Community Forums

keymastr · 06-17-2021, 12:55 PM

I have two toppers on my 2020 F28 Titanium and one is tight and one is slack, or nearly slack. It only takes a small amount of rain before the fabric is resting on the slide roof. After the rain has either been blown off by a breeze or evaporates somewhat the fabric comes off the roof but is always a bit slack.

Anybody know what mechanism is used to provide tension? I would look up a youtube if I knew what brand they were. Dometic?

wolfe10 · 06-17-2021, 01:00 PM

Please tell us what brand slide topper you have.

keymastr · 06-17-2021, 01:40 PM

Whatever came on it I guess. They don't list which one they use on the website.

hilgert · 06-17-2021, 02:03 PM

I had the same issue with one one of our toppers, and it was an easy adjustment.

Note that these things have springs inside the roller (if it's like my Dometic toppers), and the springs have a LOT of mechanical energy when they are wound up (similar to a garage door spring). Have a helper, and someone should initially hold the end you are disconnecting with two hands very tight. I know what it feels like if your grip slips and it unwinds in/around your hands...I had a few bruises after my initial attempt. And keep your face away from the end...or you may loose some teeth!!!

Once you get an idea of how much energy is wound up, you can then turn the end against the spring a few turns and see if that resolves the issue. For me it was about 4 more turns.

77Travco · 06-17-2021, 02:16 PM

You can try to wind the spring one more turn...
1) Fully extend the slide out
2) Jam the roller spring tensioner(s) so they cannot turn
3) Retract slide halfway in
4) un-install roller, roll the roller one turn in and re-install
5) carefully extend slide and see if awning topper is tighter without binding spring

keymastr · 06-21-2021, 09:17 PM

Where did everyone go? I figured posting this in the ORV owners forum I would get some answers from other ORV owners but so far I am the only one on this thread. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate those who answered but I was hoping for tips from other ORV owners as they would be talking about the same brand. Maybe everyone is actually out camping now that things have opened back up.

amosnandy · 06-21-2021, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keymastr

I have two toppers on my 2020 F28 Titanium and one is tight and one is slack, or nearly slack. It only takes a small amount of rain before the fabric is resting on the slide roof. After the rain has either been blown off by a breeze or evaporates somewhat the fabric comes off the roof but is always a bit slack.

Anybody know what mechanism is used to provide tension? I would look up a youtube if I knew what brand they were. Dometic?

Watch this video. It shows how to release the tension, replace the fabric and then set the tension on the roller.

In this case, you will not be replacing the fabric, but I would watch it all the way through to the end where they show how to wrap the spring up so your fabric is tight. It's a 2 man 2 ladder job but it's pretty easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REDFNC7um5A

77Travco · 06-22-2021, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keymastr

Where did everyone go? I figured posting this in the ORV owners forum I would get some answers from other ORV owners but so far I am the only one on this thread. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate those who answered but I was hoping for tips from other ORV owners as they would be talking about the same brand. Maybe everyone is actually out camping now that things have opened back up.

Keep in mind that things like slide toppers are installed on many brands of RV's. Actually... you really just need to have a general idea about function no matter the brand when it comes to slide toppers.
My statement in post #5 should work for you. That video in post #7 is also a helpful tool.

chefmark · 05-09-2023, 10:18 AM

So I am basically taking the roller off ,just keeping it there to turn it, can i just place it on the roof to clean the top of the topper

besweeet · 05-30-2023, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77Travco

You can try to wind the spring one more turn...
1) Fully extend the slide out
2) Jam the roller spring tensioner(s) so they cannot turn
3) Retract slide halfway in
4) un-install roller, roll the roller one turn in and re-install
5) carefully extend slide and see if awning topper is tighter without binding spring

Our slide topper looks like this:

For step 4, in order to turn the roller once, do you mean to remove the piece (circled in red) from the bracket bar?

Hopefully my topper has enough material to where it can be rolled one more turn.