Saggy Slide Toppers

[Josh_713]

Just got back from an exciting week of camping. Rain, rain, and more rain! Two of my slide toppers were like Kiddie pools. I even went as far as repeatedly bringing in the slides to remove the weight of the water off the toppers.

This isn’t the first I’ve noticed this but this last week kept it fresh on my mind. My 2016 Montana toppers had no issues with tension and keeping the rain from pooling, my 2020 is the opposite.

I’ve done some research and from what I find, it seems there isn’t much I can do to fix the issue. Is this true? I find it hard to believe that there wouldn’t be a tensioner or splines that could be adjusted to add more tension. Anybody have any success in adjusting these things?

[Daryles]

I have noticed the "kiddy pools" on my toppers also.
I looked at how other makes mount the toppers. Grand Design mount them higher on the side of the rig so there is a much better slope. No water accumulation.
This would probably help for snow and ice too.
As you say, it's too late now to do anything about it.
Maybe something we can bring up at the rally for Keystone to improve on.
As well as making the toppers just a couple of inches longer.
And moving the forward awning aft to cover the door to help keep you dry going in and out when it's raining.

[RMcNeal]

Daryles is spot on. One thing you can do is get cheap beach balls or pool floaties from the dollar store and partially inflate them. Shove them between the topper and roof of your slide to help support them in the rain or snow. Not too tight, but enough to prevent the sagging. Not a quality fix, but it will help prevent further stretching of the material and help the runoff.

[Dave W]

I have 9-10 inch diameter beach balls under the 13 foot living room slide. Yours may need smaller or larger. They do keep the "kiddie pools" away. Others have bade up PVC or conduit frames. If you do use the beach ball method, you will need to use a push device to center and remove them - mine is 1" PVC piping that I had available and store in the otherwise unused back bumper.

[R.S.O'Donnell]

We were using pool noodles taped together in a pyramid but became too much of a PITA in the basement storage so they went in the trash. These are on my list:

https://www.rossrvinnovations.info/s...upport-system/

[RMcNeal]

That's pretty pricey for a bag of air. Neat idea though.

[R.S.O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by RMcNeal

That's pretty pricey for a bag of air. Neat idea though.

It definitely is. With us moving to "snowbird" status we'll be parked for months at a time so I think they'll be worth the cost.

[VagabondLove]

Originally Posted by R.S.O'Donnell

We were using pool noodles taped together in a pyramid but became too much of a PITA in the basement storage so they went in the trash. These are on my list:

https://www.rossrvinnovations.info/s...upport-system/

We are still using the three noodles taped together. Yeah, a minor PITA, but at least once I have the ladder out, I can check other things (like for wasps nests etc).

[MuddyPaws]

I had the same problem and used partially inflated tether balls. When we're ready to travel I grab the rope and pull the ball out. Getting them in there is still a PITA though.

[Daryles]

They look a lot like pool pillows. You put them in your pool when winterizing then throw a tarp over the pool.

[Baldicon]

Originally Posted by VagabondLove

We are still using the three noodles taped together. Yeah, a minor PITA, but at least once I have the ladder out, I can check other things (like for wasps nests etc).

I made these too. Fasten a rope to them to pull them back out, that way you only have to get the ladder out to install them. I have a short piece of pvc pipe to push them midway under the toppers.

[mootana]

I'm hoping this information will help on the slide topper subject.

If you have the factory installed Lippert toppers, here is a link to a lot of information.

Also, here is a comment from that information:
When installing/adjusting the Solera RV Slide-Out Awning # LCV000163285tension is applied by rotating the awning roller 14 times. This should apply the needed spring tension so that the fabric doesn't billow in the wind or leave enough slack that it sags when collecting some rain water.

Also make sure that you have at least a slight decline from the awning rail to the end of the fabric so that water can flow off the awning.


If it's completely lost tension, you will have to actually remove the topper so that you can unwind it and then wind it back again for proper tension. When you re-mount the awning the roller should be rotated Lippert recommends between 12 and 16 times.

https://support.lci1.com/solera-slider-awning

I hope this helps.