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Old 09-13-2016, 07:57 AM   #1
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Stand on slide out to clean them off

Ok, let me set expectations. Just retired, sold home and purchased RV to travel country with spousal unit searching for where we want to live. We've never RV'd, never owned an RV and I've never been on a forum before (expectations low now? Good.)

I've done a search and didn't see an answer to this. If I missed something, please redirect me so I don't post unnecessarily.

Can I stand on the slide outs to clean them off? I've got them supported so just wondering if the roof is strong enough. They stick out 39 inches so it is a little challenging to reach all the way to the edge to remove debris and water.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:11 AM   #2
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Welcome, and let us know what you have. then others can tell you the answer.
I use a small ladder and an extended car window washer squeegee to brush off the top of my slides before i draw them in.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:29 AM   #3
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Welcome to the forum.

Many R/V slides are not designed to bear weight from the top, especially ones with long slides.
I am a big guy and I would not walk on mine.

Also, the use of slide supports under the bottom is not recommended.
Should the R/V shift due to settling or a flat tire, the slide could be damaged from the support trying to hold the unit up.

You might want to consider slide toppers to keep the debris/rain off.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:53 AM   #4
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Welcome to the forum its a great place to get your questions answered. I would not stand on the slide out roof to brush it off. At home I use a ladder on the road I sweep it off while standing on the main roof. I'm 100% in agreement with 5picker when it comes to slide supports I won't use them.
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Old 09-13-2016, 08:58 AM   #5
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If you're full time and new (like many of us), check in here OFTEN. Read it all. And welcome to the 'community'.

5Picker is right on about slides, IMHO.
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Old 09-13-2016, 09:00 AM   #6
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x2 on NOT standing on top of your slide. I've never even considered this.

Get yourself a nice microfiber mop so you can reach all the areas you need to reach for washing. Good luck!
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Old 09-13-2016, 09:22 AM   #7
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X some-number! Loose the slide supports, you're asking for problems in the long run! Slides are designed to be unsupported from the ground and will be just fine pushed out without ANY additional supports.
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Old 09-13-2016, 10:43 AM   #8
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Wow, good info on the slide out supports, thank you. Camping world said I should always use them. I am learning to not believe a sales type person. Off they come!

As to awnings, I am in a quandary on that one. One camp says they are indispensable and the other talks of the billowing in the wind causing excessive noise and water pooling.
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Old 09-13-2016, 11:17 AM   #9
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I'm going to be adding toppers to both my slides in the future. they really come in handy when you are parked under trees.
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Old 09-13-2016, 11:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fcathey View Post
Wow, good info on the slide out supports, thank you. Camping world said I should always use them. I am learning to not believe a sales type person. Off they come!

As to awnings, I am in a quandary on that one. One camp says they are indispensable and the other talks of the billowing in the wind causing excessive noise and water pooling.
Yep, we had slide toppers on the last rig, made sure our current one did NOT have them. Much happier without them, even parking under pine trees
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Old 09-13-2016, 11:50 AM   #11
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Slide supports are leftovers from the early days of slideouts, when the technology was new.
Modern slideouts don't need them and manufactures warn NOT to use them.

We didn't have a slide topper when we bought our trailer.
One year later, we got one installed and now, wouldn't have a RV without them.
Love our slide topper.
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Old 09-13-2016, 12:06 PM   #12
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It's kinda 6 of one and a half dozen the other! We've owned 3 Class A diesel pushers with slide toppers and now a 33' travel trailer (2 slides) without them. It was convenient on the MH's to have leaves, twigs, etc, fall off the slide roofs as the slide came in. They were, however, very noisy as they flapped and flopped in the wind. Also, they do tend to sag in the center and hold water in a stiff rain. I thought we should have the tightened but the Dealer said too tight and there's too much resistance on the top of slide when t's being extended.
Without the toppers on our TT, there is no noisy flapping and no awning holding water. The roof of the large slide in a bit concave so water pools on the roof and I do need to use a ladder and a long handled brush, or a battery operated blower, to get the slide roofs clean before bringing them in.
So, the bottom line is---- it's an individual choice, like most things when considering various aspects of the "mobile life". So far, I've decided to leave well enough alone (no toppers). Who knows how I'll feel a year from now.
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Old 09-13-2016, 12:11 PM   #13
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Slide toppers - Had them, didn't have them, have them again and always will.
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Old 09-13-2016, 12:11 PM   #14
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Prime Time advertises that their slide out walls and roof are constructed the same as the rest of the trailer and that it is okay to walk on them. I owned our LaCrosse for 6 years and walked on them while cleaning and washing without and problems.
As far as slide toppers, I've never owned any so can't really help you there.
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Old 09-13-2016, 12:29 PM   #15
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The best thing you can do for your slid outs is to install topper awnings. Keeps them much cleaner, reducing the frequency of cleaning. I would never stand on a slid roof, use a ladder.
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Old 09-13-2016, 01:33 PM   #16
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Lots of good info here. I carry a small ladder and a light electric blower I picked for $40 or so. Great for getting pine needles of slides. Also good for cleaning mats etc prior to putting them away.
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Old 09-13-2016, 01:46 PM   #17
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Nope!

Don't stand on the slide!

A small, electric leaf blower is great to use to remove loose debris from the slide...also works very well for removing the leaves and sand from your outdoor carpet under the ol' awning. Brooms are so 20th century...

Enjoy!
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Old 09-13-2016, 02:11 PM   #18
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Welcome to the family. I have slide ttopppers. Before I had them, I used an extending ladder to get ul there and used an electric blower to blow off all the stuff (debris, critters, etc.

Even with toppers, I still check for spiders and other critters before closing up.

Good luck!
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Old 09-13-2016, 02:25 PM   #19
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Save the slide roof and maybe your back, too!

buy an inexpensive electric leaf blower, then simply climb to the end of the slide and blow off all the debris and water. Toppers are the easiest to clean the roof when retracting the slide, the debris and water simply roll off the end.

Good Camping ........... Swampy
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Old 09-13-2016, 02:26 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fcathey View Post
Ok, let me set expectations. Just retired, sold home and purchased RV to travel country with spousal unit searching for where we want to live. We've never RV'd, never owned an RV and I've never been on a forum before (expectations low now? Good.)

I've done a search and didn't see an answer to this. If I missed something, please redirect me so I don't post unnecessarily.

Can I stand on the slide outs to clean them off? I've got them supported so just wondering if the roof is strong enough. They stick out 39 inches so it is a little challenging to reach all the way to the edge to remove debris and water.
Welcome to the Forum, fulltime RV'ing, and the RV lifestyle. I do not think you will regret your decision!

First off, I agree with the others I would never stand on a Slide out! You need a ladder - and a good one since you fulltime. Here is what we own:

https://www.amazon.com/Xtend-Climb-7...apsible+ladder

#2 since you fulltime, you need to go back to your dealer and have them install slide out toppers. Then you will not need to clean your slideouts before closing them. A slideout topper looks like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Carefree-UQ07...ide+out+topper

(BTW you will still want a ladder - they are SO handy!)
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