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The Best RV Slide Toppers

Written by Stephen Ryan / Fact checked by William Turner

Are you looking for the best RV slide topper to help protect your slide out, but don’t know where to start? Well, you’ve come to the right place because this article will go over all the ins and outs of these products.

It’ll discuss everything you could want to know about these devices from types, valuable features, brands, etc. In other words, this article will have the answers to any questions you may have about an RV slide topper.

best rv slide topper

We’ll even provide you with 8 RV slide topper reviews of the products we consider the best on the market. These discussions will give you an idea of what a high-quality one of these items might look like before you start your search.

They’ll also help you narrow down the vast amount of options you have to choose from into a more manageable and reasonable selection. In the end, our goal is to ensure you end up buying an RV slide topper that fulfills your needs and expectations as an RV owner.

So please, let us help you find a slide topper that’ll keep your slide out protected for years to come. I promise you won’t regret it!

Top 1

Lippert Awning Slider

4,7-stars

Dimensions L x W 169 x 7 Inches
Material Fabric

Jump to Review

Top 2

RecPro RV Slide Out

4,5-stars

Dimensions L x W 110 x 46 Inches
Material Vinyl

Jump to Review

Top 3

SunWave Slide Out

4,5-stars

Dimensions L x W 154 x 50 Inches
Material Vinyl

Jump to Review

Table of Contents

6 Best Slide Topper for RV Reviews 2023

1. Lippert RV Solera Awning Black Slider

Our first product is the Lippert RV Solera Awning Slider, which has a host of features that make it one of the best. I mean, there isn’t much to complain about with this particular RV slide topper.

For instance, this slider comes in numerous different sizes, which means finding the perfect one won’t be a complicated process. It’s always a nice touch when a manufacturer gives you a variety of options to pick from regarding sizing.

I also love the fact that this product consists of high-quality materials, which have been proven to be incredibly durable. In fact, several customers discussed in this RV slide out awning reviews how great this model is at making sure things like dust, debris, sticks, or leaves don’t become an issue.

The material’s even waterproof to ensure leaks don’t cause havoc inside your RV. As a result, you can expect this slide topper to protect your slide out for many years adequately. Aside from protecting numerous issue-causing things, this product also extends up to 50ft.

This extension length is much longer than most other products on the market and provides a lot more protection coverage. Its black color design is another feature that I found intriguing as it would mesh swimmingly with my black colored RV.

You can also take comfort with this product’s ability to extend and retract with your slide out automatically; therefore, you won’t have to do anything manually, which can be an incredible hassle with certain products.

And I didn’t even mention that multiple customers reported the installation instructions that arrived with the product were clear and straightforward. All in all, this slide topper would be a fantastic purchase for any RV owner.

But if you do intend on buying it, get ready to spend a small fortune. This model is easily one of the more expensive ones on this entire list.
Pros
  • Extends up to 50ft
  • Automatically extends and retracts with slide out
  • Made with durable materials
  • Comes in various sizes
  • Easy to install
  • Appealing black design
Cons
  • Expensive

2. RecPro RV Slide Out Awning RV Slide Topper

I trust RecPro for most of my RVing needs, including motorhome appliances, winterization products, and camping gear. Its RV Slide Out Awning Topper adds to the growing list of impressive offerings from this brand with strong, loyal followers.

This slide topper is perfect for most RV slide-out systems that extend no more than 46 inches. RV owners can use scissors or a cutter to shorten the panel to their motorhome slide’s precise dimensions.

The vinyl fabric’s tensile strength is also impressive at 140 pounds per square inch. RV families will sleep soundly, knowing they will wake up to a fully intact slide topper. I also feel confident about this product lasting as long as my motorhome, maybe even longer. Its durability and strength are crucial considerations for RVers who take their vehicles outdoors more frequently than other adventurers.

