Slide Toppers

bsmith0404 · 07-01-2017, 02:34 PM

I've been against adding slide toppers for a long time, but have finally decided to add them to keep the sun off the slide and aid in the cooling here in the hot southwest. I started looking on Amazon and didn't realize there were so many different brands. Does anyone have comparison experience or just experience in general with Lippert, Dometic, Camco, Sun Wave, or Carefree toppers? Recommendations of what to or not to get would be appreciated.

**chuckster57** · 07-01-2017, 03:19 PM

We have had good luck with Carefree. There are 2 styles of brackets and the ones that extend out and up further are the way to go. I can try to get P/N's for you.

bsmith0404 · 07-01-2017, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

We have had good luck with Carefree. There are 2 styles of brackets and the ones that extend out and up further are the way to go. I can try to get P/N's for you.

That would be great. I'll measure the slides tomorrow to figure out what sizes I need

ncgrl1 · 07-01-2017, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

We have had good luck with Carefree. There are 2 styles of brackets and the ones that extend out and up further are the way to go. I can try to get P/N's for you.

We have the ones like you were talking about, and we like them too. These are the first toppers we have had so I didn't have anything to compare them to...

SUnderwood · 07-01-2017, 08:32 PM

I installed a dometic on mine

WaltBennett · 07-03-2017, 10:50 AM

While I wouldn't be without them and have had both Dometic and Carefree without any issues with the mechanisms, I've got to add that I don't believe any of the makers give you fabric that will last more than 5 to 8 years. The Carefree ones (all 5) on our 2010 Monty are about to fall apart, as is the awning. We really like our floor plan and have no problems with the thing save those caused by really bad roads (water heater cracked!). We're now on another long vacation to the west coast & back, but I'm planning on replacing all the canvas this winter. Not that expensive if you do it yourself.

**chuckster57** · 07-03-2017, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

We have had good luck with Carefree. There are 2 styles of brackets and the ones that extend out and up further are the way to go. I can try to get P/N's for you.

Only worked 1/2 day, off tomorrow, I haven't forgotten

**JRTJH** · 07-03-2017, 04:51 PM

The Carefree tall brackets are available in black or white. Here's the P/N for them.

White: KY25TL
Black: KYJVTL

Carefree has a "configurator" available online that is extremely helpful. https://www.e-carefree.com/ecarefree...=48&action=cfg

We just went through the order/install on our fifth wheel.

The parts for our 62" top slide and 147.5" lower slide with tall brackets was
$717 at Camping World, $684 at a local RV parts place in town and $588 at Amazon.com (including shipping). The "killer cost" is the freight for the larger slide.

Carefree does make several different types of slide covers. The "upgraded" ones have a metal cover on the roller. I've looked at several "used fifth wheels" on sales lots around this area and all of them that have slide covers do not have the metal roller cover. Most are 4-8 years old and the fabric seems to be OK, so I'd suspect that while the metal roller cover is a "nice to have" feature, I'm not sure that it's worth the additional $150 cost. Especially when you consider that the cost of replacement fabric for the largest slide (149.5") ranges from $80 to $170, depending on where you check pricing.

**chuckster57** · 07-03-2017, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the P/N's John. We don't recommend the metal wrap.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2017, 03:30 AM

All great into guys, thank you. I keep forgetting to take my tape measure over to slides. My understanding is that they are available in 6" increments.

**chuckster57** · 07-04-2017, 04:43 AM

Sounds right. I just measure total length of slide and width of flanges. Not involved in the ordering, just the install.

**JRTJH** · 07-04-2017, 06:01 AM

The Carefree "configurator" is very specific about the measurements. There is a measurement for the slide flange width, the slide box length and the slide to flange clearance (how far the flange extends beyond the slide sidewall). Those three measurements are all that you'll need. With them, enter that data into the "configurator" and it will give you the awning length, which hardware style (tall or short brackets) and the fabric length. On the next page (which is an invoice) it will list the MSRP, model/part numbers and a link to dealers where you can purchase what you've entered.

There are two "procedures" on the configurator. One uses the slide box length the other uses the flange to flange length. I did both methods and it came up with the same part numbers and awning length, so I was pretty sure I'd done it correctly.

It's pretty much a "no brainer" as long as you've got those three measurements. It will probably take two people to measure the slides. On most Keystone products the slide flanges are "curved on the edges" and it's hard to get a tape measure to "hook" on the curve. Much easier with someone to hold the "hook" in place.

bsmith0404 · 07-04-2017, 09:26 AM

Thank you for the info gentlemen

NorskeBob · 07-04-2017, 10:13 AM

We went with the white Dometic toppers on our 2017. The dinette and stove/frig slides are the same size - about 13.5 feet. The bed slide is about 7.5.feet. The stickers were still on the awnings when we took delivery.

Dinette and stove/frig slides - MFG. # 98001CQ.162B
MFG/PNC # 958601398
SKU # 9108792801

Bed slide - MFG. # 98001CQ.090B
MFG/PNC # 958601398
SKU # 9108792789

monitormix · 07-26-2017, 10:07 PM

How hard are they to install? Especially the part that attaches to the coach. As in how far down do they need to be and trying to find the studs.

**JRTJH** · 07-27-2017, 07:28 AM

They are really easy to install, just "bulky" to handle. As for the awning rail, my Cougar has "drip rails" over the slides with the projecting "gutter ends" on them. On the front bedroom slide I had to remove that, install the awning rail in its place and then reinstall the gutter above that. It looks just like it did before, except it's 1" higher. On the main slide, the gutter was high enough that I could "snuggle" the awning rail up under the gutter and screw it into place. Fortunately, for me, there was an aluminum "header" over each slide that I installed the awning rails on. I've been told that many trailers don't have that "header" and that the awning rails are installed "only on the FILON and luan backer. Those with awning rails installed this way say they have no problems with them pulling away from the trailer sidewall. BE SURE TO USE BUTYL PUTTY TAPE (not clay putty tape) !!!!!

The only time I needed help was in holding the end of the long slide cover so I could slide the cording into the awning rail. Other than that, it was a "one person job"......

ADDED: You can download the installation instructions for the Carefree covers here: http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/do...all-Manual.pdf Figure 2 has a technical drawing that shows how to align and set up the awning rail. The tall bracket is essentially designed for awning flange that is 5.25" high and the awning rail is mounted 1.75-2.0" above the top of the flange.

monitormix · 07-27-2017, 04:10 PM

Thanks John. I have a 2016 XLite 26RLS so hopefully will have the same type of "header".

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