Ride_Slow2004
Northwest
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Joined: 02/02/2005
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shenandoahvalley wrote:I asked the dealer about slide toppers and he recommended we not buy it. I always carry a small ladder and I clean the slide off with a cloth before we close it. Also gives me a reason to inspect the top of the slide. MY$.02.
Our slide is long, 11', and any topper would pool up the rain water. I found a roof seal applicator broom, light bristles on one side, and a squeegee on the other. Works really slick, and I don't mind getting up there to clean it off. Jayco's roof is textured, and it is not slippery. Ladder is a different story, but until I can't get up there anymore, slide will be brushed/squeegeed off.
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"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
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bluesfan1961
Eastern Shore, MD
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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YES.
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irishguy101
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 11/12/2005
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YES!!!!!!
 Joe  Dianne
and Spanky  a Jack Russell
2004 Durango Limited w/Hemi
2005 Sunline T280 SR
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Garfie|d
South-Western Ontario
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Joined: 09/03/2003
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It seems that toppers are popular, and maybe even a necessity if you have a slide. When we had a TT with a slide, to me a topper was just one more thing that complicated having a slide -- it was asking for trouble (like having to stick beachballs underneath to stop the water from pooling and still to clean debris from underneath that gets blown in) and its just one more thing to clean and maintain.
I guess you can tell I never had one! Oh yeah, we eventually got rid of the slide too!
Gary
2001 Airstream Safari 25SS tugged by 2001 GMC Yukon 5.3L 3.73
Hensley Arrow • Jordan Ultima • Barker 3000 • Mckesh
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Iwannacamp
near Ft. Wayne, IN
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Joined: 05/27/2004
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Like other have already said, the slide topper is just another thing to maintain and deal with. Sometimes I wish I had them. I have a ladder that folds up to 4' in length and extends to 12' in length. I throw that into the bed of the truck and use it to get on the roof. I do not mind going on the roof to sweep the slides. It gives me a chance to check things out up there.
2005 Flagstaff 831BHSS
2001 F-150 4X4 5.4L 3.73 Lariat SuperCab 7700
U.S.S. Guam(LPH-9)1984-1987 MS3
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1 Son for 4 years
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2 Sons and a Daughter for 9 years
Australian Shepperd Mix for 6 years
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Capital J
Ottawa, ON
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Joined: 11/18/2004
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I wouldn't be without a slide topper. I like ours so much I carry a ladder and brush off the awning just as I do the main awning before closing up .... but that's just me. Probably little reason to do that.
The roof of our slide has never had anything major land and stay on it and we've never had any suggestion of a flood on the inside during even the heaviest of rains.
Just last week I spoke to a fellow camper (without a topper) who unfortunately was set-up with a slight lean toward the body of the trailer (slightly off level) and during a heavy rain the previous night, had a huge flood of water go into his unit from the top of the slide.
Even slightly off-level, I don't think this would happen with a topper installed.
To me .... it's a necessity.
John
2002 GMC Sierra Z71 5.3 3.73 rear end
2008 Rockwood 2603S
Reese Dual Cam
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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Garfie|d wrote:It seems that toppers are popular, and maybe even a necessity if you have a slide. When we had a TT with a slide, to me a topper was just one more thing that complicated having a slide -- it was asking for trouble (like having to stick beachballs underneath to stop the water from pooling and still to clean debris from underneath that gets blown in) and its just one more thing to clean and maintain.
I guess you can tell I never had one! Oh yeah, we eventually got rid of the slide too!
Gary
Properly installed you should not get debris between topper and slide unless it is blowing almost sideways. Putting one partially inflated beach ball between to eliminate puddling is no big deal. It isn't necessary but I do it for piece of mind.
Smoke 05 Titan SE CC 4X4
K&N panel filter
PRG 2.5" Leveling kit
Bilstein front,Icon rear shocks
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18" Wrangler AT/S LT's
2009 Fleetwood Prowler 2702BS
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dnbloch
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 03/13/2008
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We have had toppers on our last two trailers and think they are great for preventing leaks and protecting the seals. A big plus is keeping the slide clean and dry. our last trailer we owned for four years and we are seasonal so it is opened most of the time and never had problems. I wouldn't be without one.
David
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webslave
Clearville, PA
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Joined: 04/14/2008
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Slide topper necessary to prevent leaks? Probably not, particularly on a new trailer if the slide is fully extended. If you keep the seal clean and treated, it shouldn't leak. Now before anyone gets up in arms  ... Would I get one? Yep. From keeping the top clean to making the slide upper seal last longer (keeps UV from damaging the seal), and the peace of mind of additional rain protection, it has many more pluses going for it than minuses (does require some maintenance and is going to have to be replaced eventually). Do you have to rush out and get one now? No, I haven't put one on my brand new trailer...yet  Next month...I'm out on the road too much right now! Also, as already mentioned, get slightly wider than your slide - I order 4" more than I need, allows for 2" on each side. I was next to a fellow that was swearing at his topper after a rain storm. It was the exact width of the slide and the rain caused enough sag that it was actually funneling the run-off onto the edge of the slide. As one side sags for the run off, it actually pulls in just a bit.
Slide braces / jacks...stay away from the ones that are mere telescoping rods that go to the ground. As already mentioned, settling can destroy the tracks / gearing that the slide rides on. Only on the deepest slides should you need a jack / brace and those are usually factory installed and extend diagonally from the outside edge of the slide to a point on the body or frame of the TT or MH to eliminate the settling damage. A properly engineered slide should have all the bracing it needs if fully extended so that it is supported by the TT walls at all four edges and the weight limits are followed, i.e., stow the boat anchor someplace else
Don
DW
3 Cats 
2008 FunFinder X 210WBS
2008 Jeep Hemi Commander Limited
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RustySocket
SW Washington
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Joined: 03/02/2005
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shenandoahvalley wrote:I asked the dealer about slide toppers and he recommended we not buy it. I always carry a small ladder and I clean the slide off with a cloth before we close it. Also gives me a reason to inspect the top of the slide. MY$.02.
Sales department morning meeting notes:
"we don't have any units with slide toppers installed that we can sell today. Instead of admitting we order our trailers in the cheapest format possible as to maximize profit we will advise people that request options we don't have that they are unnescessary in order to procur a transaction as soon as possible."
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