Slide Out Topper

[andrewlairdmiller]

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!

[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!

[Steveo57]

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!

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.

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[chuckster57]

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.

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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.

[Steveo57]

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.

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[andrewlairdmiller]

Thanks folks.

Do you recommend a certain brand?

[chuckster57]

We install a lot of carefree.

https://www.e-carefree.com/ecarefree...=48&action=cfg

[rhagfo]

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.

[BigTexRex]

Having had both, I prefer no topper because it sooooo much quieter when the wind is blowing.

[busterbrown]

Originally Posted by andrewlairdmiller

It is probably a best practice, but is it really needed and why?

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.

[Retired Copper]

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.

[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.

[DocP]

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.

Agree with you. I had them put on 2 of the 3 slides prior to taking delivery.