Chances are high one of many final stuff you do when closing up your RV earlier than hitting the street is bringing within the slides. In case you’re like most RVers, you have got a system to take away sticks, leaves, and different particles to forestall harm to your slide seals.
To skip this step, have you ever thought-about slide toppers? They’re the small awnings you see over the slides on some RVs. Most RVs don’t come outfitted with them, so you could surprise in the event that they’re completely needed.
Maintain studying for our prime picks for the very best RV slide toppers, together with substitute cloth, and why it might be well worth the cash to assist defend your funding.
Our Prime Picks
Greatest General
Solera Slide Topper
Funds Possibility
Awnlux Black Modular
Greatest Substitute Material
ShadePro Slide Out Material
Greatest General
Solera Slide Topper
You’ll have seen when trying to find a slide topper that there aren’t a complete lot of choices or variations between them. It’s merely a bit of material that rolls out if you open your slide…or is it? Let’s take a better have a look at our prime decide, the Solera slide topper.
The Solera slide topper is made of industrial quality vinyl with heat-welded seams. This helps hold the topper from sagging throughout heavy rain, stopping pooling that may result in water harm and mildew. It’s additionally rated to resist temperatures right down to -25 levels Fahrenheit with out cracking.
With choices in measurement from 5’5” to 16’, this RV slide topper will assist defend even the tremendous slide-outs!
This features a DIY set up equipment and could be put in anyplace as much as 5” above the slide field trim. This offers you the liberty to decide on the very best location for mounting your slide topper.
Execs
- Out there in white or black
- Out there in a spread of sizes to suit your RV
- DIY equipment saves cash over having an RV store set up
Cons
- Directions are imprecise
- Could not embody all of the {hardware}, verify earlier than putting in
Funds Possibility
Awnlux Modular
At a little bit greater than half the price of the Solera slide topper, the Awnlux modular slide topper takes our award for the finances choice.
The Awnlux ranges in measurement from 5’6” to 14’ and is out there in black or white.
It comes with a DIY equipment that will also be put in as much as 5” above the slide trim field, saving you cash over having your RV slide topper put in at an area RV store.
What stands out most with Awnlux, apart from the value level, is the superb customer support crew they’ve.
Execs
- Glorious customer support
- DIY set up
- A number of sizes and colours
Cons
- Bolts have a tendency to interrupt, so holes may have pre-drilled
Greatest Substitute Material
ShadePro Slide Out Material
In case you personal an RV that already has slide toppers put in, however they’re wanting a little bit worse for the wear and tear, you could simply want to switch the material.
Earlier than investing in a complete new slide topper system, in case your topper nonetheless works because it ought to, try the ShadePro RV slide topper substitute cloth.
This cloth is engineered for sturdiness and to resist harsh temperatures and rain with out pooling.
It’s straightforward to put in. The truth is, it can in all probability take you longer to take away the previous topper cloth than it can to put in this substitute cloth.
The very nice function of the ShadePro substitute cloth is that you simply don’t should know the precise measurement of your present cloth. It is ready to be reduce to measurement with a pair of scissors.
Execs
- Cheaper than changing the whole topper mechanism
- Simple to put in
- Will be reduce to measurement with scissors
Cons
- Material is folded when shipped which causes creases
Suncode RV Slide Topper
The ultimate choice in our greatest RV slide toppers record is the Suncode RV slide topper.
Just like the Solera, the Suncode is out there in white or black materials. The scale vary is 5’7” to 14’, so that you received’t be capable to use this slide topper on the tremendous slide-outs.
The Suncode additionally covers slides as much as 51” deep, in comparison with 48” for the Solera.
The one actual criticism with this slide topper is that the directions are imprecise and laborious to grasp.
With all the identical options because the Solera and Awnlux and a worth level that falls in between, the Suncode is a contented medium.
Execs
- Vary of sizes
- Simple to put in
- Covers toppers as much as 51” deep
RV Slide Toppers Purchaser’s Information
Now that you’ve a number of choices to think about when selecting an RV slide topper, you could have extra questions on what to search for earlier than deciding which topper to decide on.
Materials
For optimum safety and fewer likelihood of sagging, make certain the slide topper you select is made from thick cloth. A thick topper will even be much less vulnerable to cracking in chilly climate.
Measurement
Slide toppers are available a number of sizes to suit your slide. You’ll discover when ordering your slide topper the choices have two sizes; for instance, 6’ (5’7” cloth). The 6’ measurement is the general measurement of the slide topper mechanism.
To order the correct measurement, you’ll measure the body round your slide out – additionally known as the flange. Place one finish of your tape measure on the surface of 1 flange and have a buddy maintain the opposite finish. The tip-to-end measurement is the size of the material you’ll order.
Shade
In contrast to RV awnings which have numerous colours and patterns to select from, RV slide toppers solely are available two colours: black or white.
RV Slide Toppers FAQ
What’s the benefit of getting an RV slide topper?
RV slide toppers assist hold sticks and particles from accumulating in your slide and probably damaging your seals if you pull your slides in. Additionally they help in serving to shed rain, snow, and ice from the highest of your slide and away from the slide seals.
Another benefit to a slide topper is that, similar to your patio awning, they assist hold the within of your RV cooler in sizzling climate.
How do I hold birds from constructing nests in my slide?
The world between your RV slide topper and slide is prime actual property for birds to construct nests. In need of eradicating their nests each time they begin to construct one, there isn’t a tried and true confirmed strategy to hold birds from nesting beneath your RV slide topper.
One suggestion is to position pool noodles between the slide and topper to take up the area the place the birds wish to nest.
How do I clear my slide topper?
To scrub your RV slide topper, you’ll be able to merely scrub them with an extension brush and awning cleaner or dish cleaning soap.
What if I’m in an space with excessive winds?
Everyone knows to usher in our awnings to guard them from excessive winds, however what a few topper that’s connected to your slide? Most RVers counsel both bringing in your slide fully or to inside a few foot of being fully closed.
In case you actually don’t wish to stay within the cramped area whereas the wind is blowing outdoors (assume all winter lengthy!), an alternate is to tie your toppers down.
To do that, you need to use both pool noodles or PVC pipe with elbows on the top. The thought is to run a rope via the noodle or pipe in order that they lay flat on the topper. You may then pull the rope tight, pulling the slide topper down a bit – don’t overdo it – and tie the ends off beneath the slide.
Are there ideas for set up that aren’t included within the directions?
One tip that appears to not be included with most RV slide topper directions is to seal round your slide with waterproof tape earlier than putting in the slide.
When putting in the slide rail, make certain the screws are on the underside. It seems to be such as you’re putting in it the other way up, however this helps defend the screws from the weather.
Wrapping up the Greatest RV Slide Toppers
From giving your property a completed look to serving to defend it and hold it cooler in the summertime, RV slide toppers actually are a fantastic funding.
Is your air conditioner simply not maintaining with the record-high warmth? Whereas an RV slide topper might help, it could be time to put money into a brand new RV air conditioner.
