No awning...

[riverforest]

...over the side out on my forest river. do I need one ? is it to keep rain water out ? leaves & such ? should I get one installed ?

[plasma800]

I like them, mainly to keep the box from getting so hot in the sun !

[Ctrujillo45]

I don't have slideouts on my rig, but I'd think it's just one more thing to maintain....I've seen other RV's with the awnings in bad shape over slideouts. Just my 2 cents.

[EdInArk]

We had a slide topper installed over the slide on our first trailer mainly to keep leaves and pine needles from falling on top of the slide and damaging the seals as it went in. But no doubt it helps with heat as well in the direct sun.

Need? Not sure, but I sure want one.

[Mr_D]

Had them on my last rig with three slides, only two had the covers though. The other slide was under the main awning so they didn't offer one as a factory option.
Present rig has four slides, two are under the main awnings but they all have toppers. Rig is 9 yrs old and am in the middle (literally) of replacing all four. New fabric in the garage waiting for a Girard tensioning tool that I ordered yesterday. Then I found I could have easily made the tool.

[Waiter21]

Slideout "toppers" are there mainly to keep debris off the top of the slide when retracting, i.e. leaves, twigs, snow, etc... They also help with heat and act as a barrier to keep direct sun of the top of the slide.

[MSHappyCampers]

I would never have a slideout without a topper! It keeps out all the debris that can get pulled inside the RV or keep the slideout from sealing!

[riverforest]

been researching slide toppers. the parts alone are about $600. uninstalled. thinking it would be double that amount installed. I just spent $1200. on suspension upgrades, just parts cost I installed myself. So till I have some extra $$ guess I will bring a ladder & sweep off slide out before retracting.