I had slide toppers on my quad slide National Class A diesel pusher so I was a bit concerned that my Redwood wasn't equipped with them. After almost 5 months of full time living I'm almost happy I don't have the toppers. They were noisy in the wind and another maintenance item as I had to have them replaced due to weathering and tearing. So far I have had no issues without the toppers and we've had some pretty good rain and accumulated snow. I've gotten up on my roof on a few occasions to inspect and sweep any pine needles off the slide tops since I'm under a couple of large pine trees. The winds seem to clear most debris as I usually don't find anything to sweep off. I think it just depends on where you live but I've discovered that I don't mind running around topless so far!

I've thought about toppers in the past. As you experienced, they can be noisy. If leaves are an issue, they make a broom that you can stand on the ground with to sweep them off before you leave (no pun intended)...

For us, it was maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Springs, fabric stretch and fade.

Then, there was the cost and labor each time they need to be replaced.

We're good without them also. For the money, I would rather have the 2nd awning option...

I had slide toppers on my quad slide National Class A diesel pusher so I was a bit concerned that my Redwood wasn't equipped with them. After almost 5 months of full time living I'm almost happy I don't have the toppers. They were noisy in the wind and another maintenance item as I had to have them replaced due to weathering and tearing. So far I have had no issues without the toppers and we've had some pretty good rain and accumulated snow. I've gotten up on my roof on a few occasions to inspect and sweep any pine needles off the slide tops since I'm under a couple of large pine trees. The winds seem to clear most debris as I usually don't find anything to sweep off. I think it just depends on where you live but I've discovered that I don't mind running around topless so far!

I'm with you. I never purposely bought them, as I saw them cause all kinds of problems for folks at the lake. Wind would be harsh enough to tear them apart if they had any age, and many times they just had to pull in the slides to survive.

Our current MH has them unfortunately, and already I noticed the full wall slide (34' long) is starting to stretch on the end because of wind. I feel no love for them after having them and not having them, nor do I see where the benefit out weighs the advantage either way.

However, I'm sure regions traveled has a lot to do with the opinion of them. We never had issues with leaves or needles, but one time in Nebraska I did park under a beautiful tree in the fall and the next morning I was wearing it! I had to clear 2 ft of leaves off the slides, AND then rolltop on my truck before I could leave. First time in years.

Just last year my friends with a class A Thor Ace with a full wall slide had their 22 foot slide topper completely ripped off by high wind and thrown up onto the roof of their rig. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't cheap to fix. Since I'm a full timer in Colorado pulling my slides in during a winter blizzard isn't an option for me.

Yeppers, We were parked next to a Blackwood with a our Redwood at Navajo Reservoir in Southern CO, and the wind came up and billowed his two slide covers out and then trashed the gearing in the ends. I have no idea how it even happened. Had to help him cut them off.

I've thought about toppers in the past. As you experienced, they can be noisy. If leaves are an issue, they make a broom that you can stand on the ground with to sweep them off before you leave (no pun intended)...

For us, it was maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Springs, fabric stretch and fade.

Then, there was the cost and labor each time they need to be replaced.

We're good without them also. For the money, I would rather have the 2nd awning option...

Another vote for no toppers. We've seen toppers ripped in the wind here in the south west, or owners with toppers having to retract slides to prevent damage.
We have a second awning that we love (and we retracted both awnings yesterday after the wind got above 30 MPH here!).

I have to say, I have had toppers on my slides since my First TT that had a slide on it. I have never had issues with the winds, till this past year.

My toppers look tight, but in any type of higher wind, they flap and sometimes they are very loud !! Last year on the beach, I actually got my ladder out, wrapped some rope around the topper to the bottom to try and stop the flapping....

But then again, my slides have never been his LONG....I think that has something to do with it, harder to keep tight?????
Joe

Ours survived 2 springs in the Texas panhandle, some days had to put the slides in but talking 40 mph sustained with 50-60 mph gusts but were veeeery noisy. The wind & sun finally took it's toll on the stitching so replaced both the larger slide topper fabrics (approximately $100 each) with help if my SIL & gave the rollers a couple extra twist before adding fabric, now much tighter & much less noise. I believe the factory installed them too loose from the get go.
We ordered the RW without, but it was delivered with them & told the dealer we weren't paying for them, but I think they do help with cooling by keeping the sun off the slide top & would get them again.

Ours survived 2 springs in the Texas panhandle, some days had to put the slides in but talking 40 mph sustained with 50-60 mph gusts but were veeeery noisy. The wind & sun finally took it's toll on the stitching so replaced both the larger slide topper fabrics (approximately $100 each) with help if my SIL & gave the rollers a couple extra twist before adding fabric, now much tighter & much less noise. I believe the factory installed them too loose from the get go.
We ordered the RW without, but it was delivered with them & told the dealer we weren't paying for them, but I think they do help with cooling by keeping the sun off the slide top & would get them again.

Danny -

You changed the fabric yourself? When you say that you tightened the roller, can that be done on my existing fabric? The dealer told me there was no way to tighten them???

Joe - google replacing carefree topper fabric. Tells how to tension the reel.

Yes Joe! On mine I chose (as per Utube video) to widen the fabric groove on the roller tube with a 5/8" drill bit, unroll the fabric, clamp the tube with a vise grip filter wrench, remove screws from the rain gutter holding the fabric, slide fabric out, gave the roller a couple extra turns & reclamped, slid on new fabric, square it up, replace screws, & while gripping the roller release vise grip & slowly allow roller to roll up.
Guy ,Hoosier guy, did his by taking the ends apart I think & retightened somehow that way, maybe he will chime in on how without removing the fabric.

To my knowledge there are only 2 brands, Carefree which is what RW uses & Dometic. I've been watching & studying the 2 brands & I think if I didn't have them already I'd go with the Dometic, the fabric appears to stay tightened better after a while than my Carefree are/were, just my observation. As far as installtion, with some help & a couple ladders it doesn't look too difficult.

Oh but of course LIPPERT had to get into the awning and slide topper game 🙂 Solera by Lippert!

These may help............

http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/documents/Slideout-Cover-Service-Manual.pdf

http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/documents/SOKIII-and-Summit-Service-Manual.pdf