Slide topper

[miket49]

Wondering how the tech disconnected the topper . I have been thinking about taking mine off completely. 2019 331 RL

[Dave W]

I just this spring installed four toppers on our HC 343RL. So far not a sound from wind flapping and there have been a couple nasty thunderstorms. They cut drumming rain noise on the slide roof to none



The long topper - 13 feet over the LR will hold some water. There are a couple fixes that may work. First 'fix'. Dometic makes a cradle that is supplied with toppers 16 feet and longer but can be used on shorter toppers> That cradle keeps the spring tube from flexing. I have one but haven't had a chance to install it yet.


Second 'fix'. Spring tension is NOT a delicate job but it can be a bit involved. You need to install a safety locking pin in the roller, each end, so when you pull the bracket off, the spring wont unwind violently, possible doing samage to your RV or worse, to you. Once that bracket is pulled loose, it's only a matter of carefully removing that safety pin, then adding a turn or two to the spring tension. Pull a copy of the Dometic installation instructions as a guide



More on spring tension - a topper is installed with cotter pins to hold the spring tension. To insert the fabric in the awning rail, you need to, without pulling the cotter pins, unroll a single turn, not two or three, then slide it in place. If the installer unrolled too many turns (ahem) your spring tension will be too low to maintain a taunt fabric in a wind.


Curious as to how mleeder filled the 10 holes/topper that are now left where the brackets were and handling the different, unfaded color under those brackets.

[miket49]

Originally Posted by mleeder

We have a 2018 3950BR with slide toppers. Just finished removing the last of them. We live in Colorado and also camp in New Mexico. Wind is horrible with them on. Actually had the fabric tear on the bedroom slideout. Flapping of the fabric will keep you awake all night. Even tightened the tension with no help in a high wind. Had one fall off going down the freeway. The would not cover it under warranty because I couldn’t prove that I didn’t hit something. The warranty and dealers service is a gimmick.

mleeder if you would please give me a quick step by step process to remove the topper awning ? not interested in removing the brackets just the awning.

I have never worked with awnings so I am new to how to go about removint them
Thanks

[jcurtis934]

Slide toppers can flap in the wind...depending on the orientation of the wind to the front or back opening of the topper. Takes a good wind to do it. It's not like a flag cracking in a strong wind and not hard to let the brain tune it out.

[jcurtis934]

Takes two people on ladders to unroll topper tube to expose the track on the tube. Then have to insert a small diameter steel rod to lock the tube in place. Then remove two screws, one on each end of the track mounted on the side of the rv. Then slide out the topper to the front or rear depending on which is easier to do. Does take some hand and wrist strength to roll the tube to expose the pinning holes.

[Daryles]

When we were in Rapid City SD last month a storm rolled through. 74 mph winds. We were at Ellsworth AFB. Very few trees (wind block). We were positioned perpendicular to the wind. It rocked us pretty good. I was tempted to pull in all the slides to reduce our surface area, but did not want to do it with the camper rocking. Storm passed and we went back to sleep. Next time I know there is a bad storm coming I will pull in the slides.

[Irish Lady]

I have 2018 montana 5th wheel....There is a small rubber tube coming out of the roller bar on topper. How do I get it back in and fix so It does not come out again....

Thanks
June

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by Irish Lady

I have 2018 montana 5th wheel....There is a small rubber tube coming out of the roller bar on topper. How do I get it back in and fix so It does not come out again....

Thanks
June

I have this problem also. Does that tube hold the topper on the roller?

[Irish Lady]

yes it does...we can't get it to go back in....

[Dave W]

If that 'tube' is about 1/4" in diameter, 4-6 inchs long, black and is in the channel on the roller that holds the topper, it's a bead stiffener that also helps install the topper fabric as well as hold that fabric in place. It serves no other purpose and can be trimmed off though I would leave abpot a 1/2" or so as it will shrink a bit as it ages in the sun. If you look at your main electric awning, you will see the the same 'tube' though it may be cut off at the edge of the fabric.


NOW, with all that said, if indeed you have a foot or two hanging out, a trip to your dealer is going to be necessary unless you have good DIY skills, a few tools and knowledge of how these topper rollers work as that fabric will need to be removed and that 'tube' pulled back in place.

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by Dave W

If that 'tube' is about 1/4" in diameter, 4-6 inchs long, black and is in the channel on the roller that holds the topper, it's a bead stiffener that also helps install the topper fabric as well as hold that fabric in place. It serves no other purpose and can be trimmed off though I would leave abpot a 1/2" or so as it will shrink a bit as it ages in the sun. If you look at your main electric awning, you will see the the same 'tube' though it may be cut off at the edge of the fabric.


NOW, with all that said, if indeed you have a foot or two hanging out, a trip to your dealer is going to be necessary unless you have good DIY skills, a few tools and knowledge of how these topper rollers work as that fabric will need to be removed and that 'tube' pulled back in place.

That's kind of what I thought it might be. I just didn't recall seeing it before this year. It may have been like that since new. Anyway, it's going to dealer next week for some warranty work, so I'll have them look at it.

[jpwhite]

Originally Posted by Baldicon

My 2019 3121 came from factory with slide toppers plus the two awnings.

What brand and model topper does Keystone install on your rig?

[Baldicon]

Originally Posted by jpwhite

What brand and model topper does Keystone install on your rig?

I can't guarantee this is right, but it looks like a Dometic. I climbed up on the roof but could not see any markings on the toppers. Then looked through the stack of papers that came with the Monty, but could not find anything on the toppers. Finally I compared the end pieces of the toppers with different ones on the internet, and it looks like one of the Dometic toppers. Possibly the Deluxe Slide Topper EZ. Sorry, best I could do.

[jpwhite]

Thanks very much

[Jpc]

On our 2019 3120RL we used the Dometic Solera slide toppers. The dinning room slide that has the awning attached to it came with the “Slide Topper Prep Kit”. That has a shorter profile mounting bracket that will fit within the wall space bellow the upper trim piece.
https://www.lci1.com/toppers

[rambo]

I added the topper to my high country they are somewhat adjustable. Before I locked it in place I ran the slide out, and the awning and made sure they cleared by about 2 inches. I've not had any trouble at all.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by jpwhite

What brand and model topper does Keystone install on your rig?

There are 3 'standard' brands that most RV manufacturers use:


- Dometic being the most popular OEM and aftermarket

- Carefree of Colorado
- LCI's Solera

They are about the same MSRP but one or the others may be on sale at any particular time to the OEMs or DIYers


There are at least a couple high end brands as well like Girard, but were way out of my budget dollars

[Rickatom]

It was just noticed , that from a recent wind storm, the bracket to the topper which is mounted over my dining area slide-out has snapped. The mounting to the slide-out looks ok, but the bracket to which it holds the roller is what snapped.
Where can I find replacement parts so I can remount the roller for the topper?

[scottz]

Check for a label, but those look like Lippert toppers. If they were installed by Keystone at the factory; most likely Lippert.

Lippert customer service (574) 537-8900

[Rickatom]

Originally Posted by scottz

Check for a label, but those look like Lippert toppers. If they were installed by Keystone at the factory; most likely Lippert.

Lippert customer service (574) 537-8900

Thank you, I will check that out when I get back down to the camper.