Community Forums

G Shaw · 11-09-2014, 08:32 PM

A fellow rv'er here in Las Vegas is going to be making a wind deflector to prevent the air from unrolling the slide awnings. My question is how many out there have had this problem.

Bumps · 11-09-2014, 08:52 PM

As in, ...unrolling when slides are extended in a wind storm? In that case,"Yep," the toppers can sometimes get to billowing pretty good up there.

How does the wind deflector work?

/ken

MSHappyCampers · 11-10-2014, 07:34 AM

I don't remember ever hearing about the wind unfurling a slide topper awning, but I guess it would be possible! How about posting some pics when finished!

Gary RVRoamer · 11-10-2014, 07:38 AM

I really don't see the need for that sort of thing if its for highway use. If the toppers are unfurling as you drive down the road, you probably have a broken torsion spring in the roller tube.

If he is talking about some sort of anti-billow device for when the RV is parked and the slides deployed, please tell us more about it. If his idea works, he may soon be rich!

G Shaw · 11-10-2014, 10:13 AM

The proposed deflector is for when travelling down the road. I did some more reading and the uncovered awnings have more trouble than the covered ones but as someone pointed out, if the spring breaks they will unravel.
After the prototype is designed I will post pics.

Darrel · 11-10-2014, 11:01 AM

Actually slide toppers are protected from unfurling by a little arm on the end of the tube that is designed for that purpose. Look closely when the slide is retracted and you will see that that arm will be close enough to the side wall that it will not allow unfurling.
(Window awning covers are a different matter though.)

Have a nice day - Darrel

doc · 11-10-2014, 01:50 PM

Sorry Darrel. They will unfurl ! A quartering head wind in Wyoming had me jumping each time it would flop back. Ending up pulling into a parking lot at and exit and putting the nose into the wind and tying the arm with a piece of phone wire I had in the basement. It would only do it with the wind at a certain angle and the driver's side front slide is the only place it has ever done this

mgscott4 · 11-10-2014, 07:42 PM

It sounds like there is not enough tension on the slideout topper. I would add two or four more rotations on your tension springs. It is not too difficult to do, but you have to remove the topper material first.

CampDaven · 11-14-2014, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgscott4

It sounds like there is not enough tension on the slideout topper. I would add two or four more rotations on your tension springs. It is not too difficult to do, but you have to remove the topper material first.

Yes. Mine only billowed when extended and with just the "wrong" wind. Tighten them up.