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Old 04-14-2019, 08:58 AM   #1
jsb5717
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2nd Awning or Slide Topper on 305RL

Just curious...When we bought our 305RL we asked about adding a 2nd awning onto the slide. We were told that it couldn't be done because the refrigerator is in that slide and the venting heat would be problematic for the slide material. We also couldn't put a slide topper on that slide for the same reason.

However, I've seen other rigs, including Montanas, with the 2nd awning on the slide with the RV fridge (I understand that a residential fridge would be different). For that matter, I've seen slide toppers on rigs with the kitchen on the opposite side but still in the slide.

Has anyone else either put the 2nd awning on their 305RL or been told they couldn't/shouldn't?
 
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Old 04-14-2019, 09:28 AM   #2
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It is possible, depending on how much room there is above your refer vent. I have both an awning and topper on my right side kitchen slide. It came from the factory with the awning which was mounted near the top of the slide to clear the refer vent. This did not leave room for the topper brackets. Two RV dealers told me they could not do it so I did it myself. It was not a hard job (with two people) and we ended up saving about 50%. I had to modify the topper brackets, but everything works fine now. I'll get a few photos later today. My unit is a 2017 3160RL which has the kitchen on the right side. I think this is one of the reasons Keystone moved the kitchen to the left side and renamed it a 3120RL in 2018. With the kitchen on the left side, there are no problems with an awning on the right and a topper on both sides.
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Old 04-14-2019, 09:36 AM   #3
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I maybe see not putting a awning on refrigerator slide if fear of blocking the vents but as far as a slide topper there shouldn’t be a problem with that. I have slide toppers on all my slides with no problems. I do have a second awning but it’s not on a slide with my refrigerator. I think your dealer is jacking you around about slide topper.
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Old 04-14-2019, 12:51 PM   #4
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The heat coming from the refer vent can’t be that much hotter than the awning extended in desert sun. If anything, having an awning on the refer slide would shade the refer area from the heat of the sun.
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Old 04-14-2019, 02:25 PM   #5
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Here's one on a 2016 Monty. Exact same application as ours would be
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Old 04-14-2019, 03:17 PM   #6
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Our '19 HC 310RE has the RV fridge in the slide and came factory with slide toppers on all slides.
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Old 04-14-2019, 11:54 PM   #7
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Photos of my installation. The first and second photo shows how the topper brackets are supposed to fit. Note they are inside the top/side flanges on the slide where there is enough backing material to fasten the brackets into. The third and fourth photos show the topper on my kitchen slide. Note that with an awning in place (installed by Keystone and has to be above the refer vent), it is so high there is not room to install the topper brackets inside the top/side flanges. This is the problem trying to put a awning and a topper on the kitchen slide with a refer vent; the reason your RV shops say it can't be done. Take a close look at photos 3 & 4 and you will see I modified the topper brackets by cutting them and drilling new mounting holes in locations where there is enough backing material to install them. Since they sit on top of the flange, I had to put a spacer behind each topper bracket to make it fit properly. The topper arms that fit in the bracket also had to be trimmed. All of my topper bracket screws go into sufficient backing material and and are holding just fine.

So, this can be done. You have to do it yourself or find an RV shop willing to do a little extra work and fabrication.
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Old 04-15-2019, 12:29 AM   #8
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Here is a photo of the kitchen slide when closed. I purchased the Lippert Solera toppers on-line from this store. Great service and great price.

https://www.rvautoparts.com/
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Old 04-15-2019, 06:57 AM   #9
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Thanks for the info. It just seemed to me that it was doable. Glad to know that it is
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Old 04-16-2019, 08:26 PM   #10
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My 2015 305RL has toppers on all 3 slides.Dealer put them on.
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Old 04-16-2019, 09:20 PM   #11
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How hard is it to install toppers..?
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Old 04-21-2019, 02:21 PM   #12
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Two service writers said an awning could not be added as a slide topper was installed. One day at CW I saw the body shop manager and said I was disappointed. He said ~~~ it can be done! He said making it electric was easy at the factory but labor intensive after being built, but could be done. However, a manual awning could be installed at $59 labor (sale then like now on installations). Done! That was over the 2 largest windows in the 5er.
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Old 05-18-2020, 05:51 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by scottz View Post
Here is a photo of the kitchen slide when closed. I purchased the Lippert Solera toppers on-line from this store. Great service and great price.