Although I am unsure about this slide topper’s UV treatment, I am glad it has excellent UV resistance. We do not always have the luxury of parking our motorhome under the shade, exposing it to the sun’s intense rays and increasing the risk of cracking. Unfortunately, it also subjects our slide-out to other environmental elements. I am glad this product delivers exceptional weather resistance.

Installation is never an issue. However, I must emphasize measuring the slide’s dimensions at least three times before trimming the panel. It is the only way RV owners can ensure the best coverage for their slide-out.

This fabric is a cinch to clean and maintain, unlike other slide toppers for campers. Wiping the surface is enough to keep the slide cover in tip-top shape.

I share other users’ opinions about this slide topper’s thickness. Although I do not question its durability, I wish the fabric were thicker.

Still, I strongly recommend this RV slide topper because it comes from a brand many RVers trust.
Pros
  • 46-inch easy-to-cut slide topper
  • 140-PSI vinyl material
  • Excellent UV and weather resistance
  • Effortless to install
  • Easy to clean
  • Trustworthy brand among RVers
Cons
  • The fabric could be thicker

3. SunWave Slide Out Cover Fabric

Our next product, the SunWave Slide Out Cover Fabric, is another cut-to-fit fabric that’ll do its job without causing any complications or hassles. And any product that fits into that description is one I’m always going to consider.

It also helps that this fabric has waterproof capabilities, which should help stop any leak from causing damage to your RV. Given the insane cost of water damage related repair, you can bet this aspect is something I value highly.

I found the fabric’s sleek white design to be visually appealing as well. It would easily fit into the aesthetic of most RVs without any issue, which further highlights why this particular product made into this list.

But the best attribute this fabric brings to the table is its convenient qualities. You see this product comes equipped with a pre-installed cording, which makes installing it into your existing awning rail and roller a remarkably easy feat.

Along the same lines, it’s categorization as a cut-to-fit fabric also showcases its convenience as you don’t have to worry about ordering by size. You instead buy the product and cut it according to the parameters of your slide out.

The low cost doesn’t hurt this product either. In fact, it’s easily one of the least expensive options on this entire list. Plus, the flaws this slide topper has aren’t too devastating as there are only two problem areas I identified during my research.

Its first issue was that this product’s purchase didn’t come with the hardware included, which is more of a personal preference problem. The second one was a bit more concerning as a few customer reviews mentioned this model had issues protecting against dirt.

Neither one is anything too serious, but both are things you should put some thought into before putting this product into your online shopping cart.

Pros
  • Cut-to-fit fabric
  • Sleek white design
  • Low price
  • Waterproof capabilities
  • Pre-installed cording
  • Easy to install
Cons
  • No hardware included
  • Some customers reported issues with it protecting against dirt

4. Lippert RV Solera Awning White Slider

As another product from Lippert, you can expect this particular model to provide you with an outstanding level of performance. This expectation is fulfilled with a set of features that makes this slide topper among the best.

Its sleek white colored design was the first thing that stood out to me as it looks modern and can adapt into the color scheme of most RVs. Of course, it wouldn’t be a great fit with my black RV as it’d stick out like a sore thumb.

But in other situations, I think this design would fit in perfectly and further establish your RV’s aesthetic. I also like the fact that this slide topper’s hardware has a universal hole pattern, which eliminates the need to patch holes and speaks to the overall versatility of this product.

This model also consists of high-quality, durable material that’ll put up an intense fight against any environment element that might cause it damage. There were even multiple customer reviews that depicted dire situations where this product held up beautifully.

And this slide topper has some of the features that I loved about the first Lippert product we reviewed as well. For one, it has the capability of automatically extend and retract along with your slide out, which is always such an essential feature.

Plus, it extends up to 50ft like the other Lippert product as well giving you a significant amount of coverage area. Overall, there isn’t much about this product that a potential customer could see as something that would sway them from buying it.

