Slide topper questions

[Horseshoer]

Looking for folks that have installed their own slide toppers. Does anybody recommend or not recommend a particular product, why, why not?

 

[Chuggs]

Looking for folks that have installed their own slide toppers. Does anybody recommend or not recommend a particular product, why, why not?

If you have the required clearance...having the spool mounted to the house, instead of the slideout...allows leaves and pine needles to fall right off when retracting. Our coach has the spool mounted to the slideout. All the debris gets stuffed into the spool housing. We have to get up on ladders to open up the housing and dig out leaves and pine needles.

Secondly, the actual fabric usually has a beading sewn in to the mounting edges. They slide into tracks. Look for ones that are double stitched, or have very high strength stitching. Our OEM Carefree Slide toppers were only single stitched, and the thread evidently didn’t do too well with UV exposure. The first gave loose in about 3 1/2 years. We have three toppers...two have had the seams let loose. We already have replacement fabric for the third...made by Tough Top Awnings...and they are double stitched.

 

[Horseshoer]

If you have the required clearance...having the spool mounted to the house, instead of the slideout...allows leaves and pine needles to fall right off when retracting. Our coach has the spool mounted to the slideout. All the debris gets stuffed into the spool housing. We have to get up on ladders to open up the housing and dig out leaves and pine needles.

Secondly, the actual fabric usually has a beading sewn in to the mounting edges. They slide into tracks. Look for ones that are double stitched, or have very high strength stitching. Our OEM Carefree Slide toppers were only single stitched, and the thread evidently didn’t do too well with UV exposure. The first gave loose in about 3 1/2 years. We have three toppers...two have had the seams let loose. We already have replacement fabric for the third...made by Tough Top Awnings...and they are double stitched.

Good to know. Thanks for the response.