3711 FL Slide topper

[mikedesj]

Took possession of a 2016 3711 last week. Drove it right from the dealer to a commercial tire dealer to remove the "China Bombs" and put four "G614's". Can't wait for the first trip. One concern I have is that with the slides open the awning rubs the top of the dinette slide. I am new to the power awnings so not sure if I can raise it up. I also want to put slide toppers on all slides but concerned about the anti billowing device if it ends up sticking upright. Only concern is with the slide under the awning. I want the topper because I sometimes winter camp and do not open the awning so want the added protection of the topper. Anyone have experience with a topper on the dinette slide on this model.

[1retired06]

Do not have your floorplan, but have had toppers on all four of our Montana units. None have ever rubbed the outer edge of the slide. Maybe tension adjustment would help?

[mhs4771]

Carefree toppers are designed different and don't have that anti-billow device that Dometic has.

[jcurtis934]

Saw an older keystone fifthwheel where the owners have to push the awning towards the front of the trailer as they open it in order to clear the hardware on the slide topper. Can you shift the bars that fit into the slideout hardware at the top of the slide to gain more clearance? John

[cw3jason]

I elected to only install 5 toppers and leave the dinette slide uncovered. the awning touches the top of the slide when extended and will certainly rest on any slide topper roller. I do not know if that would cause damage to the awning fabric. probably not as the roller tube is pretty smooth. I had Slide-out Kover IIIs installed and love them.

[bncinwv]

Many models with the door beneath the awning will have the top of the door rubbing against the awning when the awning is fully extended. Our solution and one reported many times on the forum, is after you fully extend the awning, hit retract very quickly that will result in a slight turn of the roller tube. This will take up the slack in the awning material and may provide the clearance you need. May not be your solution but it is worth a try.
Bingo

[mikedesj]

Thanks for the input. I guess if I put a topper on the dinette slide it will be one without the anti billowing arm. I am looking at the Lippert solera toppers. Of course that means all of them will have to be the same. I do like the slide out Kover III's but seem more pricy. I will also try Bingo's recommendation. Anxious for my first trip in the new unit. Hope this one is as reliable as my 2005 3400 was. Had it for 12 years and it never let me down. But then I am a stickler for fixing things myself as soon as there is an indication of a problem.

[madeforeachother]

We had the five toppers installed minus the dinette slide because the dealer told us one could not be installed because of the patio awning. Well, we saw a couple of the 3711fl with slide toppers on the dinette slide and had that one installed also. The patio awning does touch the topper but it also touched the slide before the slide installation. We would just retract the patio awning a bit to clear the slide and that is what we do now to clear the slide topper. Sure does beat having to go up on the roof to clean the dinette slide of tree junk and we do not leave the patio awning extended at night or when we leave so the topper is a home run for the dinette in our book.

[mikedesj]

I ordered the toppers and will be installing this weekend. Decided to put one over the dinette. My OCD behavior would not let me have five slides with a topper and one without, it would have driven me crazy. . I have tried the retract the awning a bit as suggested sand that lifts it up off of the slide. I think I will be fine. Time will tell.