General Boards > Technical Support

Tired of rain filling up the slide topper

(1/4) > >>

Bill Sprague:
I have Carefree by Colorado horizontal slide toppers like lots of other late model Beavers.  They suck.

For 6 years I've fought with the large puddles of rain that form in the toppers.  On retraction the puddles flow out in a flood and test the slide seals.  When the water pours off it splashes mud.  I've tried a bilge pump, a siphon and a broom.  The worst is if it freezes after a rain.  I've been on the roof with a hose connected to the Hdro-Hot melting ice a few too many times.  Frustrated, I've threatened to take the nearly useless toppers completely off.  

It is beyond imagination that a company based in Oregon chose to install toppers with no slope for the water to drain!

(Yes, I know some use beach balls, tetherballs, footballs and 2x8s.  But you have to climb up there and do it before it rains.  I'm not good at knowing when it is going to rain.)

Recently I saw a trailer with mesh instead of canvas in the toppers.  The rain went through and the leaves, needles and cones stay on top.  I was jealous!

Since I was considering complete removal anyway and the fabric has started to show some wear, I took a risk.  A month ago I used a small soldering iron to melt about 20 holes in each topper.

I've been waiting for a good test.  I got it in this weeks sourthern California storm. It is raining hard here in Borrego Springs!  It works perfect!

No more puddles, no more mud, no more frozen blocks of ice and no slide leaks either.  

Ron Johnson:
Bill your post makes me glad I have the self-draining slides with no toppers. My Coach may have been the last year Beavers were built this way. I have wintered in Canada and endured breaking camp in pouring rain and can attest that it is a pretty bulletproof system.

Good for you for darjng to modify your present system.

Edward Buker:
Bill,

This seems like a good idea that needs some additional possibilities explored. The awning topper system does help keep running water away from the slide seals by shedding most of the water off to the sides or out toward the slide. As you say it keeps leaves and debris away also. They are an asset until the weight builds up enough to cause puddling or ice and snow build up in the awning then they become a liability. What comes to mind is an acrylic topper fabric design that incorporates a row of mesh fabric, maybe an inch wide, located central or two thirds the distance towards the outer portion of the slide. That design would allow water escape where it is channeled away from the slide seals. This design would mean two extra seams but if sewn properly with Gortex tread those seams would last. The mesh area would be rolled up and protected while traveling.

Compliments to the brave man with the soldering iron and nothing to loose....

Bill Sprague:

--- Quote from: Edward Buker ---.......The awning topper system does help keep running water away from the slide seals by shedding most of the water off to the sides or out toward the slide....
--- End quote ---
You are correct when they have been installed so that on deployment there is some slope.  Mine and many others with the Carefree brand don't get any slope.  On two of my slides I can get some slope by extending the awning portion of the topper.  The kitchen slide is always perfectly horizontal.  None of the toppers extend far enough from the ends of the slide for water to drain off after the "lake" was full.  It dribbled over the end of the fabric and on to the top of the slide.  

Your suggestion of a mesh sewn is a good idea when I have to replace the fabric.  

Tim Bentley:
I am not sure that the tops of the Monaco slides were designed to repel large quantities of water. I have had leaks at the inside seam on all three of my slides. If water is allowed to pass through this mesh, than you have water on top of the slide when you bring it in.

 I like your idea for removing water from the awnings but would like to see some sort of plastic tray running the length of the slide to remove the water.  There may even be room to give it a little lift in the center so water will drain to the ends of the slides.  

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page