Slide toppers

[ruger9mm]

Hello all,

Im thinking of putting some slide toppers on my Solitude 375RES. I've looked at different manufacturers and wanted to know what others have installed and if you had good luck with them. I've looked at the following dometic or solera toppers

[Wicked ace]

Carefree is another and the one I have. I can't say any one is better than another. If you look into it further there are various options or configurations to be had. I like what it does keeping debris and deflecting sunlight. The problem I have is rain, it doesn't shed water completely. Because there is slack or a belly in the middle, water puddles in it. As the puddle grows the weight increases the area that retains water until it's setting on the roof. If it is full water will spill down the slide side walls when I close it. I had it back to the installer to see what can be done to remedy the problem. They tightened the fabric across the top channel and staked it at the ends to keep the fabric from pulling to the center. I asked about the spring tension in the drum as it didn't seem to be keeping good tension on the fabric. I was told there isn't a remedy as the drum comes with the spring wound from the manufacturer.

[Calbar]

@ruger9mm I have a Solera topper on my 297RSTS. I don't have the same issue that @Wicked ace has since the spring tension keeps the fabric tight and the rain just runs off, at least so far. I had the rain issue on my previous Rockwood with a Dometic slide topper where the water would pool.

Rob

[Keebler]

I have toppers, but haven't had the water pooling issue. I have heard of folks sliding pool noodles in there to help prevent sagging. I haven't had the need to do it, so can't vouch for how well this works.

[geotex1]

Carefree is another and the one I have. I can't say any one is better than another. If you look into it further there are various options or configurations to be had. I like what it does keeping debris and deflecting sunlight. The problem I have is rain, it doesn't shed water completely. Because there is slack or a belly in the middle, water puddles in it. As the puddle grows the weight increases the area that retains water until it's setting on the roof. If it is full water will spill down the slide side walls when I close it. I had it back to the installer to see what can be done to remedy the problem. They tightened the fabric across the top channel and staked it at the ends to keep the fabric from pulling to the center. I asked about the spring tension in the drum as it didn't seem to be keeping good tension on the fabric. I was told there isn't a remedy as the drum comes with the spring wound from the manufacturer.

Hogwash! Your dealer is lazy! The Carefree slide toppers can all have their spring tension adjusted. It's a miserable job, but doable. I put them on our last camper and had to adjust the factory tension on the long slide for the very reason you described. Unfortunately, your vinyl may have already taken and set in the stretch because of the polyester scrim such that tension may not resolve it. You can find how to adjust them in the slide topper installation manual.

Just measured ours for Carefree Alpines.

[WhittleBurner]

Are there any slide toppers that have automatic adjusters for the covers on slide toppers like the covers on pick up trucks.

[ruger9mm]

Thank you all for your responses. After getting quotes from 3 different dealership with installs they are all within $150 of each other. I need to determine which manufacturer to go with.

[geotex1]

Thank you all for your responses. After getting quotes from 3 different dealership with installs they are all within $150 of each other. I need to determine which manufacturer to go with.

If you're just looking at base models, there is no difference in them. You will always be able to get repair parts and new vinyl for Solera and Alpine. If you're looking at higher end offerings, my opinion is lean toward Carefree.

[KirbyRVA]

We don't have toppers on our Solitude and don't miss them. We had toppers on our two previous RV's, both motorhomes.

Toppers are a double edged sword. They can help keep debris off the slide roof and shed water if they can maintain a slope. The problem with many RV's is the lack of slope when the toppers are mounted. This allows water to pool on the topper, stretching the fabric. I had good topper fabric on my last motorhome and tightened the roller springs twice in 5 years. However, the larger toppers developed a low point in the middle that just could not be taken out. So, water pooled on them.

Toppers will also flap in moderate to strong winds. Toppers also make it much more difficult to clean, lube and otherwise maintain the top slide seal.

These are just things to consider before spending the money on toppers.

[Wicked ace]

We don't have toppers on our Solitude and don't miss them. We had toppers on our two previous RV's, both motorhomes.

Toppers are a double edged sword. They can help keep debris off the slide roof and shed water if they can maintain a slope. The problem with many RV's is the lack of slope when the toppers are mounted. This allows water to pool on the topper, stretching the fabric. I had good topper fabric on my last motorhome and tightened the roller springs twice in 5 years. However, the larger toppers developed a low point in the middle that just could not be taken out. So, water pooled on them.

Toppers will also flap in moderate to strong winds. Toppers also make it much more difficult to clean, lube and otherwise maintain the top slide seal.

These are just things to consider before spending the money on toppers.

All good points. The reason I considered the topper is I'm not stationary when traveling. Three to four days is usually the most I spend in any one place. I also usually choose state and national parks to stay. These seem to be more wooded. Pine trees grow fast to provide shade. It was becoming a chore and a concern climbing up on the roof the clear the slide roof each time I was getting ready to move. I'm aware of the leaf blower but that entails it's own concerns reaching the roof.