Slide Toppers And Rain

Cat320 · 05-26-2011, 05:54 PM

We've had one of each type RV, but this is the first one with slide toppers. They are brand new, and we are camped in an area that just had a couple of storms go through. After the rain, all were sagging and full of water. I pulled in one slide to dump the water and climbed on the roof and swept the water off the others.

We are planning to be here for a few weeks, will it hurt them (the spring) to be stretched out for that long, or should I get the water off them after the rain stops?

Thanks.

Tha_Rooster · 05-26-2011, 06:30 PM

I don't think it will hurt the spring but it will put a permanent sag in the middle if left for a while I have herd of people throwing a rope over the top to pull the sides down to let off the water. Some of the problems dealers leave the slides open all the time and the toppers get a stretch sag in the middle.

450Donn · 05-26-2011, 06:45 PM

lots of posts with ideas on dealing with this problem. Get a couple of cheap blow up beach balls and slide them under the toppers. Water cannot pool up then.

AFChap · 05-27-2011, 10:49 AM

...or just don't worry about it. Any large piece of fabric suspended horizontally will sag in the middle. It's no big deal unless on a larger patio awning where it can damage the support arms due to the weight. The slide toppers aren't large enough for that to cause a problem. As to tension on the topper roller spring, there is already tension on it at all times, and especially when the slides is extended.

Worry about it if you wish ...everyone needs something to worry about! When the water dumps over the side and end when I retract the slide I might see it as a minor irritant, but I don't see it as a "problem" that has to be resolved.

John Wayne · 05-28-2011, 02:14 PM

Drop 1 side of the front of the RV 1/4 of a bubble and the water may run off during the rain and not puddle.

shortlance · 05-28-2011, 03:20 PM

We tried every trick that was offered and some of them are good but found that it is easyer to just retrack the slide about half way and the water runs off enough that the topper will wind tight and dump the rest. Then we just put the slide out again. I do not like to let a water buildup longer then need be so the slide topper does not streach and get a sag in it. I'd sooner have to deal with the water then have to clean off the slides when we are packing up to leave.

johnsonjm209 · 05-28-2011, 06:08 PM

Something I just learned from a competent RV repair facility. (cause it was happening to me) Make sure that if you replace an awning , that it is wider than the slide. If not the buildup water will not flow outside of the slide, but some will remain inside and end up running down the sides of he slideout and eventually being pushed back inside of the RV.