https://www.rvautoparts.com/
scottz, nice job. Can you please post a picture of your kitchen slide awning opened? Was the kitchen awning a factory option or did you add that on your own? Is it powered or manual?
I have a 2012 3750FL and I want to add an awning to my aft slide but I don't want to mount it to the slide itself. I would like to mount it to the RV above the slide to match the main awning (if I have the room). Thx
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Old 05-18-2020, 05:43 PM   #14
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scottz, nice job. Can you please post a picture of your kitchen slide awning opened? Was the kitchen awning a factory option or did you add that on your own? Is it powered or manual?
I have a 2012 3750FL and I want to add an awning to my aft slide but I don't want to mount it to the slide itself. I would like to mount it to the RV above the slide to match the main awning (if I have the room). Thx

I have a 2019.5 3761FL looked at adding a port side awning above the slide, no room at all. If I do it, must go on the slide between topper hardware.
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Old 05-19-2020, 05:38 AM   #15
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I have a 2019.5 3761FL looked at adding a port side awning above the slide, no room at all. If I do it, must go on the slide between topper hardware.
How about if you remove the slide topper awning and hardware will you have enough room above the slide to install a wall mount Carefree Freedom awning? This way it will be a topper awning and a patio awning but you will lose about 2 ft of projection on the awning because of the slide.
So far I am looking at the Carefree Freedom wall mount manual extension model because I don't want to mount support arms or hardware to the side of my RV or run 12v power to it. The Freedom model has support legs stowed in the awning that you fold out. I will have to mount it to the slide because I want the full 8ft of projection. They also make it in a roof mount model. But I am still researching manufactures and types of awnings.
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Old 05-19-2020, 09:00 AM   #16
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How about if you remove the slide topper awning and hardware will you have enough room above the slide to install a wall mount Carefree Freedom awning? This way it will be a topper awning and a patio awning but you will lose about 2 ft of projection on the awning because of the slide.
So far I am looking at the Carefree Freedom wall mount manual extension model because I don't want to mount support arms or hardware to the side of my RV or run 12v power to it. The Freedom model has support legs stowed in the awning that you fold out. I will have to mount it to the slide because I want the full 8ft of projection. They also make it in a roof mount model. But I am still researching manufactures and types of awnings.
I'm not considering 12v either. Support legs are an inconvenience but required. When I think about it, a lot of work to shade just 1 window. The night/day blinds do a good job when down but would like the light, just not the added heat. I want to keep the topper as well. You are farther along than I so I'll be curious to see what you finally decide and install
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Old 05-19-2020, 12:22 PM   #17
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Yeah I’m looking for a full-size awning not a window shade. I want a second awning to cover my grilling area. I need a case or box awning that is 8.5 ft wide and protrudes out 8 ft. Dometic has the perfect awning that would fit my needs. It’s is the Dometic Perfect Wall Awning 1500 model but it is not available in the US only over seas...but I’m hoping to see if I can get one some how...
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Old 05-19-2020, 12:33 PM   #18
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Well I have the second awning which I don't know how much I will end up using we will see but if I had to choose between the two I would get the slide cover over the second awning because it helps keep sun off the top of the slide which really heats up, more than I will benefit from the awning. But just me.
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Old 07-20-2020, 11:49 AM   #19
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It is possible, depending on how much room there is above your refer vent. I have both an awning and topper on my right side kitchen slide. It came from the factory with the awning which was mounted near the top of the slide to clear the refer vent. This did not leave room for the topper brackets. Two RV dealers told me they could not do it so I did it myself. It was not a hard job (with two people) and we ended up saving about 50%. I had to modify the topper brackets, but everything works fine now. I'll get a few photos later today. My unit is a 2017 3160RL which has the kitchen on the right side. I think this is one of the reasons Keystone moved the kitchen to the left side and renamed it a 3120RL in 2018. With the kitchen on the left side, there are no problems with an awning on the right and a topper on both sides.
I am looking to add the topper to my 2016 3160RL. What size topper did you go with? I can’t decide between the 11-1/2 or. 12 ft
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Old 05-29-2022, 02:35 PM   #20
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I am looking to add the topper to my 2016 3160RL. What size topper did you go with? I can’t decide between the 11-1/2 or. 12 ft
We have the same model 3160rl and year did you ever find the correct length?
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