Toppers over slides

[Ramblin Paul]

I just purchased a new Tracer AIR with 2 slides(our previous 10 year old Surveyor had no slides and no problems!). I am having 2 toppers installed which I hope will minimize the need to carry a ladder with me. Do others find toppers a good investment-they are not cheap? Do you tilt the trailer to allow rain run off similar to an awning. I also have a power awning which I assume you can't tilt. Reading the daily problems on the forum with slider leaks and mechanical issues I hope slides are worth the additional space. I assumed after all these years many of the issues would have been resolved.

Thanks

[Ida Ratherbe Camping]

You won't be sorry for adding the toppers. Well worth it. Power awning will tilt, if like ours, just grab the arm you want lower in the pivot point and pull down

[bikendan]

Didn't get one on our first HTT.
BIG mistake. Paid CW to install one on the 12' slideout.
So much better.

Now debating whether to get one on our new TT's much smaller slideout. Doesn't have the track for it, like our old trailer did.

We're going to wait awhile and see.

[Brand2328]

I had 3 toppers installed at purchase they seem to keep the debris of the slides. My question is do they all dip and collect water when it rains? Seem like every time it rains even a little they turn in to an upside down umbrella and collect water. I'm talking gallons. Any suggestions?

[Mr. Dan]

Forest River paid to have a dealership local to me install three toppers on my Wildcat in order to stop a leak in my bedroom slide-out. My selling dealership hadn't been able to stop the leak nor could techs at the Goshen rally. Mine don't collect water. I never give mine a second thought. When I get ready to leave a site, I just run the slides in and leave.

[Martsing]

We have three and love them.

Marty

[Brand2328]

Thanks good to know I think when the installed they did not set the tension correctly

[Dastagg]

Originally Posted by Brand2328

I had 3 toppers installed at purchase they seem to keep the debris of the slides. My question is do they all dip and collect water when it rains? Seem like every time it rains even a little they turn in to an upside down umbrella and collect water. I'm talking gallons. Any suggestions?

Haven't tried yet, but heard using a foam ball with string attached so that you can pull a ball between the slide roof and awning keeps the water from collecting and when finished, pull string or cord to pull out the ball. Need to know how big of a ball to get to try one out myself. Heard they do well.

[Riccochet]

Topper over my larger living room slide will collect water. I'm too lazy to be climbing up there to stuff a ball between the slide and topper. I'll just retract that slide about half way which clears at least 80% of the water off. Good enough until we leave.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

When we purchased our Tracer, we had decided that the Maxx Air vent covers and the slide topper / awning were going on before we drove it away from dealer. Have been 100% pleased with both choices.

[alsdas88]

One question about the toppers. How are they in breezy/windy conditions? I am stationed down in SE Arizona and cannot use the awning due to the constant breeze/winds that are here in the 4000ft altitudes. I am concerned about the upcoming monsoon rains. Though I have had no leaks throughout this past winter, and we did have several hard rains, a monsoon summer here in Arizona is a different animal all together. Would make no sense to install toppers if the winds are going to tear them up quickly. Also, how are they during breezes? Do they create much noise inside when "flapping"?
Thank you for your insights.

[Scrapper]

My toppers were installed at the dealers and not at the factory. The 8ft topper is fine but the 12ft and 16ft sag with water. The longer the topper, the more natural stretch there is in the material. The installation instructions state how many turns to give the springs (one on each end) for given length.

Some have used beach balls. Some have made framework from 3/4 inch pvc pipe. Yet others have readjusted the tension.

When I got my TT all I got was a sheet for care of the topper. Since then I have found the adjustment procedures on A&E/Dometic website.
These and the installation instructions are in the Library - Awnings, Roofs and Exterior section for download.



Forest River Forums - Downloads - Awnings, Roofs and Exterior

Forest River Forums - Downloads - AE_topper adjustment.pdf

Hope this helps.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

LOVE the Beach Ball idea, could actually just leave in place until folding up to travel ....

Our slide is only maybe seven feet wide but rather deep (30-plus inches extended) and we have ridden out some serious thunderstorms with zero problems. One storm dropped a non-trivial branch of dead oak on our slide topper awning, and there was no damage or problems whatsoever.

And ... Congrats on your new Tracer !!!

[fella10]

Originally Posted by Brand2328

I had 3 toppers installed at purchase they seem to keep the debris of the slides. My question is do they all dip and collect water when it rains? Seem like every time it rains even a little they turn in to an upside down umbrella and collect water. I'm talking gallons. Any suggestions?

the spring can be tightened, every model has its own method of doing so, ..... but it can be, to give more tension and make the fabric stiffer, should have instructions with the unit, or from factory, dealer, or even youtube, .......

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by alsdas88

One question about the toppers. How are they in breezy/windy conditions? I am stationed down in SE Arizona and cannot use the awning due to the constant breeze/winds that are here in the 4000ft altitudes. I am concerned about the upcoming monsoon rains. Though I have had no leaks throughout this past winter, and we did have several hard rains, a monsoon summer here in Arizona is a different animal all together. Would make no sense to install toppers if the winds are going to tear them up quickly. Also, how are they during breezes? Do they create much noise inside when "flapping"?
Thank you for your insights.

We spend a lot of time around Tucson. Our previous rig had slide toppers and we really disliked them. Very noisy in the wind and didn't keep debris off the slides. Also, that sun eats them up just like the regular awning, so now you have more to replace.

We made sure our current rig did NOT have toppers and are much happier.

But some folks love them

[Dastagg]

Originally Posted by Riccochet

Topper over my larger living room slide will collect water. I'm too lazy to be climbing up there to stuff a ball between the slide and topper. I'll just retract that slide about half way which clears at least 80% of the water off. Good enough until we leave.

Another camper told me that a cord goes through ball with a weighted end of cord to throw through the topper cover and pull the cord to pull ball through the opening until in the middle to cause a bulge in the cover. When finished, just pull the cord to slide the ball out, so no climbing is needed if done right. Sounds good, but keep forgetting to rig one up to try.

[Dano1955]

Originally Posted by Brand2328

I had 3 toppers installed at purchase they seem to keep the debris of the slides. My question is do they all dip and collect water when it rains? Seem like every time it rains even a little they turn in to an upside down umbrella and collect water. I'm talking gallons. Any suggestions?

Easy fix. Buy some latex balloons at dollar tree, 15 for a buck. blow up and slip one under each side. I actually tie a string on each one with an old nut (no not me!) tied to the ends and hanging out and down. I can them push them in a bit farther, this lifts the topper and prevents sagging. when time to leave pull them out before you bring the slide in (don't forget them!) I just pop 'em, save the strings and use new ones at the next camp site.

And for those with longer slides you can ties several balloons in a row and pull them through....

[Dano1955]

Something else to remember about toppers, just like awnings...WIND! Can destroy them in a hurry. If your gone for awhile and slide is extended could come back to an OH NO.

The balloons in my previous post do help some by tightening them up and reducing "flap".

[SilhouettePenny]

Pool noodles and yarn between topper & slideout....

[Dano1955]

Originally Posted by SilhouettePenny

Pool noodles and yarn between topper & slideout....

Seen this alot. Also have seen them stuck when people forget to take them out when bringing the slide in. Same with the ball theme.

I forgot once and my balloons just popped and the slide came in fine. Then my strings pulled the popped balloons out and I used new balloons after re-deploying my slide out. Easier to store also.