Rain pooled on top of slide topper..UH OH!

[footdoc]

We were ready to leave the CG and wifey was bringing in the LF slide...it had rained a bit and the topper was sagging...she brought it in and noticed that the front lockarm didnt close all the way...I went outside to see that the aluminum topper cover had jammed the complete closure of the slide because of the sagging of the topper..we opened it slightly and retried...it closed ok that time...I was amazed that the metal topper cover wasnt crushed but seems to be fine....Since that topper is so large, will this be an ongoing problem or a one time thing? I remember seeing a post about someone who made some sort of brace to keep the topper tented and not allow pooling...Obviously I havent been in the rain much with the rig...attests to the drought we are having in the south!!!

[crouseman]

I have this problem every time it rains. I have learned to take my windshield squeegee handle and push up on the edge of the metal cover as the silde comes in. If someone has a better solution, I'd like to hear it.

["007"]

I have just added some tips above that may help you tighten up that topper. Someone also post this Awning Wedge.



To eliminate this

[Tom N]

Winnebago recommends tipping the coach with your jacks, if it has recently rained, to remove any water on the slide awnings before bring in the slides.

-Tom

[footdoc]

That sounds really scarey and dumb...popping windshields, twisting the frame, etc...plus you would REALLY have to lean it to solve my pooling...maybe 40 degrees!

[Brigadoon]

footdoc,
I've had that happen. Now I take my extendable long arm motorhome scub brush and hang it on the center of the low end of the slide topper. This will drain the water off while I'm doing other things to prepair for departure. I use the brush due to it having enough weight to sag the topper just enough to drain the water, yet it is not too heavy. The awning wand can also be used but I have to stand there and apply down force on the topper to drain the water.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by footdoc:
That sounds really scarey and dumb...popping windshields, twisting the frame, etc...plus you would REALLY have to lean it to solve my pooling...maybe 40 degrees! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I bring my coach up on the passenger side when dumping my tanks. Never had any of the problems you mentioned. Used the same technique on my old coach and never had a problem with it.

To dump water from the slide awnings you can raise the front or rear.

[Doc Mark]

I agree Footdoc & Crouseman - I have the same problem every time it rains. We have learned to move the slide in 1/2 way, wait for the water to run off, move it in nearly all the way - wait etc etc until it will close completely.

Roger - I see the Awning Airwedge but I'm missing your tips.

[rebelsbeach]

Slide toppers....can't find mine!!

[TaxedtoDeath]

I have had the same problem on two coaches (only on the long drivers side slide). Learning from a bad experience, I always retract part way until the water dumps either from the front or the back depending on the coach level. (When I retracted the slide normally, without dumping the water first, the slide topper became caught in the slide and the automatic locks squeezed it such that the topper needed to be replaced).
This appears to me a design problem with some toppers. Girards are angled and don't have this problem.
Newmar advises to level your coach with a slight drop in the front to keep the water from pooling. Never seems to work for me though!

["007"]

FootDoc the tips are in Quick Tips and Easy Mods.

[soricobob]

I agree with footdoc, that changing the angle of the coach so as to dump water is a potentially dangerous (and warranty voiding) move.
I have a similar problem, but the water is on the slide (under the topper).
When I return from the factory, I'll let you know what the Newmar fix is.

[rebelsbeach]

When all else fails we could read the....

HWH Manuals

[GaryKD]

Help me understand how lowering the front of the coach is a potentially dangerous and warranty voiding problem. My jacks work in pairs. Does this apply to those of us who have jacks that work in pairs?