30FW Slide Topper

[Thehillguy]

We currently are camping and experiencing winds +/- 20 mph with stronger gusts. The slide topper is going crazy - it is ratcheting up & down, flapping a lot and otherwise making so much noise that I'm concerned about damage. I also noticed that sometimes, when the slide is retracted, a small loop of awning doesn't roll all the way in & hangs down. Anyone else have similar issues? I'm wondering if the topper tension is not set tight enough. This is a 2020 rig. Thanks.

[Thehillguy]

No one else have/had topper issues on their 30FW?

[bclemens]

Good possibility.

There was a product I JUST saw in motorhome magazine maybe??? It was a slide topper insert that was inflatable (like an air mattress).

https://www.rossrvinnovations.info/s...upport-system/

I don't think this was the one...but this is the first one that popped up in google.

[5picker]

We don't have a 30FW but have had slide toppers on our last several 5th wheels and not had the issue of them not rolling up properly?

Is it tensioned correctly?

Some folks complaining of flapping use beach balls inserted between the topper and the slide roof to eliminate the flapping. I've seen others use a length of rope over the topper and around the bottom of the slide in high winds. I've seen PVC stands made that fit into the topper area. Others put the slide in during very high winds.

We don't use anything and have never had an issue.

Here are some examples... Google has lots more...

[SeaDog]

If your topper is flailing and not rolling up as it should you may need to adjust the spring tension on the roller.

[Thehillguy]

That’s what I was thinking. It’s such a long topper that it doesn’t take much of a wind to get it moving. The two capture devices go up and down as the awning flexes and I’m concerned they will scrape the upper face of the slide.

[Space Cowboy]

I have a 2018 Isata 5 30FW. A week ago I was in Platt, KS. The winds were 20-30 m.p.h. and the slide topper was going crazy. The temp was 25 degrees. It was dark outside so it was hard to see except for my flashlight. But my wife closed the slide while I watched the topper roll up. It did stop a few times and didn't roll in all the way. I moved the camper around and faced the other way. The slide topper stopped making noise. In the morning when I closed the slide, the same thing happened. It did eventually roll tight. I chalked it up to cold temp. I've used it and closed it 6 or 7 times since then in warmer weather and it has worked fine.