Add slideout covers?

[CaptainJerry]

Two months ago I became the 2nd owner of a 2003 Mountain Aire 3778 8.1 L gas that came from the factory with no slideout covers on the two slides. The coach is in very good condition with 28,000 miles and was always stored indoors when not in use. Apparently slide covers were an option that the purchaser or dealer chose not to add.

My question - what are the pros and cons of adding them? Is it worth it?
I am unsure of what my future usage will be. Probably snowbird for a few months in the winter and travel any part of the U.S. in the summer. Not fulltiming.

As I see it, without covers I just need to take a look before retracting to make sure there isn't any debris on the slide roof. Minor wetness (no standing puddles of water) will get squeegeed off by the top seal as it retracts. Otherwise I might need to get on the roof to clean off sticks, leaves and/or remove water with a squeegee or towel.

Then again, I think about what I would do if I'm retracting while it's raining?

I appreciate any and all thoughts.

Thanks.

[Perry White]

All my toppers are good for is flopping in the wind and keeping you up at night. I have a Newmar Esssex and the only one that doesn't beat itself to death is the one they didn't put on over the kitchen slide. I guess they figure you can use the awning, of coarse it retracks in the wind.

["007"]

Welcome CaptainJerry to Newmar forum & irv2.
All my Newmars including present 03 KS have had the slide awnings.
Doesn't say in options if it was a option but all pictures of both KS and MA shows the awnings on new coach's so I will say it was standard.
They do keep the slide roof clean and free of added rain water on roof and if they were not tight enough they can be adjusted to be tighter.
Makes it easier to get snow off if you have it cause snow will roll off as slide closes.
You are aware their is a recall on your brake calipers for 03 coach.
Owners Guide 03 MA.

[dsbike]

I installed them on my Coachman. I never hear them flap & my longest one is 16'. IMHO they protect the rubber roof from the sun & debri coming from trees. And you are correct about the water & other debri just rooling off when you retract.

[CaptainJerry]

To 007:

All my Newmars including present 03 KS have had the slide awnings.
Doesn't say in options if it was an option but all pictures of both KS and MA shows the awnings on new coach's so I will say it was standard.

Response - I thought it was odd that Mountain Aire, being the top of the line Newmar gas brand, didn't have slide covers as standard, but apparently not. They are not listed in the standard features in the Owners Guide. In addition, this coach has the window awnings - an added option, although no slide awnings - a little strange. So I do think the slide awnings were an option. There is no evidence of caulked up holes where one may have been removed.

You are aware their is a recall on your brake calipers for 03 coach.
Owners Guide 03 MA.[/QUOTE]

Response: Checked that the recall was done and it has.

Thanks for your reply.

[jillie]

By keeping the sun off the top of the slide, it stays cooler inside. We don't have a topper over the front doorside slide so I put the awning out to cover the slide. If it's windy, I only put it out enough to keep the sun off.

[Ramets]

My 2000 DSDP never has had slide covers on the two slides. I always take a look at the tops before we bring them in to make sure we haven't accumulated any debris. Have never had any kind of problem. As far as having to bring them in when it's raining, well we're fulltiiming and if it's raining we just stay another day or wait til it stops.

["007"]

Jerry you maybe able to see what was ordered for you coach by entering the coach build number on the COM_NET2 network.
This thread will explain how to do it, build number will be on sheet of paper in cabinet or your black case binder.

[Arch Hoagland]

They help with cooling, especially when you are in 100 degree weather out west.

They do flap in the wind and if it gets real windy at night we pull the bedroom in.

I wouldn't have a coach without them. We have awning shades on the side windows and those help with the heat too.

[Mr_D]

They were optional on our 2002 DSDP, help a lot in high temps, ours don't seem to flap in the wind. Will need to replace the fabric next year though as they're getting pretty shabby looking now.

[Chickadee]

Jerry:

To have slide awnings or NOT to have slide awnings....THAT.....is the question.

Bought our first Newmar (Mtn. Aire) back in 05 as we left the sticks and bricks lifestyle and moved into real full timing. For us, we elected to HAVE slide awnings on all 4 slides in this first rig. We now ALSO have em on our current 4 slide rig, so I can't tell ya from direct experience what it's like full timing without em, BUT !!!.......I know I'd not like to have to haul out ladders every time we buttoned up the rig to hit the road to check the slideout rooftops for debris. I also know that water puddles atop the slideroofs can, and do, find their way into your rig especially when closing up the slide. Those top slide gaskets which are designed to squeegee water off the slideroofs do NOT always catch all the puddles that can occur in depressions which develop on the slideout roofs over time.

As far as wind flapping noise goes, yup, these slideout awnings can.... IF it's windy, and then.....IF the wind is hard enough....and then only IF that wind is from the correct direction, make a flapping noise. We've found however, that if ya retain a reasonable tension on the slideout awnings (not a big deal and maybe needed once or so every couple years) that wind noise from around the corners of the rig is pretty much as distracting as any flapping noise coming from the slideout awnings.

We do like the awnings and think they're a good feature.

Steve & Lynette

[CaptainJerry]

Thank you very much to everyone who replied to my question.

I value you sharing your experience with and without slide covers.
So from your responses, I see it as:

Pros for slideout covers:
- Keeps slide area cooler in high temperatures with its shading
- Keeps water, sticks, leaves off, thereby allowing you to retract and not bring anything in with the slide

Cons:
- Flaps in high winds - can disturb sleep
- Needs re-tensioning from time to time
- Very difficult to clean top of slide under cover if debris gets in there
- Extra cost item

--------------------------------------------

Pros for NO slideout covers:
- No flapping noise
- One less thing to maintain - cleaning, tensioning, replacing

Cons:
- Higher interior temp inside slide area when outside temp is high
- Need to climb on roof using rear ladder to inspect and remove any debris and perhaps squeegee off water (not a problem for me now, maybe so in later years when not so flexible - I think that is a few years out - a young 60 now)
- Possibility of getting water inside coach if the above task wasn't done

I have the original build order and there are no slide awnings on it. Window awnings - yes, slide awnings, - No.

Since I have camped only two nights with this coach, I think I'll use it for a while and then make my decision. Again thanks for your responses.

[Perry White]

Park under a tree.

[Arch Hoagland]

No, don't park under a tree. The squirrels will drop nuts on the slide out and wake you up. Plus the birds will go........... on it.

One more reason for a slide out cover..........