But there was one legitimately issue that gave me a little, and it was regarding the product’s shipping. You see there were a few customers who reported receiving this slide topper in less than ideal condition, which isn’t something you like to see in the customer reviews.
Pros
  • Available in various sizes
  • Extends up to 50ft
  • The hardware hole pattern is universal
  • Made with durable materials
  • Sleek white colored design
  • Automatically retracts/extends
Cons
  • Shipping issues
  • Expensive

5. Carefree Cut-to-Fit Slide Out Awning Fabric

The Carefree Cut-to-Fit Slide Out Awning Fabric is the perfect purchase for an RV owner with an awning roller and rail already in place. This product will ensure your slide out stays protected from anything that might cause it harm with its tear and rip resistant fabric.

I also love that you can order this fabric in either black or white to make sure you get a product that meshes well with your RV’s aesthetic; black would undoubtedly be my pick. This type of feature showcases how this company continually puts its customer’s needs and wants first.

It’s helpful that this fabric comes with a pre-installed cording, which makes the installation process into your awning rail and roller simple. Any feature with the capabilities of making the install easier is always a win in my book.

This product coming with Carefree’s FLXguard fabric protection isn’t a bad feature to have as well. You see this protective quality will ensure this fabric stays in pristine shape during transit by protecting it against dirt, sunlight, and debris.

You don’t have to worry about figuring out the size either as it’s a cut-to-fit fabric. In other words, you cut off the right amount to cover your slide out and then save the rest of it for another project, which showcases how useful this product can be for a customer.

Plus, this fabric is reasonably priced for a product of this quality and with these features. It’s genuinely one of the best RV slide topper fabrics on this entire list when a person buys it in the right circumstances.

But therein lies the problem as this product doesn’t come with the additional hardware with purchase: the awning’s rail and roller. So, if you don’t already have these pieces in place, you’ll have to buy them separately, which is always a pain.
Pros
  • Available in white or black
  • Includes a pre-installed cording
  • Tear resistant
  • Cut-to-fit vinyl fabric
  • Equipped with Carefree FLXguard fabric protection
  • Reasonably priced
Cons
  • No hardware included

6. Innova Trim to Fit Slideout Cover

Another cut-to-fit fabric has made our list, and this one has some features that we haven’t see in the other products. You see this durable fabric not only looks fantastic, but it has a set of qualities that any RV owner would see as wonderfully beneficial.

For instance, this RV slide out awning replacement fabric has non-hemmed edges, which will help prevent water pooling and keep leaks from forming. Any protection against potential water damage is something I’m going to value highly, and this feature certainly fits the bill.

These non-hemmed edges also offer a solution to the one reoccurring issue that often faces these products as it’ll ensure the slide topper will make less noise in harsh winds. And since this problem can be quite a headache, this feature is welcomed sight.

The fact that you can choose between black and white coloring is another feature that I like. It gives me the chance to evaluate whether either color fits better into the RV aesthetic I’m going for as an owner.

It was nice to see the customer reviews praising the installation process as well. Nothing worse than buying a product that’s too complicated to set up and this product doesn’t have this issue based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

We should also mention that this product being a cut-to-fit fabric means you don’t have to buy based on size either. And it’s available for a price that will fall well within most of your budgets.

But as a cut-to-fit product, it does means the hardware isn’t included with purchase. It’s also imperative we note that the installation process, while easy is a two person job, which is something you should think about before making a final decision.
Pros
  • Cut-to-fit
  • Available in white or black
  • Non-hemmed edges to prevent water pooling
  • Reasonable price
  • Easy to install
  • Durable fabric
Cons
  • Hardware not included
  • Installation is a two person job

Carefree SideOut Kover II RV Slide Topper (Outdated)

The Carefree SideOut Kover II RV Slide Topper is another fantastic product from a brand that keeps dominating this list. And this particular slide topper is the lowest priced item on this entire article, which means bargain buyers should pay close attention to it.

I mean, even with this low price tag, this product still has a laundry list of features that I find incredible. For one, it comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, which offers you some protection in the event something terrible happens to the product.

