Slide topper awnings holding water

[Magumba]

Hi,
Our slide toppers are holding a lot of rain water especially the topper over the bedroom slide. I've thought of putting 4 inch plastic pipe under the fabric to give a little better run off. The awning fabric seems tight after we extend the slide.
Any other suggestions.
Thanks.

[Finhawk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba Hi, Our slide toppers are holding a lot of rain water especially the topper over the bedroom slide. I've thought of putting 4 inch plastic pipe under the fabric to give a little better run off. The awning fabric seems tight after we extend the slide. Any other suggestions. Thanks.

I've heard of folks putting a air mattress under the awning just to eliminate the sag. Never tried it but it might work

[RJay]

Magumba,
You might want to take a turn on the topper roller to tighten the spring tension.

[Magumba]

Thanks for your help.

How do I adjust the tension of the springs?

[kalynzoo]

I sort of remember a suggestion in one of the MH magazines, to put foam noodles under the awning.
Good Luck

[OldChief7155]

I saw a guy with a cheap beach ball under his at Kirtland AFB. When it quit raining he took it out deflated it and folded it up to the size of a deck of cards. About $1.00 at any store.

[AFChap]

I've heard all kinds of "solutions" stuffed under the slide toppers. And I have yet to hear anything other than original design change that sounds like it is worth the trouble. Water is heavy, and I doubt tightening the tension will do much. Bottom line is: what problem is a bit of water pooled on a slide topper? Yes, it may run down the side of the RV when the slide is stowed, and it may make a dirty spot on top of the topper that cannot be seen from the ground ... it may be a little irritation (I know mine can be), but is it a problem that has to have a "solution"?

[Wayne M]

I have the same problem, but on my small living room slide (driver side). If I am not careful, when I retract, the water will run down the side of the slide when it is all the way in. How I got around this is to pull in the 23 foot slide first, then tilt the MH using the jacks (recommended in book by Winnebago to tilt if water present) then I bring the slide in and as soon as I see water pouring down the window I stop and wait for it to finish. I may need to do this 3 or 4 times until the slide gets all the way in. The time delay is negligible for a retiree.

[Keith K]

I've had to re-tension my big LR slide after repairing the slide lock in the roof. It's not an easy job; you have to remove the roller cover, put the slide in almost all the way to reduce the tension, disconnect the roller end caps/springs (make sure they're pinned first), turn the end assembly to increase the tension, then put everything back together. I'd leave the water, or you can buy a product (don't remember where I saw it) that's an inflatable wedge with lanyards on it that will keep the cover taut.

[AUSSI]

I had the same problem, until throwing a 3/16 rope over the slidetopper and maneuvering it to the lowest part of topper and leaving about 8ft of rope hanging down at each end. This creates a conduit for the water to evacuate.
Try it it is a cheap solution.

[Magumba]

Aussi,
Great idea it would be cheap and easy solution. Thank you.

[Suncircles]

The rope idea is a good idea. I would think though that a natural fiber rope would be much more "wick-able" than a polymer rope?

I had an additional problem last Feb. in Tennessee when the pool of water froze into a large block of ice overnight. Breaking camp the next morning, I had to pull in the slide, dumping this huge block of ice off the slide awning onto the ground. What an explosive crash it made.

Suncircles
2005 Journey 36G with a 2006 CRV Toad

[AUSSI]

Any rope will do the job some better than others. but wick-able would be best.

[Magumba]

I've had the ice crash off awning many times. The rope sounds like an great and simple solution. Thanks.