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07-17-2021, 07:25 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 993
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Slide toppers
Who has installed their slide toppers? Is it an easy install usually do everything on my own can do about anything. So is this a job that the dealer should do or is it a DIY kind of task?
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Bob/Kay
Jacksonville, Nc
2020 Keystone Cougar 5th wheel 29 rks traded now
2021 3761 fl Montana 5th wheel
Pulled with a 2022 F350 King Ranch
Retired LEO after 35 years just enjoying life now.
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07-17-2021, 07:58 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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I did mine. Honestly, it's an easy to do mod for anyone who is handy with a drill, a drill driver and a tape measure. You'll need a helper to support the other end of the roller tube while you thread the gimp through the awning rail.
After "doing one self taping screw in FILON" I didn't like the "little tent of fiberglass" produced by the screw forcing its way through the fiberglass, so I predrilled starter holes on all the other holes to mount the awning rails to the trailer sidewall... To me, I was concerned with the awning rail sitting flush on the trailer sidewall and "convinced myself" that those little "fiberglass tents" created by the self tapping screws would make a difference... I don't know if they would have or not, but I know with predrilled holes, I don't have to wonder any longer....
Easy mod to do if you know which end of a screwdriver to grab onto......
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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07-18-2021, 05:02 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,224
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We installed the two slide toppers on our Copper canyon. I actual did the 6' bedroom slide myself, and wife helped with the 13' supper slide.
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Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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07-18-2021, 05:06 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,840
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camping family
Who has installed their slide toppers? Is it an easy install usually do everything on my own can do about anything. So is this a job that the dealer should do or is it a DIY kind of task?
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I agree with John and Russ about doing it yourself …but I’m a little worried about drilling into my new trailer while it’s still under some kind of warranty.
I was thinking about letting the service dept install mine
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2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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07-18-2021, 07:02 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasin1
I agree with John and Russ about doing it yourself …but I’m a little worried about drilling into my new trailer while it’s still under some kind of warranty.
I was thinking about letting the service dept install mine
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We don’t predrill. Have had one fail and come back because of installation. I can say I prefer the Carefree over the Dometic. Sturdier brackets IMO.
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-18-2021, 08:01 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,840
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[QUOTE=chuckster57;459630]We don’t predrill. Have had one fail and come back because of installation. I can say I prefer the Carefree over the Dometic. Sturdier brackets IMO.[/QUOTE
I’m new to the whole rv warranty process and I wasn’t sure if they would make a big deal about any owner installed accessories to the filon. But I guess if it’s done right there would be no issue
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2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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07-19-2021, 04:26 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
We don’t predrill. Have had one fail and come back because of installation. I can say I prefer the Carefree over the Dometic. Sturdier brackets IMO.
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Interesting, I pre-drilled the screw holes, and got a good tight fit. Even the 13' super slide didn't take that long. Tapped the rail in place and marked with a sharpie, took it down and pre-drilled then put sealant on rail and put back up. put sealant on each screw as I put them in.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
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07-19-2021, 08:33 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo
Interesting, I pre-drilled the screw holes, and got a good tight fit. Even the 13' super slide didn't take that long. Tapped the rail in place and marked with a sharpie, took it down and pre-drilled then put sealant on rail and put back up. put sealant on each screw as I put them in.
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That's the same way I did both of our slide covers. It was easy to do, and so far (7 years) no leaks, no loose rails and no problems with stripped screws.
The other way (not pre-drilling holes) may be just as good, I don't know, but the "little mounds of fiberglass from using self drilling screws" just goes WAY OUT OF ACCEPTANCE for me with a background in repairing airplane sheet metal. YMMV
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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07-19-2021, 10:55 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
That's the same way I did both of our slide covers. It was easy to do, and so far (7 years) no leaks, no loose rails and no problems with stripped screws.
The other way (not pre-drilling holes) may be just as good, I don't know, but the "little mounds of fiberglass from using self drilling screws" just goes WAY OUT OF ACCEPTANCE for me with a background in repairing airplane sheet metal. YMMV
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The last 1/2 dozen or so Carefree toppers I have installed didn’t have self tappers for the rail. The brackets haven’t been an issue using the supplied self tappers as long as you know to let off the trigger when the get tight.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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