Warranties are something that I always find comforting because it conveys the manufacturer has faith in the product; therefore, the addition of one is something I put down as a positive regardless of the circumstances.

It also helps that this fabric has waterproof capabilities that’ll ensure you never have to worry about leaks becoming a significant issue. In fact, multiple customers reported this item easily surviving through numerous rainstorms, which is quite impressive.

This product’s UV resistant as well that’ll keep its coloring from fading or weakening due to the sun’s rays. Given this information, you should expect this fabric to stay in pristine condition for a long time.

And the inclusion of the pre-installed cording is never a bad feature to have with one of these products. It makes the installation process a much more manageable and less consuming adventure for the people attempting it.

But this product doesn’t include instructions for install with purchase, which is a hassle I would like to avoid at all costs. Thankfully, it seems you can find a guide quite easily with a quick google search; however, it’s still not something I want to see in a product like this one.

This product also doesn’t come with hardware included, which means you’ll have to use the equipment you already have or buy them separately.

Pros
  • Comes with a manufacturer’s warranty
  • Cut-to-fit fabric
  • Pre-installed cording
  • Low price
  • Waterproof capabilities
  • UV resistance
Cons
  • Installation instructions not included
  • Hardware not included

Carefree RV Slideout Cover (Outdated)

The last product on our list is one of the best RV slide out covers thanks to its high-quality performance and long-lasting durability. This model features numerous things that make it stand out from the pack and a few that I find unbelievable.

The first thing that stuck out to me was this slide topper comes equipped with a roller lock, which prevents billowing in transit. In other words, it keeps it stable when facing harsh winds and reduces the noise it might make.

I found the fact that the roller tube and mounting brackets consist of heavy-duty aluminum quite appealing as well. Given this material, you can expect these parts of this topper to hold up for years without issue.

It also comes with a manufacturer warranty, which is always a nice touch as it never hurts to have a bit of an insurance policy when/if something goes wrong. Just another feature that shows Carefree tends to put their customer’s needs first.

Plus, this model is an affordable option that includes all the hardware needed for the installation process with purchase. As a person that hates buying things separately, you can bet I was incredibly happy when I realized I wouldn’t have to with this product.

We should also mention the installation process for this model is considered straightforward and not entirely too time-consuming. As a result, you won’t have to spend too much time away from the fun things about the RVing experience.

But even though the install is considered easy, the purchase of this product doesn’t come with a set of installation instructions: a bit of a bummer for someone like me that isn’t that talented at this type of stuff.
Pros
  • Manufacturer warranty
  • Affordable
  • Roller tube and mounting brackets made with heavy-duty aluminum
  • Great looking white design
  • Equipped with a roller lock
  • Easy to install
Cons
  • No installation instructions

Carefree SideOut Kover III Awning (Outdated)

The Carefree SideOut Kover III Awning comes from one of my favorite manufacturers within this marketplace. This brand’s products are always among the best reviewed and most popular slide toppers on the market.

And this particular model is no different as it features a set of qualities that provide a wide range of benefits. I mean, I love that this slide topper includes a wind deflector, which will help solve the one issue that these products tend to provide: instability during high wind conditions.

But this feature isn’t the only one that makes this product stand out; there’s also its sleek and modern design, which should mesh well with most RVs. It also helps that this design features built-in cradle support that’ll help ensure the roller assembly doesn’t sag.

If it didn’t have the cradle support, the sagging roller assembly might distract from your otherwise fabulous looking RV. I also found the vinyl material it consists of to be an overwhelming positive attribute this product offers.

After all, this material has proven to be incredibly durable and capable of protecting your slide out against debris, water, leaves, and other damaging environmental factors. And the customer reviews certainly back up this finding as most of them praise the durability of this product profusely.

It also doesn’t hurt that this slide topper was designed to work automatically with your slide out. In other words, it’ll extend and retract based on your slide out’s movements, which is convenient feature some customers tend to overlook.

