Slide out covers

[Grampyjd]

I have CareFree covers on my slide outs the serial number begins with ICSN00 I don’t see a model number and the dealer didn’t give me any paper work. I can’t find anything about adjusting or tightening the rollers on the internet. In 30 years I have never had a problem with slide out covers until now. We purchased this Montana 3900, with three slides, new march of 2015 and had covers put on while purchasing the unit.

Again this year, as in the past ten years, we are at our daughters home in Sinton, Texas (near Corpus Christy) and some days the wind blows with 30 to 45 mph gusts during the day. Each slide out cover will lift up like a balloon and unroll the tube holding it and then rewind when the wind slows down and repeats this for several hours. It shakes the RV and sounds terrible. I’m afraid the covers will tear off if this goes on for the next several days.

Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

[Slink]

I would say they are installed incorrectly I had that problem with new ones on my raptor and made them redue them they had to order 2 new ones

[bigskyjimmy]

Unless like Slink said they were installed incorrectly you will be fine they will not tear off, my 2015 toppers make noise and balloon up some and the spring loaded roller does unroll some like it is designed to do but keeps then pretty tight ,we live on the Ocean and get 60+MPH all the time and YES they make some loud popping noises and wakes our cats up but we are use to it But yeah anything over about 30MPH winds and they will make noise no matter how tight the spring in the roller is adjusted

[brooksider]

I don't have slide covers but if I did I think if I did I would have an inflatable beach ball (a good one). Put it under the side cover in the center and attach a hose with a Schroeder valve so that you could inflate and deflatefrom from the the ground which would put a pitch on the cover. Has any one tried this?
I think this would stop some wind flapping and shed water and maybe snow.
Joe

[Slink]

actually brooksider is correct I have seen folks do that especially in areas where you have freezing rain cause they won't roll up if frozen slides will close but toppers won't roll up

[Grampyjd]

Thank you Slink, Bigskyjimmy and Brooksider for your comments. At first I thought I had bad covers that weren't properly installed but if Bigskyjimmy has this problem then I am not so terrified that something is going to break. After writing about this problem, my wife and I put a beach ball in each end hoping that would at least cut the air flow down. They may still fly out tomorrow or when the wind picks up again. I was glad to hear Brooksider had the same basic idea.

Thanks again, at least now I'll sleep better.

[bigskyjimmy]

Believe me sometimes a HUGE gust will hit and it does sound like the toppers are getting ripped off but in 5 years living at the ocean it has never happened also I tried the Beach ball deal but when the real heavy gusts hit the beach ball just kept working it's way out and then never to be found again good thing they are cheap so now I just let them pop and bang and do their thing even our cats are use to it now

[DQDick]

We're with Bigskyjimmy. Been there and tried that and gave it up.

[jcurtis934]

As a fulltimer that sits for six months in florida, then stays rooted for a month or so at each destination during summer trip...I use pvc assembly that I slide in under topper that keeps each one in as normal a position as possible. Rains un off, wind when really gusting at 20+ still tends to make noise. Pull apart and store in pillow case when not using. John

[richfaa]

Sounds like they are operating normal .We had high winds when wintering in AZ and they did get noisy but never came off .We tried beach balls but they shot out of the awning like cannon balls in a high wind nothing really worked so we just let them do there thing and they were still on the 06 3400 when we traded it in 2013.

[jsmitfl]

We do the same as jcurtis does with the pvc. once they are up there they help keep the water off and the wind don't rip them so bad.

[GLS3950]

jcurtis or jsmitfl do you have pictures of the PVC fixture you made?