Trash on top of slides? How do you manage?

[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

[KeithInUpstateNY]

I swept mine of every time I brought them in.

[cfo111]

heck the awnings keep my clean and seems when I leave it's raining don't think i'll try clean in bad weather either. which is most of the time LOL

[14apex]

...take a step ladder along & get up there to sweep, wipe-with-towel, or blow (if checking out early in AM, neighbors will appreciate the "sweep noise" over the blower, of course). It really is important to be as sure as possible to have them "clean" before retracting stuff through the seal and into the interior of the RV. It may take a while, but the repeated cleaning can wear on the slide roof -- it's normally the same material as the RV roof. Slide awnings are relatively easy to install and well worth the work & cost IMO.

[bikendan]

We had a slide topper installed and never had to sweep again.
And it kept the slide seals cleaner.
When we sold the trailer 10 years later, the slide topper was still working perfectly.

[NMWildcat]

I also don't want slide toppers after having them on one unit.
I really don't worry much about small trash on top of slides. A few leaves and pine needles don't hurt anything so I ignore them.
Now if I see pine cones or a LOT of debris up there I will just sweep them off. But that rarely occurs.

[14apex]

Originally Posted by bikendan

We had a slide topper installed and never had to sweep again.
And it kept the slide seals cleaner.
When we sold the trailer 10 years later, the slide topper was still working perfectly.

Agree. In our part of the Country...with most CGs being heavily wooded, I probably wouldn't consider purchasing a previously owned camper that didn't have slide toppers without careful inspection for seals damage, leaks & mold/mildew. Where there's wide open spaces, little rain, lower humidity and little/no debris to mess with, it may well not be an issue.

[Chuck_S]

Leaves, water, and -- best yet -- bird poop comes into your trailer every time you retract the slide.

The solution is a side cover -- but you're not looking for a solution.

-- Chuck

[Thurman]

I always go up and clean off the top of both slides and do an inspection of the whole top. I thought I wanted slide toppers until another camper offered me his toppers for free if I would just take them off. He claimed that the toppers would get debris up under them making it harder to keep the slide tops clean.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Thurman

I always go up and clean off the top of both slides and do an inspection of the whole top. I thought I wanted slide toppers until another camper offered me his toppers for free if I would just take them off. He claimed that the toppers would get debris up under them making it harder to keep the slide tops clean.

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.

[Scrapper]

I have slide toppers on my 7yo TT and the slides stay extended from mid-April til mid-October. I've never had problems with debris under them at the end of the season. I just blow them off with a leaf blower and retract the slides.

[W5CI]

that is why the make the Slide Toppers/Awning

[tonyz1]

On our previous campers without slide toppers, I would always drag out the step ladder and broom to clean off all the debris I could. Was afraid any debris would compromise the seals or make it inside the camper. It was always a pain cleaning those slides off, especially on wet ground and those sinking ladder legs! But I thought it was worth the effort and I never had any problems with my slide seals.
I know you stated that you did not want to get the slide awnings, but they are well worth the expense and I like the added protection for the slide roofs. Just my humble opinion. Happy camping.

[NMWildcat]

The OP doesn't want toppers. Is not looking for that solution to a non-problem.
We couldn't wait to get rid of our toppers that came with out last unit. They were way too noisy in the wind and during a storm debris blew under them anyway.
Debris on the slide happens rarely and really isn't a problem, even in a heavily wooded forest

[14apex]

In the final analysis(?), If there's debris or bird doo, clean it up...or, just ignore it. If, indeed, it's absolutely never an issue and the slide top is always clean, that's great. It's wonderful to save money. ...seems there are some who "feel" or who have experienced a need for slide toppers and just wanted to share. Different strokes for different folks.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Debris on the slide happens rarely and really isn't a problem, even in a heavily wooded forest

Maybe in New Mexico but it's very common in West Coast campgrounds. We wouldn't have paid to have one installed, if it wasn't a problem.

[debit]

I sweep mine, using a telescoping soft brush.
For access, I use my light 6 foot ladder (which I always carry in the back of my truck).
..............
Ram 2500 diesel / FR Surveyor 251rks

[paverdave]

If the slide top is dirty I don't like to get up on it to clean....I usually wait until we are leaving and pull the slides in and get the step stool out and help the wife up to clean it, while I'm steadying the step stool....works for me..

[Platokidd]

I use a battery powered leaf-blower when needed.

[NMWildcat]

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

Originally Posted by bikendan

Maybe in New Mexico but it's very common in West Coast campgrounds. We wouldn't have paid to have one installed, if it wasn't a problem.