But there was one problem area that I encountered during my research. You see multiple customers complained that the install instructions were too complicated. And being someone that isn’t great at doing these type of installs, this aspect wasn’t a welcome sight.
Pros
  • Includes a wind deflector
  • Sleek and modern design
  • Works automatically with your slide out
  • Durable vinyl material
  • Effective in protection against various environmental elements
  • Built-in cradle support to prevent roller assembly from sagging
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Some customers complained about the installation instructions being complex

What to Look for When Buying an RV Slide Topper

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Finding the perfect RV slide topper will involve looking out for a few determining factors during your search. This section will discuss these things at length to ensure you know what a high-quality product should look like as a potential customer.

After all, there are an insane amount of options for you to choose from as a customer. And since these slide toppers tend to be a bit expensive, making the right decision becomes imperative. These following factors will help make this process much more straightforward:

Price

Finding the most cost-effective RV slide topper should be near the top of your to-do list. Due to this, it’s essential you understand what you want from one of these products and design a budget around those requirements.

This budget will make the searching process much easier as it’ll limit your options to a more reasonable amount. As a result, the feeling of being overwhelmed by this process will soon disappear thanks to a reduced selection.

A budget will also ensure you end up feeling satisfied with your purchase. There’s nothing worse than buying a product that you can’t enjoy because you spent a bit too on it and feel like it wasn’t worth it: clear parameters establishing what you can pay will help avoid this feeling.

Materials

One of the most essential things to understand about an RV slide topper before buying is its material. There are numerous potential options that a slide topper can consist of and you must evaluate whether it can provide you with high-quality performance.

For instance, you must determine whether the material has certain qualities that make it a user-friendly option. Is the material easy to clean? Is it durable? Does it have waterproof capabilities?

It’s answers to questions like these that’ll help you feel comfortable buying a slide topper made from a specific material. If you find yourself doubting your evaluation of the material, another helpful resource you should look through is the customer reviews.

These reviews will provide you with an in-depth account of other customers’ experiences with the product. And their feelings on the material used in the product’s creation should be heavily referred to within these useful resources.

Additional Features

Every RV slide topper you encounter will have its own set of special features that’ll try to convey why that particular model is better than the rest on the market. These add-ons might include things like automatic features, unique options, innovative hardware, etc.

Due to this, you must evaluate what features you deem entire necessary for your slide topper. Don’t fall victim to paying extra money for a bunch of qualities you don’t actually find useful or essential in one of these products.

Durability

The slide topper’s durability is another thing you must consider before purchasing one of these products. It all starts with being aware of whether the manufacturer uses the product description to discuss the fabric’s durability.

Some companies will avoid discussing it and instead focus on the hardware used. This situation is a sign that some might be up with the fabric’s quality. You should also notice the warranties the manufacturers offer with these products.

A more extended warranty evokes a sense of faith that the company has in the product. Meanwhile, a product with a shorter or no warranty might be from a manufacturer that’s just trying to make a quick buck off a deficient slide topper.

This area is another place where those all-too-important customer reviews come into play as well. Trust me; if a slide topper isn’t proven to be durable, there will several consumers complaining about it within those reviews.

In the end, it’s essential you make sure your slide topper can handle the wear and tear of protecting your RV’s slide out from damaging situations. And it should be able to offer this protection without becoming damaged itself.

Other Important Factors to Consider

best-rv-slide-topper-fabric

Everything we mentioned within the previous section will end up being significant factors in your final decision. But the background knowledge about these products below will also help you understand, which RV slide topper is the perfect product for you.

What is an RV slide topper?

An RV slide topper, also known as an RV slide out awning, is an extension that’s located above your RV’s slide out. These products come in various designs and styles ranging from incredibly vibrant to bland and straightforward.

Some RVers even find the time to get their RV slide toppers customized towards their particular preference. In any case, the purpose of these products is they offer another layer of protection against anything that might cause damage to your Rv’s slide out.

