Community Forums

Beagle RC Air · 05-25-2012, 11:17 AM

Our A&E elite topper on the bedroom slide started to delaminate. I pulled the awning material off and discovered there was enough to reverse the cover. I cut off about 14" of material and had the round welt sewed back in. I then put the outer portion to the inside. Instead of the 13 turns of preload I used 12 turns of preload and it worked out fine for tension. Looks like new. Going to look over the living room slider topper to do the same thing. I am skeptical if there is enough material though.

Beagle

bcbowers · 05-25-2012, 05:18 PM

Beagle - you're VERY ambitious to go through that much trouble to fix and "old" awning. I have replaced all of my slide awnings with Tough Top Awnings including the living room slide which was about 108" long on my rig. I think I paid about $135 or so for the 2 - bedroom awnings and about $175 for the living room awning. The material is soooooo much better than the original material! The Tough Top Awnings typically don't require as many turns on the roller so the tension is slightly increased compared to the original awning just because there's less material to roll up.

Yes, I think the Tough Top Awnings are awesome and fairly easy to replace for a DIY project. My wife & I replaced the living room awning thank to ample amounts of dry silicone lubricant on the beaded adges.

Beagle RC Air · 05-25-2012, 09:54 PM

How good does awning material have to be? Our topper lasted for 10 years and by turning it around it should get the same service life again. Looks like new and was not that much work to reverse it. Something to be said for $135. in my pocket and the satisfaction of having completed a relatively easy DIY project. Of course we don't have a "tough top"

.
There may be others who want to save a few bucks.

Beagle

bcbowers · 05-26-2012, 08:04 AM

Beagle,

Clearly, nothing wrong with saving money. I didn't even consider the possibility of reusing the original material because of being old, weathered, and buckling in places. It was causing problems closing the DS bedroom slideout.

I applaud your effort but the difference in material is almost night & day. (Just sayin')

indiana journey · 05-26-2012, 08:34 AM

Beagle,
I was going to do the same thing to my covers that you have done to yours. When I got them off, they were in the same shape all over, delaminated and very brittle. They are 8 years old. I called Toughtop and ordered new replacements. I'm in the process of installing them this weekend.
Good luck on your old ones lasting very long at all.
Mine were inside all of the time that we weren't camping, and didn't last near as long as I thought they should.
Good Luck,
Indiana Journey

Beagle RC Air · 05-31-2012, 10:09 AM

Found this to be a DIY project that had everything going for it, easy and inexpensive. Should have left it at that.
I have slideout that only goes out about 18" or less. The material lenght is in neighborhood of 4'. So, those wraps that were rolled up and unused were in very nice condition. Maybe the material won't last another 10 years but I am sure it will last as long as we need it.
Yes, I'm going to buy new material for the big slideout being as there is not enough backup material on the roll to reverse it.

Beagle