3813MS Bedroom Slide Topper Ballooning While Traveling

[JimB44]

2022 3813ms bedroom slideout topper sometimes catches air and balloons out when traveling at 65mph. First Picture shows topper before opening the slide.
Second picture shows after opening the slide.

To correct the wrapping of the slide fabric, I had to get up to where I could unwind the fabric and pull it back to the front of the roll to get it back where it should be.

 

[JimB44]

Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[Mark77]

I have slide toppers but I have never had that issue. Wonder if they need wound tighter?

 

[JimB44]

The pictures were taken in September 2025 when this was the second time it happened. We were on a six week trip to Utah and back. My best recollection is that the fabric was tight on the roller. At the end of December, I pulled the camper out of storage to load up for our trip to Florida and parked it in our driveway. When I opened that slide, the front bracket of the topper came off. With the help of two of my neighbors, we removed the topper. When we got home from Florida the first of April, I took it to the RV dealer for the annual maintenance and replacement of the topper. Now my concern is to not have the problem repeated. There are also two more slides with topper’s on this camper and they have not been a problem.

 

[GeologyTek]

Has anyone else had this issue?

We experienced the exact same issue on our 3811MS. The slide topper fabric was not 100% secured in the track during the construction of the camper. I used a small dowel rod to secure the fabric in the track. If its windy out when we are traveling then.....I add some... BLACK DUCK TAPE! I only cover the open area that the wind can pick up. But I still have to get on the roof to put it on and take it off. I dont know of a better solution.

 

[FFM]

We had the bedroom slide topper do that when we were traveling west from OK City in route to AZ. Had very strong head wind quartering from that side. Had to do as you describe to get it straightened out. Then cycled the slide in & out several times to get it better wrapped.