You see many RV owners would agree that having a rig with a slide out increases the chances you’ll have problems with things like leakage, flooding, and other potentially damaging issues. As a result, you can see how a slide topper would be a useful product to have covering your slide out.

Due to this essential purpose, these slide toppers have become a popular product among RV owners. They’re so popular that it’s highly probable any campground you drive into will have at least one RV with a slide topper over their slide out.

And let’s be honest; customizing your RV toward your preferences is always fun. A slide out topper gives you another way of making your on-the-road home feel like a place that represents you.

How does it work?

The way an RV slide topper works is remarkably simple when you compare it to other RV parts. I mean, sometimes these maintenance problems can get overly complicated to the point it induces massive headaches.

But these products won’t cause you any frustration as all they do is pull out when the slide is extended and retract when its rolled up. And it provides its useful protection ability by working similar to how a blanket does.

For instance, it’ll act like a cover over the slide out and keep things like rainwater or debris from causing damage. And that’s pretty much all you need to know about how these slide toppers function as a potential customer.

What are the different types of RV slide toppers?

RV slide toppers don’t have specific categories that separate one type from another. This lack of categorization likely comes from the fact that slide toppers are already referred to as a kind of awning. Plus, nobody likes dealing with sub-categories when they can avoid it.

It also doesn’t help that most slide toppers typically look the same. But there are certain features that’ll make one slide topper stand out from another. For instance, a product with an anti-billowing mechanism is always thought to be high-quality.

You see this feature will keep the topper from filling up with air when you’re on the road. If this situation does occur, it could cause some severe issues for you. As a result, making sure your RV slide topper has an anti-billowing mechanism’s something you must do.

Another feature where these products tend to differ is regarding their individual case’s material. In other words, the things protecting the topper when its rolled up and not preventing things from damaging your slide out.

Some slide out toppers will have a case with a metal weather seal, which will protect it against whatever environmental element might potentially damage it: snow, sleet, rain, etc. Others may have the entire topper in a metal case until you extend the slide out.

And then, there are the cheaper slide out toppers that’ll come with a vinyl weather seal, which won’t put up much of a fight against certain weather conditions. Of course, some manufacturers don’t include a case at all.

In an ideal situation, you want to ensure your slide out topper has a case with a metal weather seal at least. After all, there’s no reason you want to be buying another topper in a few months because yours didn’t receive enough protection.

Understanding these little details will go a long way and ensure you end up buying a slide out topper you’re happy with as an RV owner.

Why do you need an RV slide topper?

If you own an RV, the importance of a high-quality RV slide topper shouldn’t be a hard thing to understand. After all, these products represent the best way to protect your rig as it starts getting up there in age.

You see the seals around your slide out will start acclimating damage as your rig ages. This damage will eventually lead to nasty things such as leaks; therefore, a slide topper will help prevent these issues from occurring by protecting both the slide out and its seals.

As a result, its lifespan will extend and ensure the slide out is available to you for many upcoming RV trips. In fact, the high-quality toppers like the ones in this article will typical prevent buildups of mildew and protect your slide out from harsh weather conditions as well.

In the simplest terms, a high-quality slide topper can provide the following benefits:

  • Keeps rain and snow away from your slide out’s seals, which will protect your RV’s inside from any potential issues caused by water.
  • Protects your slide out from UV rays that’ll cause discoloration and weaken materials.
  • These products are often easy to clean. A topper will let everything roll off it once you retract the slide out; therefore, the debris doesn’t ever touch it, and it doesn’t create a mess you have to deal with as an RV owner.
  • It offers a protective layer against debris and extreme environmental elements such as rain, sleet, or snow.

Given these fantastic benefits, it’s hard to see a reason why an RV owner wouldn’t invest money into buying one of these products. The only issue you hear about an RV slide topper is regarding its tendency to flap around when the wind becomes harsh.

