Monday, September 23, 2024

Do You Actually Want an RV Slide-out Topper?

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RVs with a slide-out (or a number of) provide extra inside residing house and luxury when tenting. In addition they require extra upkeep that RVs with out slide-outs don’t. One piece of slide-out upkeep to think about is easy methods to shield its roof. It’s for this function that producers set up an RV slide-out topper over their slide-outs.

However do you really want an RV slide-out topper to your motorhome or towable RV?

What’s an RV Slide-out Topper?

what-is-rv-slide-out-topper-08-2023
Photograph by Tenting World

A slide topper is a small RV awning that extends above your slide-out to guard its roof. Slide-out toppers robotically lengthen and retract with slide-outs, not like your normal RV awning that extends or retracts utilizing a guide crank or an electrical motor. A slide-out topper isn’t a normal function on all RVs with slide-outs, however they are often put in with the assistance of a licensed RV technician.  

The Advantages of an RV Slide-out Topper

  • Enhancing water’s capacity to shed from the roof
  • Extending the lifetime of the slide-outs roof by minimizing solar publicity 
  • Defending in opposition to falling particles (leaves, pine cones, fowl droppings, and so forth.)
  • Holding your RV cooler by lowering direct solar publicity

The Downsides of RV Slide-out Toppers

  • Accumulating rainwater if not stored tight 
  • Catching wind and inflicting annoying noise
  • Providing you with one other RV element to take care of
  • Making it powerful to wash the roof of your slide room

Do You Want RV Slide-out Toppers?

Lippert Solera RV Slide-out Topper
Photograph by Tenting World

So must you run out and purchase slide-out toppers in case your RV isn’t at the moment outfitted?

Equipping your RV’s slide-out rooms with topper awnings isn’t a requirement. Nonetheless, these small awnings can save your slide-out rooms from larger points. Slide toppers are simpler and extra inexpensive to interchange than resealing the roof of a slide-out room. 

They’ll additionally cut back the possibilities of injury to your slide-out room’s motors. In uncommon instances, giant particles may be caught on high of your slide-out room whereas it’s prolonged. When you try and retract your slide-out with giant particles in the best way, it may possibly injury the room’s roof, climate seals, motor, or different mechanical parts. 

On common, substitute cloth for a slide-out topper prices $300 to $400. Changing the roof of a slide-out room, resealing its seams, or changing broken slide-out motors can price way more. 

So, are slide-out toppers a requirement? No. 

However are these awnings a sensible funding to guard one of many extra difficult mechanical conveniences of your RV? Completely. 

Tips on how to Preserve RV Slide-out Toppers

For RVs outfitted with slide-out toppers, common inspection is your major process. Visually examine the awning materials of your slide toppers as a part of your annual RV roof inspection

Whilst you’re on the roof, use a soft-bristle brush, water, and a advisable awning cleansing resolution. A small collapsible bucket may also be helpful for mixing your awning cleaner with the advisable quantity of water.

Past common inspection and cleansing, the best approach to preserve RV slide toppers is to function your slide-outs accurately, together with retracting them earlier than dangerous climate rolls in. Learn our full tutorial on correct RV slide-out operation.

Tips on how to Select a Substitute RV Slide-out Topper

Slide-outs with slide toppers still being built
Photograph by Tenting World

Listed below are the steps for selecting a substitute slide topper if yours is damaged, broken, or just unpleasant: 

1. Contemplate the extent of the substitute. Do you merely want to interchange the material? Or do you want a full substitute package with mounting {hardware}, roll tube, head assemblies, and extra?

2. Measure the size of your slide-out room. Use a tape measure to measure the surface dimensions (entrance to again) of your slide-out room from flange seal to flange seal. Add 5 inches to make sure the topper extends past the entire field size of your slide room. 

A flange seal (often known as trim or T-molding) is a rubber seal that extends from the perimeters of the slide room’s body to seal it from mud and moisture, each when the slide is prolonged and when it’s retracted.

3. Measure the width of your slide-out room. Confirm how far your slide-outs lengthen from the principle physique of your coach to make sure you select a topper that matches that measurement. 

4. Contemplate the supplies. Most slide-out toppers are made with vinyl or acrylic cloth. Vinyl is usually thicker, extra sturdy, and gives higher waterproofing. Alternatively, acrylic normally breathes higher, lowering the probability of mould or micro organism development.

5. Select your colour. There’s normally little colour variation for RV slide-out awnings; it’s sometimes a black-or-white determination. White is best for reflecting daylight, however black is perhaps a greater match for the outside end of your RV. Select whichever fits your choice. 

With all these components thought-about, search our stock for a substitute slide-out topper. You can too contact our RV service facilities to talk with an advisor about changing your RV’s slide-out topper.

The Greatest RV Slide-out Toppers from Tenting World

Listed below are a couple of of our favourite slide-out toppers to think about to your RV: 

Lippert Solera Slid Topper

  • Size: 5’6” as much as 16’
  • Width: As much as 48”
  • Materials: Vinyl

The Lippert Solera Slider comes with mounting {hardware} that matches most competing manufacturers to cut back the necessity to patch holes after set up. As soon as put in, it stays completely connected and works robotically with the motion of your RV slide-out. 

Test the size and colour choices at Tenting World.

Dometic Deluxe Slide Topper with Vinyl Weathershield

Dometic Deluxe RV Slide-out Topper
Photograph by Tenting World
  • Size: 5’ as much as 30’3”
  • Width: As much as 42”
  • Materials: Vinyl

The mould and mildew-resistant slide topper comes with the material curler tube meeting, awning rail, and all required mounting {hardware}. It’s made for slide-outs with a most extension of 42 inches and features a one-year restricted guarantee from the producer.

Test the choices for sizes and {hardware} colours at Tenting World.

Carefree SideOut Kover III

Carefree SideOut RV Slide-out Topper
Photograph by Tenting World
  • Size: 5’1” as much as 15’9”
  • Width: As much as 42”
  • Materials: Vinyl

Carefee’s substitute slide-out topper integrates with Carefree patio and window awnings to restrict your RV’s solar publicity. It comes with an awning rail and all mounting {hardware}, which is made from extruded aluminum to supply extra sturdiness. 

Test the value, size, and colour choices at Tenting World.


Listed below are a couple of extra sources that can assist you care to your RV’s slideouts: 

outDo you could have any questions on RV slide-out toppers? Share them within the feedback under. 


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