Results for "slide topper"

I pulled into three different campsites this month and my torn slide topper is eating through my gear faster than I can replace it. I've never done anything like this before and I'm worried I might damage the whole mechanism or make things worse.

Can I actually replace just the fabric portion safely, or should I bite the bullet and have the entire assembly replaced by a professional? I'm also concerned about costs - I'm hoping this won't break the bank. If it is something I can do myself, how difficult is it really? I don't want to get in over my head and end up with a bigger problem than I started with.

Can you help me understand the best approach for my specific situation? …more

Before buying our first RV, I never even knew slide topper awnings existed, and now ours is acting up and I'm completely lost. We're having all three slide toppers professionally replaced next week, but I'm honestly worried we'll end up with the same problems all over again if they're not installed properly.

I've been reading horror stories about misaligned toppers, wrong spring tension, and fabric bunching up during slide operation. Since this is costing us a pretty penny, I really need to know what specific things I should insist the installer check and test before they leave. What are the critical adjustments that need to be made during installation to prevent these common topper problems from happening again? …more

About two weeks into living in my 2023 Forest River Forester MBS2401B and this slide out I've never dealt with before is leaking water from the bottom. The leak occurs specifically when the slide is in the retracted position during wind-driven rain events. Water is penetrating at floor level beneath the dinette area of the full wall slide assembly.

I have verified that all visible seals appear to be properly seated and the topper awning shows no obvious damage. Given that this is occurring on a current model year unit, I need to understand if this represents a manufacturing defect covered under warranty, and what specific component is likely causing the failure at the bottom of the slide mechanism. …more

Spent all morning staring at my new Tiffin Allegro 33AA trying to figure out how to mount a telescopic flag pole without destroying something. My previous RV had a fixed ladder which made mounting easy and secure, but this new rig doesn't have that option.

I'm concerned about using suction cups or zip ties because they don't seem very secure, and I'm afraid the telescopic flag pole could come loose while driving and cause damage or become a road hazard. The bike rack is already occupied with our bikes, so that's not available either.

What are some safe, secure mounting options that won't damage the RV's exterior? I need something that will hold firmly during highway speeds but won't leave permanent marks or holes in my new rig. …more

Since that heavy downpour last weekend, my slideout topper mechanism completely failed - something snapped inside the roller tube and now it won't retract at all. I managed to manually wind it up and secure it with zip ties just to get home, but it's clearly done for.

I've got a replacement topper on order, but of course it won't arrive before our next planned outing in two weeks. I'm really hoping we don't have to cancel this trip we've been looking forward to! Can I safely remove the broken topper completely and just operate the slideout normally without it? I assume it should be fine since it's just for keeping debris off the roof, but I want to make absolutely sure there are no safety issues with traveling and using the slideout without the topper installed. Any advice would be hugely appreciated! …more

Somewhere under my RV sofa at 11 PM I found these mystery heavy-duty metal brackets — need to identify them before tomorrow's trip. They look substantial and professionally made, not like random hardware.

I'm concerned these might be critical safety components that should be installed somewhere - maybe for the slides, stabilizing jacks, or furniture mounting? The last thing I want is for something to fail while we're traveling because I left essential parts sitting in storage. Should I be worried about using the RV until I figure out what these are for and get them properly installed? …more

I noticed my 2005 Gulfstream Crescendo's slide-out T-track bulb seal has deteriorated for the third time this season and I'm done replacing it blindly. The existing seal fits into a T-track configuration with specific dimensional requirements - the track opening is approximately 3/16" wide with the T-head measuring 3/8" at its widest point.

Standard automotive or hardware store seals don't appear to match these specifications. What's the proper methodology for sourcing replacement T-track bulb seals that will fit correctly? Also seeking guidance on preparation procedures to ensure proper installation and seal longevity. …more

Pulled the trigger on a 2012 Thor Avanti repo as my first RV purchase, but I'm completely clueless about what condition red flags to look for. The interior is... let's call it "lived in" to be charitable. The U-shaped dinette looks like it hosted a wrestling match, and I'm pretty sure something died in those cushions.

I'm wondering if I can swap out that sad dinette for a jackknife sofa instead? And don't get me started on the flooring - it's so worn I can practically see through to the ground. Is it realistic to replace RV flooring, or am I signing up for a special kind of torture?

Oh, and can I ditch whatever prehistoric mattress is in there for a real full-size one? Basically, is renovating a Thor Avanti actually doable, or should I just keep scrolling through RV listings and pretend this hot mess doesn't exist? …more