This issue can be a nuisance depending on the wind’s strength. But this one potential issue shouldn’t sway you from buying one of these useful products. I mean, it seems the benefits for sure outweigh the negatives when it comes to RV slide toppers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

rv-slide-out-awning-reviews

Like with any FAQs section, this part of the article will try to answer any remaining questions that you have about these particular products. The answers you receive below should help alleviate any concerns about what it means to own an RV slide topper.

What are good RV slide topper brands?

The great RV slide topper brands are the ones you see in our product review section. All of these manufacturers provide high-quality products at reasonable prices, which is all you can ask for from these companies.

But within this small group of brands, I find two manufacturers tend to stick out even a little bit more: Carefree and Lippert. Both these companies’ products are routinely near the top of the market and are often among the best reviewed.

With this in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to explore these two brands’ backgrounds a bit and get you more familiar with what makes them great.

  • Carefree

This brand prides itself on creating products that’ll offer the best user experience possible. A mission statement like this one means that Carefree having the products with the following qualities isn’t shocking: the easiest to order, have the fastest turnaround and possess the best combination of value and performance.

And products that feature these three aspects are hard to pass on as a customer. I mean, who wouldn’t a slide topper by Carefree given their relentless pursuit of making sure everything about their products suits the customer’s needs?

  • Lippert

This company has become a leading manufacturer in this marketplace thanks to them creating long-lasting relationships with their customers. And this willingness to put the people buying their merchandise first has reflected itself in the reviews of their products.

It also helps that Lippert’s always looking for new inventive ways to improve their products based on their customer’s wants and needs. It’s quite evident that buying from this brand will most likely result in a positive buying experience you won’t regret.

Overall, any of the brands we highlight within our product review section will offer you a user-friendly experience and end up with you getting a high-quality product. But in particular, these two brands seem to provide more from a customer’s perspective.

Is the fabric waterproof?

It’ll ultimately depend on the RV slide topper you end up purchasing, but some of them will be waterproof. Most of them will be at least water resistant, which should offer you some protection against those pesky rain or snow storms.

If you’re genuinely worried about this part of the buying experience, you shouldn’t be as there are plenty of options that have waterproof capabilities. The only issue is these RV slide toppers will end up costing you a bit more money.

We should also mention that any acrylic slide topper that says its waterproof is lying as these type of fabrics can only be water-resistant at the most.

How to install an RV slide topper?

It’s a bit hard to talk about the installation process for these products in a general sense as each RV slide topper will have little differences in how they’re installed. But overall, the set up shouldn’t take all that much time or effort on your part.

In most cases, the RV slide topper you buy will come with a well-detailed set of instructions that’ll guide you through the process. If it doesn’t, a quick google search should point your in the right directions as there are numerous YouTube depicting these installs.

You might even find a copy of the instruction manual right on the manufacturer’s website. Either way, a quick google search could do wonders in making sure you have a productive install experience with the product you end up buying.

If you’re worried about the process, an excellent way to examine whether it’ll be a simple job is by looking through the customer reviews. These vital resources will make it apparent what other people have experienced regarding the installation process.

And please, don’t ever trust a manufacturer that says their product is easy to install at their word. You should instead rely on your research into the topic and decide from your findings.

How to adjust an RV slide topper?

Your RV slide topper’s tension must have a quick adjustment to ensure the fabric’s taut and the awning remains stable. As we established, these products tend to come in all shapes and sizes; but the good news is this process tends to be relatively the same (buttons and levers might be in different locations).

You see the adjusting process for most RV slide toppers typically revolve around the same five basic principles or steps, which we will go over below. And once you got these down, this activity should be a piece of cake.

