Care Free vs. Dometic Slide Toppers

[Roam America]

My last 2 RV's I had Care Free by Colorado slide toppers. On my current RV, the dealer installed Dometic.


My issue is that rain collects on the slide toppers an they sag, holding the water. When I pull the slides in, that water cascades off. However, I need to pull the slide in a little at a time (1/3 each time seems to work) because the sage is so great, the material actually gets caught up on the tube and wraps in the wrong direction. Instead of wrapping over the tube, it wraps under the tube. So I been bringing in the slides 1/3 at a time. Also, if the door side topper is full of water, a lot of the water will cascade in thru the door, so I keep the door closed when bringing in that slide.


My Care Free toppers never had that issue. I talked to the dealer about replacing the Dometic with Care Free. He said he would gladly sell me the higher priced Care Free but went on to say I would be wasting my money because the issue is that the slide outs are so much taller that the angle of the topper is not a great as my previous trailers. Sound logical, but I still wonder if the Care Free uses stronger springs to stand up to the water. He went on to say that the Care Free has a wrap around aluminum to protect the material where the Dometic does not which is the primary reason for the Care Free costing more. A previous person we spoke to at the same dealer told me last week that the Dometic is a lesser quality topper and the Care Free are top of the line. I offered to pay the difference between what I paid for the Dometic and what the Free would cost.



So my question is: What say you all? Is there really no difference?

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi John! I too think it's just the angle of the topper when extended.


The is the way I solved the problem!


http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/slide...rt-189399.html


http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/updat...ts-282073.html


Yes, it takes a few minutes to put them up. I only use them if we are staying more than one or two nights and there is rain in the forecast.

[Roam America]

Thanks. Looks like I have a project when I get to Texas for the winter

[WDW]

We’ve struggled with the same topic. So I came up with a mop to sweep the water off. It came to me after staying at Disney’s Ft Wilderness because of all of the pine needles collecting on our slides.


Here
is my solution:



PVC, painter pole end and a car wash mop head from Walmart.

[Jake21]

^^. Good idea

[Blufox]

Originally Posted by Jake21

^^. Good idea

Save the frustration and retract either the front or rear jacks first. . . Water flows to the low point. Works every time!

[Jake21]

Not recommended by American Coach with the slides out.

[Mark D]

Originally Posted by K-Star

My last 2 RV's I had Care Free by Colorado slide toppers. On my current RV, the dealer installed Dometic.


My issue is that rain collects on the slide toppers an they sag, holding the water. When I pull the slides in, that water cascades off. However, I need to pull the slide in a little at a time (1/3 each time seems to work) because the sage is so great, the material actually gets caught up on the tube and wraps in the wrong direction. Instead of wrapping over the tube, it wraps under the tube. So I been bringing in the slides 1/3 at a time. Also, if the door side topper is full of water, a lot of the water will cascade in thru the door, so I keep the door closed when bringing in that slide.


My Care Free toppers never had that issue. I talked to the dealer about replacing the Dometic with Care Free. He said he would gladly sell me the higher priced Care Free but went on to say I would be wasting my money because the issue is that the slide outs are so much taller that the angle of the topper is not a great as my previous trailers. Sound logical, but I still wonder if the Care Free uses stronger springs to stand up to the water. He went on to say that the Care Free has a wrap around aluminum to protect the material where the Dometic does not which is the primary reason for the Care Free costing more. A previous person we spoke to at the same dealer told me last week that the Dometic is a lesser quality topper and the Care Free are top of the line. I offered to pay the difference between what I paid for the Dometic and what the Free would cost.



So my question is: What say you all? Is there really no difference?

I have a full wall slide on a 45' so that's 30 or so feet with a single slide. It doesnt sag that much. The water should run down to the end and out the sides of the slide.

I did have new stone vos material installed and was told that after 6 months of use the springs need to be adjusted. Did you have them adjusted?