Slide Toppers

busterbrown · 03-22-2016, 06:54 PM

I picked up my brand new 2016 Keystone Bullet 308BHS yesterday from the dealer. During the walk through / customer PDI, the service tech offered me toppers for each of my 2 slides. Told me it would help keep weather and debris directly off the top of the slides, helping to lengthen the life of the seals. Most of the 5er's and motor coach's I noticed on the dealers lot had slide toppers. The service tech wasn't pushy at all and just stated that his pricing was cheaper than anything I would find after I took delivery. So, I bit and negotiated an even cheap price, of $800 OTD for both installed. He original wanted $890+ tax. Dealer is located in Michigan if that matters.

Two questions, was it a worthy upgrade?

And two, did I pay fair market value?

robo · 03-22-2016, 07:34 PM

For both i think its a good deal. The toppers are between 150-350 each ibeleive plus labor

**chuckster57** · 03-22-2016, 07:50 PM

Labor rates vary by location, but if you were here, that would be a real good price.

Worthy upgrade? For some yes, some no. They do keep stuff off the slide roof and can indeed extend the service life of the seals. Generally slide toppers are thinner vinyl than awnings and will need replacement sooner. I've never had them, installed too many to count, and offer them at walkthroughs.

I'm a cheapskate when it comes to somethings, and I guess as long as I can climb the ladder and sweep my slides roofs I won't buy them. It comes down to personal choice. If you like them, then it was money well spent.

SUnderwood · 03-22-2016, 08:33 PM

I found an added benefit was that the cabinets in my slide out are cooler after the topper was installed

Voyager · 03-23-2016, 08:02 AM

I did not put them on, my thinking was I can sweep the slide off before pulling in and felt that debris can still get in when windy, also one more thing to go wrong. My cousin has a big class A motor home with three slides, during a very windy night the toppers were shaking and making so much noise they had to pull the largest slide in.

Steve S · 03-23-2016, 09:41 AM

They're worth it and besides keeping the crap off they also reflect the heat. As for wind I've never had a problem with mine ripping apart or shaking as you can cinch them up a little which makes a world of difference

Ram189 · 03-23-2016, 11:19 AM

I had them on my last trailer and they lasted 13 years until I got in a nasty storm and the corner tore.

I wish I would have gotten them on my new Montana when I bought it.

Great at keeping weather and garbage off the top of the slide out.

Mutt · 03-23-2016, 11:42 AM

I had one installed on my RV before delivery and it cost me about 425 bucks installed. I've talked to a lot of people and they recommend them. I live in the Seattle area. We get a ton of these little pine needles up here. They get in everything, carpet, window seals on the car .... etc. The slide topper keeps all that stuff off the top of the slide. If not, all that stuff would get caught up in the seals and would create leaks. So ..... up here they are a must. Otherwise you need to bring a ladder and a broom so you can climb up there and clean it every time you want to bring in your slide out.

Sherwood · 03-23-2016, 12:00 PM

I had mine installed when we bought our camper. And I paid the same for mine. I would do it again in a heart beat. Where we camp the most is surrounded by pine trees and we get needles on top of our camper a lot. Gets to be a pain to either get up there and clean them off or end up cleaning them off inside the camper if they make it inside. Now I don't get a single needle on top of my slides. In my opinion, very worthwhile investment.

saw dust kid · 03-23-2016, 01:12 PM

I have them ob my Montana and love them on days that I am concerned about the wind I put a rope lengthwise over the top and tied down I have 4 slides down and do it on the long one.

busterbrown · 03-23-2016, 02:44 PM

Well, it looks like the consensus is positive. They kind of balance out the rig against the large 20ft outdoor awning on the other side. All I can hope for are cleaner slide tops and less maintenance. Can't hurt resale value either.

Festus2 · 03-23-2016, 04:13 PM

While the addition of slide toppers may be a good idea, they still require checking to make sure there is no debris - larger twigs or small branches that have blown onto them. If there is, then you'll still have to sweep the debris off somehow. You don't want that kind of stuff being rolled up into your topper.

busterbrown · 03-23-2016, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Festus2

While the addition of slide toppers may be a good idea, they still require checking to make sure there is no debris - larger twigs or small branches that have blown onto them. If there is, then you'll still have to sweep the debris off somehow. You don't want that kind of stuff being rolled up into your topper.

Good advice. Thanks

**chuckster57** · 03-23-2016, 05:38 PM

Slide toppers like awnings roll "From the top". If there is any debris on the fabric, unless it is sticking it will fall off the edge as the fabric rolls up. Only thing I've seen rolled up in an awning/topper is wet leaves.

Festus2 · 03-23-2016, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Slide toppers like awnings roll "From the top". If there is any debris on the fabric, unless it is sticking it will fall off the edge as the fabric rolls up. Only thing I've seen rolled up in an awning/topper is wet leaves.

True, but as you pointed out, the key is "unless it is sticking" it will fall off. At certain times of the year, some of our cones and large tree seed pods do get quite sticky with sap and other "gooey" stuff. Before retracting our slide - and topper - I usually get part way up the ladder to make sure that there isn't any such debris on the topper.