  1. Make sure your RV’s parked and with the brake set. It’s also essential you ensure it’s level using a leveling system and jacks.
  2. Go over to the awning and remove any debris such as leaves or sticks that may occupy the awning’s seam. Proceed to open the slide out, and your slide topper should automatically extend once the slide out starts to unhinge. Make sure both the slide topper and slide out are fully extended.
  3. Grab a step stool and put it near your awning’s lip. Push the awning’s aluminum pole up towards your RV’s wall and down to the awning’s lip that’ll end up being under the awning itself. From there, position it in a way where the pole will push the awning out, which will add tension to the fabric. In most cases, special aluminum poles will come with the awning for this intended purpose.
  4. You should then inflate the air bladder of your awning to provide your awning’s fabric with more tension. In the case that your slide topper has an air bladder, locate the internal air pump and use it to inflate the awning, which will end up adding tension.
  5. Shove the foam pieces under the awning’s bottom lip. This action will offer more tension and support to protect further against anything happening. And lastly, push the foam below your awning’s roller, which will be near your awning’s end.

How to keep RV slide toppers from flapping?

There are plenty of things to love about RV slide toppers given the protection they provide and other beneficial advantages. But there’s one aspect about them that can cause RV owners all sorts of problem, and that’s their tendency to start flapping when the winds become harsh.

And it often results with the RV owner having to bring in their slide outs, which isn’t ideal as it removes a lot of floor space; therefore, you must figure out a way to ensure your topper’s flapping doesn’t become an issue.

There are a couple of ways you could effectively stopping the flapping. Some RVers have experienced success correcting this issue by lassoing the topper. All you have to do is take a soft rope and throw it over the slide out width-ways.

From there, you use the rope to form a “V” with your topper when tightening down the rope and tie both ends. An ideal place for the tie points would be the slide out bars, which are typically located under the slide out.

Another option RV owners have had success with is installing tetherballs between your topper and the slide out roof temporarily. You see these tetherballs can reduce the effects the harsh winds have on your topper by providing a little cushion.

It’s also helpful that you can run a clothesline to the tetherball that’ll lessen the hassle removing it might cause when the winds finally become a non-factor. In other words, it’ll eliminate the need for you to get up on a ladder after the ordeal is over.

And other RV owners often suggest trading in your factory-equipped topper for one with a sunscreen material. This type of material will still provide you protection against the sun’s hot rays during those summer days, but it also doesn’t allow the wind much of a chance to pick up the topper’s surface.

As a result, there’s a lower amount of noise and reduces the chance of any flapping or tearing from occurring significantly. So, if you do encounter this issue, it’s quite clear that you have some options to choose from as an RV owner.

Where to buy?

The best place to buy an RV slide topper is Amazon, which will have the largest selection and best prices a potential customer will encounter. I mean, there’s a reason all the links in this article go to the product’s Amazon page.

If you don’t like the idea of using Amazon, Camping World is another site I’d recommend checking out before making your final decision. It’ll have a sizable selection and fair prices, but typically they won’t be as low as you’d see on Amazon.

Even with this in mind, there are still sometimes where Camping World is having a sale on a particular product, and the price might dip below Amazon’s; therefore, it’s always a good idea to check both sites before purchasing.

You could also find high-quality RV slide toppers at your local WalMart or RV store. The options will be much more limited than you’d find at either of the online stores mentioned above, but they should still a few reliable choices.

The customer service these places provide is an advantage that you don’t get with online shopping as well. Overall, these couple of options represent the marketplaces I consider the best for buying one of these products.

Anyone of them will offer a buying experience, which will meet your expectations and get you a high-quality RV slide topper. All you have to do now is choose the one that suits your particular shopping style the best.

Conclusion

Given all your new knowledge about these products, the search for the best RV slide topper shouldn’t be the nightmare experience it once represented. You can instead use this information and whittle down the options to a much more manageable amount.

And once you do find the perfect topper, you won’t have to worry about debris or other potentially damaging issues causing problems for your slide out ever again. It’ll also help you return to the more fun parts of the RVing experience.

In the end, we hope this article made this buying experience a simple one and maybe even pointed towards the topper that’ll make your life easier for years to come. Honestly, we’d like to help in any way we can.

So please, if you have any more questions or concerns about these products, feel free to express them in the comment section below.

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