I see that there are small inexpensive clamps designed to help stop the main awning from flapping in the wind.

Here is one example from Camping World: Awning De-Flapper MAX

Has anyone had any success applying something like this to their Slide Out Topper Awnings?

Ken
I used these all the time on my other trailers and they worked great to keep the awning from tearing up in the wind. I can not use them on this one as the main awning arms do not run parallel to the awning like the manual ones do

Ken ,

I used those on my older , manual awning... I do not believe they will work on an automatic awning , as they need the awning rail to clamp onto in order to work. As far as on the slide topper , I guess one could fab up something to make them work?? somehow >?? Maybe with some redneck intuition ??

Maybe you have seen this trick a time or two...??

Use a piece of 3/4" or 1" PVC on top. Simply run your rope through the PVC and tie it down on the bottom (see picture 1). You would probably want to make sure the PVC extends out by a few inches on both sides....I don't have toppers. I've battled over whether to get them. There are pros and cons both ways. Then, there is the replacement price...

You could eliminate the PVC, but I would be afraid of damage to the topper under the right wind conditions (see picture 2).

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. I will see what I can do.

Ken
are you having problems with them in the wind. I found that by tightening up the spring helped a lot and also kept water from pooling. we get the Santa Anna winds here with gusts to 60 mph and they stood up to it.

The wind at night makes them flap and causes a lot of noise. Since the head of our bed is in a slide it can be very loud at night.

Not sure I know how to tighten the spring. Is it just a screw adjustment?

you would have to look at it as they are all different. my last ones I had to undo it at the roller tube and tighten the spring a couple of revolutions That was in 2008 so they may have an adjustment on the newer ones. Call carefree or who ever makes them and they should be able to help

Ken. carefree has the instructions on their web site you will need model and length of awning. the travel distance and length determine how many turns to put on the spring. I have had to install new spring on my old rv. . BECAREFUL THE SPRINGS ARE UNDER TENTION SO THEY CAN DO DAMAGE.

The wind at night makes them flap and causes a lot of noise. Since the head of our bed is in a slide it can be very loud at night.

Not sure I know how to tighten the spring. Is it just a screw adjustment?

Ken, take a look at the service manual at the following link:

https://www.e-carefree.com/documentation/tech/052520-301r2,%20SOKIII%20and%20Summit%20Service%20Manual.pdf

Pages 11 and 12

Ken. I just installed some home made de-flappers on my slides. we have had high winds and rain for the past week and had no standing water on the toppers and the winds didn't get under the toppers. I made rafters out of 1" solid foam board , cut 2 half inch holes in the board for the 1/2" PVC pipe to go through . the two outside arms with the tennis balls on them are not glued together this is so the arms can be rotated and allow the tennis balls to put some pressure on the topper, THE foam is cut into the same shape of the opening. make one board the size to fit in the opening on the roof and then make a second board BUT make the second board 1" longer at the bottom and then use spray glue and glue them together. The reason the second board is 1" longer at the bottom is so it can keep the bottom of the board from be pushed in over the roof when the wind hits it. I will make another set later this week and take pics of it so that both sides can be seen.

I for got to add pics.

Last month I replaced the fabric on the dining room & kitchen slides & after removing the remainder of the old fabric I gave each roller 3-4 more turns which made a world of difference in the flapping & water pooling & didn't affect the slide operation.
Surprisingly replacing the fabric is not a difficult job with 2 people & 2 ladders nor is it that expensive, both slides were about $110 each for fabric that's not sewn but welded at the seams. The stitching had rotted on both of mine & along with lots of wind took its toll.