|
|
04-14-2019, 08:58 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
|
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?
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 09:28 AM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 1,910
M.O.C. #19755
|
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.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy, Onan 5.5Kw, Solar
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 09:36 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Sequim
Posts: 522
M.O.C. #17176
|
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.
__________________
Dan & Sandy Huhn
2016 Montana 3720 2015 Chevy 3500 SWD Duro Max
Prev 2012 High Country 313RE 2012 Chevy 2500 DMax
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 12:51 PM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
|
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.
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 02:25 PM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
|
Here's one on a 2016 Monty. Exact same application as ours would be
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 03:17 PM
|
#6
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Charleston
Posts: 452
M.O.C. #23094
|
Our '19 HC 310RE has the RV fridge in the slide and came factory with slide toppers on all slides.
__________________
2019 Montana HC 310RE
2010 Wildcat 29RLBS
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7
|
|
|
04-14-2019, 11:54 PM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 1,910
M.O.C. #19755
|
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.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy, Onan 5.5Kw, Solar
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
|
|
|
04-15-2019, 12:29 AM
|
#8
|
Site Team
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 1,910
M.O.C. #19755
|
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/
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy, Onan 5.5Kw, Solar
2022 F-450 Lariat Ultimate
|
|
|
04-15-2019, 06:57 AM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,455
M.O.C. #23668
|
Thanks for the info. It just seemed to me that it was doable. Glad to know that it is
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
|
|
|
04-16-2019, 08:26 PM
|
#10
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: holland patent
Posts: 174
M.O.C. #8973
|
My 2015 305RL has toppers on all 3 slides.Dealer put them on.
|
|
|
04-16-2019, 09:20 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Menifee
Posts: 1,109
M.O.C. #22986
|
How hard is it to install toppers..?
__________________
2018 3920fb 2020 GMC Denali 3500 4x4 Duramax, 10 speed Allison. LB SRW, Firestone air bags with Airlift wireless onboard compressor. Anderson Ultimate Hitch. MX4 folding cover. 50gal titan in bed transfer tank. Onan 6500 lp genset installed by me ! Had: 2 HF 3500 Inverters with Parallel Kit
|
|
|
04-21-2019, 02:21 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
|
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.
__________________
John & Patty
2022 3855 BR
2019 Lariat F350 4X4 Dually
|
|
|
05-18-2020, 05:51 AM
|
#13
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Port Richey
Posts: 438
M.O.C. #14092
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz
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
__________________
2012 Silverado 3500HD|4x4|Crew Cab|long bed|Dually
2012 Montana 3750FL
|
|
|
05-18-2020, 05:43 PM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DmaxDually
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.
__________________
John & Patty
2022 3855 BR
2019 Lariat F350 4X4 Dually
|
|
|
05-19-2020, 05:38 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Port Richey
Posts: 438
M.O.C. #14092
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptnJohn
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.
__________________
2012 Silverado 3500HD|4x4|Crew Cab|long bed|Dually
2012 Montana 3750FL
|
|
|
05-19-2020, 09:00 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by DmaxDually
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
__________________
John & Patty
2022 3855 BR
2019 Lariat F350 4X4 Dually
|
|
|
05-19-2020, 12:22 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: New Port Richey
Posts: 438
M.O.C. #14092
|
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...
__________________
2012 Silverado 3500HD|4x4|Crew Cab|long bed|Dually
2012 Montana 3750FL
|
|
|
05-19-2020, 12:33 PM
|
#18
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Park Hill
Posts: 166
M.O.C. #10841
|
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.
|
|
|
07-20-2020, 11:49 AM
|
#19
|
Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Tinton Falls
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #19063
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz
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
|
|
|
05-29-2022, 02:35 PM
|
#20
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Shady Cove
Posts: 154
M.O.C. #18031
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by fftim29
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?
__________________
2015 GMC Denali 2500hd D/A
2016 Montana 3160rl Legacy
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|