ACs, Heat Pump, now Slide Toppers

[ajg617]

Appears there is now going to be slim pickins on slide toppers from GDs normal supplier. First it was no 3rd AC, then no heat pump, now limited supply of slide toppers. My option list is going south. Maybe that's a good thing.

Are slide toppers also dealer installed items (assuming dealers can obtain them)? I was working under the assumption that I would want factory installation as many options as possible. Might not be a realistic expectation now.

[geotex1]

Anyone can install toppers with time, patience, and good handling of minor tools and mastery of measurements. It would be a cold, cold day somewhere before I'd ever let a dealer install one again! Putting them on our Solitude myself. I heard it's any industry thing - all awning makers whether for RVs, residential or commercial because the scrim reinforced vinyl is in short supply.

[ajg617]

Anyone can install toppers with time, patience, and good handling of minor tools and mastery of measurements. It would be a cold, cold day somewhere before I'd ever let a dealer install one again! Putting them on our Solitude myself. I heard it's any industry thing - all awning makers whether for RVs, residential or commercial because the scrim reinforced vinyl is in short supply.

I think the problem might be obtaining the if Carefree is shutting down unless there are alternatives which I have no data on. Alternative suggestions welcome.

[bertschb]

Are slide toppers also dealer installed items (assuming dealers can obtain them)?

You can either get them installed at the factory, have your dealer install them or install them yourself. I wouldn't trust my dealer to do anything with my RV other than clean the interior. They do a good job with that. I'd be really nervous having them install slide toppers which is why I did it myself. I'll order them from the factory next time.

[geotex1]

I think the problem might be obtaining the if Carefree is shutting down unless there are alternatives which I have no data on. Alternative suggestions welcome.

There are 3 primary suppliers of RV awnings, toppers, and canopies, and toppers from any of them can fit just fine. The problem is they all source the vinyl from abroad. Certainly if Carefree or any of them shutdown there will be even greater issue. However, right now it's the break in supply chain for the materials. I've had Carefrees on order for weeks.

[GaryS1964]

Maybe I was lucky but my RV guy didn't have any trouble getting a slide topper for my one slide last month.

[huntr70]

The Carefree toppers are not available as a factory option on Momentum or Solitude right now.

The other brands (Reflection, Imagine, Transcend) never offered them.

Any can be installed at a competent dealer.

[jleonard]

We just installed a topper a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't difficult, just awkward for 2 people, cause you both have to be on a ladder, but we got it done and it came out good. We did the job in our storage space a few blocks away from our house.
The real issue was time to receive it, as it took a couple of months because they could not get fabric.
We got ours thru Camping world online.

[Malco1]

Appears there is now going to be slim pickins on slide toppers from GDs normal supplier. First it was no 3rd AC, then no heat pump, now limited supply of slide toppers. My option list is going south. Maybe that's a good thing.

Are slide toppers also dealer installed items (assuming dealers can obtain them)? I was working under the assumption that I would want factory installation as many options as possible. Might not be a realistic expectation now.

I have a 303RLS. It didn't come with slide toppers. I considered getting them, but the toppers cost around $1000. for the three of them. Then they would have to be installed. I decided to go a much cheaper route. I purchased a battery operated leaf blower and I already had an eight foot very light aluminum step ladder which I keep strapped to my roof ladder. I know I could just climb the roof ladder, but I am 78 yrs old and I am a little shaky on the roof. A few years back I had a Solitude with 5 slide outs and slide toppers on all of them. I still climbed up on the roof and swept off the toppers before closing the slides. I couldn't see closing the slides and having the toppers full of debris.

[Foothiller]

I was looking at toppers on CW's website, noting a lot of negative reviews. I noticed that these units needed 3.5" of trailer wall above the slide's top to mount the topper. My 2021 Reflection 295RL has gutters on the sidewall above the slides, and the required 3.5" is not available below or above the gutter. Any ideas?

At age 75, I'd prefer to have somebody else install toppers, but I don't have much faith in the dealer. Camping World? Twenty years ago I didn't install toppers and generally didn't clean the tops of the pop outs. Never a problem.

I could do like Mal, but I'm not too excited about climbing an 8' flimsy ladder twice every time we move.