC to blow off about 8 pounds of acorns with no problem.

[aceinspp]

Well I had one camper without the toppers never again. I'm at a stage in my life I'm sure as heck not climbing a latter to clean a slide. Just think of all the tree sap bird doodo and such that gets on the slide and then you bring it in to your camper. No thanks. To each his own. Later RJD

[dcheatwood]

Love the Red River, Eagle Nest area. Was there in late June.

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

I love how folks assume NM is only desert and that we only RV in NM

[jeff64]

I have the toppers, but since I have the 18 Ryobi drill for the stabilizers, I could see a power blower of the same make and voltage

[fella10]

Originally Posted by bikendan

...I was referring to your statement that debris isn't a problem, even in heavily wooded forests.
"Debris on the slide happens rarely and really isn't a problem, even in a heavily wooded forest"
So my point was that heavily wooded forests on the West Coast, may be different from your heavily wooded forests, in NM.

X2 ...

pine cones, leaves, acorns, sweet gum balls, leaves, pine straw, leaves, twigs, hickory nuts, and did I say leaves, ect, ... I guess the forests of the south are more friendly than some other forests, cause they sure like to give us a few going away presents every time we visit them, ... I find the reasoning of "I don't want one and where I camp I don't need one, so you won't need one either" interesting, ... sure, we COULD do without a slide-out cover, but because we choose not to, does not make our camping trips any less "real camping" than the folks who are really "roughing it" because they do WITHOUT a slide-out cover, ...

[tuckerdog1]

Originally Posted by Gumpster808

Check the ryobi 18 volt blower. Works great for cleaning our roof etc.

Uses same batteries as work light, drill, impact wrench, etc that we also carry.

Used it in NC to blow off about 8 pounds of acorns with no problem.

Same one I have. Works just fine for blowing debris off the slides. Also helps get the campfire up to a blaze.

Tuckerdog1

[Helmsey]

Originally Posted by Platokidd

I use a battery powered leaf-blower when needed.

Me too, works like a champ.

[Rookiewood]

Originally Posted by KrazyKim

Just curious how everyone manages the leaves and stuff that gets on top of the slide outs? Don’t want to purchase the awnings so.....do you sweep them off every time you bring them in? Use a leaf blower or just don’t worry about it? Thanks in advance [emoji3]

We used an electric blower, now we have toppers!!!

[JimMorrell]

A simple solution....install a topper for the slide. My current TT came with it. I installed one on my last one after the slide got covered in snow which melted and formed ice. I couldn't retract it and had to borrow a ladder so I could clean it and go home.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by bikendan

10 years of camping in wooded state and national park campgrounds and very little debris got under our slide topper.
It had way more pros to cons and was worth every penny.
The slide seals used to get sticky residue from the trees and vegetation, when open. This caused the slide to stick to the side of the trailer. I had to use a butter knife from the inside, to break the adhesion.
After we got the slide topper, we never had this problem again.

X2.
Our experience as well.
We've had them on our last 4 R/Vs.

[Eddie2002]

With my last trailer I just would bring the slide in at the end of the trip and then sweep it off when I got home. Just moved up to a 2017 Catalina and have a collapsible ladder to use when sweeping off the slide before hitting the road. One of the service people at the dealer where we bought the camper recommended installing a topper. It's on the list of improvements not to just keep leaves and dirt off the slide but also to shade the roof of the slide and help keep the interior cooler. The Florida sun can get things hot quickly and any shade is a plus.

[rlh1957]

In fall more than any time the leaves will collect up and if it rains they want to stick. I always get on the ladder and sweep them off. Whether in camp before pulling slide in or at home I sweep it off. Leaves are not the problem as much as pulling it in with a stick or branch laying on top.
Got ready to go once and looked up to sweep it and there was a hot wheels car up there. Darn thing must have grown wings on it's own because the grandkids didn't know anything about it!

[hillsdaletc]

CLEAN ALWAYS before closing slides. Working for many years in an RV repair facility and seeing the damage done by cramming leaves and brush in under the sweep seals, I could never understand why people would not remove all the debris. When the seals are deformed when crushed with debris it won’t let seal lie against the roof of the slide and water will enter and run down to the floor. Mold and mildew will form and damage the walls and floor.

[oldsmasma]

Slide toppers. Never had them before our current unit but will never be without them again.

[Jericbarg]

Before we got this RV with slide toppers I would get my son to go up and sweep the debris away, he would then climb on top of the slides and wipe the roof off with Fantastik cleaner. It took all of 5 minutes. He only weighed about 70Lbs at the time.

[cboss]

After over 600 days of camping with slide toppers I would not be without them.

[Bob2019]

My last TT came w/o slides. After retracting the slide with leaves, needles and being wet, It was an easy decision to eliminate the mess and inside smell with toppers. I would never be without them. You eliminate the wet mess and smell. If you want to sweep your slides off, that will work, but handling a brush and ladder is not what I want to experience when leaving and it is raining out.