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03-29-2018, 05:44 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Memphis
Posts: 11
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Slide Out Topper
Just bought a 2018 Cougar Half Ton 26RBS. It does not have a slide out topper like my old 2007 class C. Do I need to spend the $600+ to have one installed? Sales guy said I do not need one but I do not trust sales people.
If it is needed, why did Keystone not have it in the design?
It is probably a best practice, but is it really needed and why?
Thanks!
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03-29-2018, 05:47 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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Needed? No, but others may disagree. There are advantages to them, and some drawbacks. I’m not going to say anything other than it’s a personal choice.
Let the debate begin!
__________________
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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03-29-2018, 06:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 551
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Needed? No, but others may disagree. There are advantages to them, and some drawbacks. I’m not going to say anything other than it’s a personal choice.
Let the debate begin!
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What are some of the drawbacks that you've come across?
Mine tends to pond water on it which isn't a big deal because it just spills off when you bring in the slide. However I can see over time it could stretch the awning and get worse. I've read where people put things under the awning like a beach ball to keep the water from ponding.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Keystone Cougar 22RBS
2020 Ford F-350 XLT SC SRW 6.7l Powerstroke.
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03-29-2018, 06:16 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steveo57
What are some of the drawbacks that you've come across?
Mine tends to pond water on it which isn't a big deal because it just spills off when you bring in the slide. However I can see over time it could stretch the awning and get worse. I've read where people put things under the awning like a beach ball to keep the water from ponding.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
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I’ve seen them take on enough water, not to roll up and “shed” it. I’ve seen people drag them on trees etc, and at that point you end up damaging the slide. In some windy conditions they will flap and “sing”, you can’t stop it without retracting the slide.
I know I sound negative, but that’s why I say it’s a personal choice. I have no problem sweeping off my slides and so I will never buy them, YMMV.
__________________
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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03-29-2018, 05:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 551
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I think it's a good idea. I had one installed on my new Cougar and it was the only optional thing I wanted. Just think about that slide coming in and having the top of it covered in whatever you didn't get cleaned off. I guess it depends on where you normally camp but if it's anywhere with trees and rain it seems like you'd be dragging in a lot of the outside into the trailer unless you climbed up on a ladder and cleaned off the top of the slide everytime.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
__________________
2018 Keystone Cougar 22RBS
2020 Ford F-350 XLT SC SRW 6.7l Powerstroke.
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03-29-2018, 06:01 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Memphis
Posts: 11
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Thanks folks.
Do you recommend a certain brand?
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03-29-2018, 06:11 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,317
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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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03-29-2018, 06:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,218
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Pros and cons
Pros
Keeps stuff needles and leafs off top of slide out
Keeps the slide out cooler shades the roof from direct sun
One more layer of protection from wind driven rain
Cons
They rattle in heavy wind.
We have Dometic on our 5er.
__________________
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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03-29-2018, 06:50 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Livingston
Posts: 63
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Having had both, I prefer no topper because it sooooo much quieter when the wind is blowing.
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03-29-2018, 07:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewlairdmiller
It is probably a best practice, but is it really needed and why?
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I posed this same question and the majority of those responding said it was well worth it for them.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...t=slide+topper
Skip ahead two years from our delivery date, I have no regrets. The toppers have held up nicely and still look like brand new. It's great to see the leaves, pine needles, and twigs fall off the toppers as they are retracted. They generally leave the slide toppers cooler on bright sunny days.
As far as wind noise, it's only happened once during deer hunting season as I had parked my rig against the tree line off a very large corn field. It was rainy and windy for the few days we hunted and you could hear the material flap in the wind. But I had no tree cover and no way to turn around my rig. Other than that, I've spent 60 days in the trailer in all conditions and never hear the toppers.
Carefree would be my choice of topper as that's what was installed on mine.
__________________
2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier
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03-29-2018, 07:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Hurley
Posts: 350
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Agree there are pro and cons. They look nice and I like the look. They make the top of the seal hard to clean and put 303 on it. Thought about add one to new trailer but I find it easier to clean the top slide and the gasket. I just carry a blower and blow it off until I get it back home. I clean and 303 the seals several times a year.
__________________
Kenny & Susan
2017 Passport 2670bh
2017 F250 6.2 4wd
Equalizer 4 pt.
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03-30-2018, 02:19 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Lafayette
Posts: 1,068
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I had them put on mine as a personal choice, verdict is still out on the cons, pros will be not having to get a ladder out and clean the tops of slides before running them in!
Another plus I'm thinking is when the RV is sitting with slides in they will keep water and snow from sitting on the top of the gasket or slide flange waiting to get in.
__________________
2015 Ram,3500,Dually,B&W,4.10s,Aisin,Limited,Silver
2018 Raptor,428SP w/full body paint
2012 Harley, Ultra Limited
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03-30-2018, 02:33 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Macedonia
Posts: 217
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinner12002
I had them put on mine as a personal choice, verdict is still out on the cons, pros will be not having to get a ladder out and clean the tops of slides before running them in!
Another plus I'm thinking is when the RV is sitting with slides in they will keep water and snow from sitting on the top of the gasket or slide flange waiting to get in.
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Agree with you. I had them put on 2 of the 3 slides prior to taking delivery.
__________________
DocP (Michael)
Former: Keystone Cougar 32RLI and 34TBS
Current: 2019 Georgetown GT5 31L5 motorhome
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