SanDiegoScubaDiver
Temecula, CA
Full Member
Joined: 04/14/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
My 2005 Seneca 35 GS did not come with slide toppers over the bedroom or dining room slideouts. Thinking of having them added to help protect from debris and water, especially water... It is a real pain to try to dry the top of the slides so water does not come into the unit once things are retracted. Have had a couple of experiences where water comes rolling off the slide and into the unit.
Question... Any comments on their effectiveness? What about when the winds pick up? I am a little concerned I may need to pull the slides back in when the wind picks up, which would make the inside just a wee bit cramped...
Derek, Lykke...
and Bo our Llewellin Setter who is the Commandant of the Rig!
2005 Jayco Seneca 35GS
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
There are rarely ANY problems with smaller toppers but if your slides are quite DEEP they can flap around in high winds and cause the RV to shake somewhat. Also water can pool on the topper (which is not a problem) on these deep slide rooms if they (the toppers) do not have a fairly strong pitch. On balance they are well worth any problems they cause. Might be a good idea to check your wiper seal and be sure it is functioning properly BEFORE installing a topper however. There should never be any LARGE amount of water on your slide roof when retracting it as the wiper seal should remove any excess.
For what it's worth I've NEVER had to retract slides due to high winds and my living room slide are 45" deep. I HAVE had to use a rope to lash it down to prevent excessive flapping during times with winds up around 40 MPH.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
bbarbee
Glendale, AZ
Full Member
Joined: 12/01/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I would highly recommend the slide toppers. I'm surprised you don't have them. My 2008 Seneca came with them. They keep the leaves, trash and dirt out as well as the water. I had one that had not been installed correctly from the factory that came loose while on an interstate, so I had to cut the canvas and toss the topper off to the side of the road. Had it replaced when I got home. We put the slide out until ready for bed and then brought it in to be safe from rain during the night.
Bob and Becky Barbee
2008 Seneca 34SS
2006 Colorado Crew Cab 4x4
|
downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2003
View Profile
|
Why not a few trips without them...see how it goes. You can always add them after you have some experience with your type of camping and campgrounds..
That's what we did and then had them installed...we like it better with than without.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
GMC Duramax/Allison (LBZ)
Komfort .... Our Rig Picture>>Click.
Reese Dual Cam HP
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I got mine mainly to keep the sun off that thin roof (I could feel a lot of heat getting in). It made a huge difference to how hard my AC has to work.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
|
|
|
ronfisherman
SE Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 06/05/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
The slide toppers have been a real savior when it rains. They do make noise when flapping. The one over larger front slide will flap in high winds. But have gotten used to the noise.
2004 Gulf Stream Endura 6340 D/A
TST tire pressure monitor system
Kodiak Chassis Class C Forum
|
Frosty's Mom
Treasure Valley, SW Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 01/29/2008
View Profile
|
ours, thankfully, came with those slide toppers and i worried about the same thing (topper in high winds)until we got caught in a couple may douzies--sounded like a hurricane beating against us in the middle of the night and we never heard the next day how bad the winds were tho there was certainly evidence of the power of it the next day. thought we were going to tumble like a weed a few times! the boat was certainly rocking and we thought about bringing in the slide, but weathered it out and none the worst for wear. i cannot believe what those things can actually sustain--it's substantial--and for the benefit, wouldn't be without.
wee3-gin, clyde & the bichon frise
2003 Minnie Winnie 30V - "The Frosty Hauler"
May the Angels guide your wheels and ride on your shoulder.
|
hotbyte
Barnesville GA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/31/2004
View Profile
|
We had a slide topper on 5'er and now one on MH. Never had any issues with water coming into unit even when bringing slide in with a huge puddle on topper. As the slide comes in, the topper directs the waters of each end like a gutter. I was out disconnecting power/water once in very cold weather and as DW was letting slide in I almost got bombarded with a huge sheet of ice that had frozen in the water on the slide topper.
Our Web Albums Temporary Web Albums
2006 Yellowstone SE, 1998 Dodge Durango SLT 5.2L and 2011 Tidewater 1900 Bay Max
|
Mike& Rose
Lake & Horse country,Blackstone Valley MA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/12/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
We had the dealer add slide toppers as part of the deal when we purchased our Jayco Grayhawk 31SS. We are starting our 4th season this year and only one night did I bring in the slide because of high winds on the beach. I think I was the only one in the entire campground who did this but I wanted to be safer then sorry.
See you on the road!
|
vikrv
Pacific Wonderland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/06/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Slide toppers on our MH extend beyond each end of the slide-outs by about 4 inches and keep heavy rains away from testing the slide seals. In snow conditions I only allow a few inches to accumulate before cycling the slide-outs to dump the snow since they start to sag a bit at that point. Haven't been in heavy snows such as inch per hour, would leave the slides in in that case. The slides are not all that deep so no wind issues.
2006 Jayco 28', E450 6.8L V10, TorqShift
|
|
|
