Slide toppers

[Toddyman88]

Ok, I searched without much luck.
We just took delivery of our new 3755 fl and was going to put slide toppers on all 5 slides.
my Rv guy came to measure and in order to get the front two up high enough to have fall from
the Rv to the slide he would have to mount the topper up,on the rubber roof round over above the gutter,
as the roof dips down towards the front.
anyone have toppers on their 3755 fl that can hate a pic or two with me?
thanks!!

 

[rxbristol]

Never seen that. I would be very leery.

 

[JohnD]

I was going to get a slide-out topper on our trailer . . .

Until our July 4th., 2014 campout.

The park rangers came around in the afternoon and advised everyone about a high wind warning . . . and when that micro burst came through about four hours later, it ripped apart several RV-owners slideout toppers in less that two seconds.

After seeing what I saw . . .

I will NEVER put them on my trailer . . . EVER!

 

[olcoon]

I've been leery of them myself. The people I've talked to that have them love them, and tout their benefits. However after going through a hail storm in Colorado with ours, and getting the awning damaged, even with it rolled up, then like you said with high winds, I'm not sure I want them. Sure if it looks like a hail storm is coming or there is the potential of high wind we could bring in the slides. But what if we aren't at the rig, I'm thinking we could have a lot of potential damage.

 

[TandT]

Installation of toppers should be pretty standard on most any rig. The space between the top of the bedroom slide and the slope of the roof on our BH is not much. Yet, our toppers are mounted to the side of the rig just above the top of the slide and they do angle down slightly towards the outer edge of the slide when extended. (Ours were installed by HL)
I think I would get a second opinion.

That said, we fulltimed for three years with the toppers in the desert southwest where winds can be sudden and severe. When winds get over 60-70mph, (90+ mph several times) I put my slides in and ride it out. Never lost one yet.
IMHO the positives far outweigh the negatives and I would never have another rig w/o them. Trace

 

[MTPockets]

Get the toppers. We've been in high winds pretty much every day the last two summers. No problems. The extra protection from sun and debris is well worth it.

 

[dbbls59]

I've been leery of them myself. The people I've talked to that have them love them, and tout their benefits. However after going through a hail storm in Colorado with ours, and getting the awning damaged, even with it rolled up, then like you said with high winds, I'm not sure I want them. Sure if it looks like a hail storm is coming or there is the potential of high wind we could bring in the slides. But what if we aren't at the rig, I'm thinking we could have a lot of potential damage.

That is what insurance is for.

 

[Toddyman88]

I'm going to wait to see them mounted on another 3755 fl before doing anything.
if you see a pic around please let me know.
thanks.

 

[Gaffer]

We had them on our last rig but ordered the new one without. We winter on the Colorado river and it can get windy. I can't tell you how many rigs I saw down there with ripped slide covers. I wash the tops of the slides before bring them in for travel and it is a hassel with the toppers.

 

[sengli]

We got them installed at the dealer when we got our new rig. I dont think I will get them ever again. Where they are screwed into the top of the slides there just isnt any "meat" there and the screws started to pull out. There is alot of pre-load tension on the toppers, as well. To each his own on this topic. They are big and heavy, you wont be installing them without some help.

 

[Cjackg]

These are the HL factory installed toppers on my 2015 3110... They seem plenty sturdy so far but a lot of extra weight to haul around. I think now I would prefer to clean the tops of the slides occasionally instead of having to worry about how often I have to roll up those toppers dripping wet when we hit the road in the mornings...

 

[danemayer]

We've been pulling the slides in for 4 years without giving the toppers a 2nd thought. Also haven't given a thought to leaves or acorns or other stuff that just rolls off when we pull the slides in. And as discussed in another thread, it's quieter when raining. And in another thread, it's cooler without the sun directly on the top of the slideouts.

 

[JohnD]

We got them installed at the dealer when we got our new rig. I dont think I will get them ever again.

I find it very interesting how many here say it is no problem to just run the slide-outs in when the wind is strong . . .

But in all reality . . . why should we have to worry about sliding the slide-outs in when the wind is strong?

Not to mention that what if we are out sight seeing when said strong wind comes through?????

Like I said earlier in this thread . . . all it took for three or four $500,000+ dollar big-rig bus motor homes in the same campground as us on July 4th., 2014 to loose all of their slide-out toppers was ONE strong wind . . .

That was all I needed to see to change my mind about them.

 

[TandT]

Another benefit of toppers is shedding most of the rain that normally lands on top of slides, reducing the chance of leaks at the slides.
As I said earlier the positives during the 99% of the time there are no stong winds, FAR outweigh the 1% of time when potentially destructive winds are blowing.
After 3 years of fulltiming and 4 years total with this rig having toppers, I have had to run my slides in maybe 6 times total, due to high winds.
Trace

 

[JohnD]

Another benefit of toppers is shedding most of the rain that normally lands on top of slides, reducing the chance of leaks at the slides.
As I said earlier the positives during the 99% of the time there are no stong winds, FAR outweigh the 1% of time when potentially destructive winds are blowing.
After 3 years of fulltiming and 4 years total with this rig having toppers, I have had to run my slides in maybe 6 times total, due to high winds.
Trace

The beauty of not having the slide toppers is that when those strong winds do come (and they will come) . . .

You don't have to worry about putting your slides in at a moments notice (and that is assuming you are at the trailer when the winds come).

 

[kakampers]

For us the pros FAR outweigh the cons...have always had them and always will. Lost one topper due to wind in nine years fulltiming and it took an 80 mph straight line wind to do it....it hit with no warning and couldn't get slide in quick enough. I'll take those odds anyday!

 

[JohnDar]

My slides go out (with toppers) in early May and don't come back in until late September. They've been doing that since 2009. Other than a little dust on top of the slide (under the topper), no crud comes into the rig when I do retract them. Whatever is on top of the cover drains or slides off on its own. I clean them when I clean the roof. As far as hauling "extra weight," it's negligible. This past few weeks, we were rained on heavily and bombarded by acorns that sounded like gunshots on the roof. No damage to the toppers, but our Coleman screen tent roof didn't fare so well.

Having had a TT with a slide, sans topper, that I had to back the truck up to in order to clear branches, leaves, acorns, and bird crap off, I'll take the toppers any day.

And, as mentioned, that's what insurance is for.

 

[pegmikef]

This if the first time we have had them and love them. Will never do without them. As John said, I don't miss having to get the ladder out to clean the slide every time we were getting ready to move. And as was already mentioned they keep your slides from leaking if there is any kind of flaw in the slide roof or seal.

 

[danemayer]

If the primary argument against slide toppers is based on a tiny % of them getting ripped each year by extreme winds, I guess there's no point in getting awnings either. I'd bet awnings get ripped apart by wind way more frequently than slide toppers.

My own experience is that I pull the main awning in whenever the wind picks up because the whole assembly gets banged around like crazy in moderate winds. On the other hand, my slide toppers have been exposed to very high winds quite a few times without ripping apart. And I think I've only brought the biggest slide in one time because of high winds. Can you spell Oklahoma?

There are some devices I would avoid because the risk of problems is too high AND the value of the device, to me, is too low. We each get to decide what that balance is for ourselves.