Slide out awning pools water and sags during rain

[minilite12]

We have a 2023 Thor Compass 23TW. During rain a substantial amount of rain pools in the middle of the awning over the slide out. This model has a single large slide, with a large awning. We took the RV to a licensed RV repair shop, hoping they could help. They tightened the awning. After the last rain, water still pooled, but the amount was less. We contacted the RV repair shop. They replied they could tighten it a bit more but cautioned that over-tightening a spring retention awning increases the resistance on the slide motors. We contacted Thor and they responded they cannot provide advice based on an email or phone call. The design seems like a defect as there is no way to slope the awning, etc. to facilitate drainage. Does anyone have any experience and/or guidance? Thank you in advance.
-Ken

 

[paulwadley]

Some people inflate a large beach ball and slip it in the middle of the slide out under the awning to create a "bump up" that would not allow water to pool in the center. Before retracting the awning they simply remove it and deflate it for the next trip. I have had the same thing happen when it snows on us in the winter when we visit friends in Utah. I go on the roof and sweep it off when I notice a large amount of fresh snow on it.

Paul

 

[ducksface]

When you retract the slide it sheds the water.
When the cover fills enough, it'll overflow, regulating itself.
The water is a zero worry thing.
There is no, to extremely small but no greater, reason to be concerned.

 

[minilite12]

Some people inflate a large beach ball and slip it in the middle of the slide out under the awning to create a "bump up" that would not allow water to pool in the center. Before retracting the awning they simply remove it and deflate it for the next trip. I have had the same thing happen when it snows on us in the winter when we visit friends in Utah. I go on the roof and sweep it off when I notice a large amount of fresh snow on it.

Paul

Paul
Thanks for the info. That may be a fix will also explore other options.
Ken

 

[minilite12]

When you retract the slide it sheds the water.
When the cover fills enough, it'll overflow, regulating itself.
The water is a zero worry thing.
There is no, to extremely small but no greater, reason to be concerned.

Yes that's true, but the weight of the water creates more strain on the retract motors.

 

[ducksface]

No cover could hold 10 gallons, probably not 3 gallons, but we'll use 10 as an extreme unobtainable worry of worries.
10 gallons is 81 pounds.

I truly doubt 81 pounds could begin to be a problem IF an awning actually held 10 gallons instead of the probable less than 3 gallons/24.3ish pounds.

(A roller cover doesn't have a motor. It retracts with the slide due to spring tension...generally, to the point of all but all)

It is all a very very slight worry.
The greater worry is too tight or the wind ripping it off.
Loose is far greater a wind worry(.001%) than a water worry(.00001%)

 

[minilite12]

No cover could hold 10 gallons, probably not 3 gallons, but we'll use 10 as an extreme unobtainable worry of worries.
10 gallons is 81 pounds.

I truly doubt 81 pounds could begin to be a problem IF an awning actually held 10 gallons instead of the probable less than 3 gallons/24.3ish pounds.

(A roller cover doesn't have a motor. It retracts with the slide due to spring tension...generally, to the point of almost none)

It is all a very very slight worry.
The greater worry is too tight or the wind ripping it off.
Loose is far greater a wind worry(.001%) than a water worry(.00001%)

Thanks
We are concerned about the awning over our slide not our main awning over front of motorhome which is fine
Picture is attached of awning over slide.

 

[ducksface]

I fully understand exactly what topper/awning/slide cover/roller thingy you're explaining.
They are both awnings.
Was that one word throwing off the premise?

 

[minilite12]

Thanks
We are concerned about the awning over our slide not our main awning over front of motorhome which is fine
Picture is attached of awning over slide.

Thanks for you response.

 

[MJC68]

I also have heard of Paul's solution. Easy enough if the pooling water is a concern to you.

 

[NordicVetMBA]

We have a 2023 Thor Compass 23TW. During rain a substantial amount of rain pools in the middle of the awning over the slide out. This model has a single large slide, with a large awning. We took the RV to a licensed RV repair shop, hoping they could help. They tightened the awning. After the last rain, water still pooled, but the amount was less. We contacted the RV repair shop. They replied they could tighten it a bit more but cautioned that over-tightening a spring retention awning increases the resistance on the slide motors. We contacted Thor and they responded they cannot provide advice based on an email or phone call. The design seems like a defect as there is no way to slope the awning, etc. to facilitate drainage. Does anyone have any experience and/or guidance? Thank you in advance.
-Ken

Bump the front of the camper up an inch, creating some slope. If you already have a pond up there, it won't help, but if you expect rain just give it some slight slope and the water should wash off normally as it accumulates.

 

[minilite12]

Thanks for the suggestion I will try that
Happy Camping from North Carolina

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

Extreme wind... tie plastic gallon jugs to both ends of a rope. Toss the rope over the slide topper and fill both jugs with water. The rope should be short enough to not allow the jugs to touch the ground... keeping the rope taught over the slide topper fabric.

Rain... use Paul's beach ball trick

Although I'm with Duck. IMO wind is a problem, but rain is a self-correcting non-issue.

 

[dkoldman]

I don't won't to throw more rain on the thread, but I never let my slide out unless coach is 100% perfectly level.

I have large slide too, but never thought about this water on topper problem. If we know it is going to rain, or if it is raining we always bring the slide in. Our floor plan allows. But say I needed all the space, I would NOT HESITATE to put the slide out in a driving rainstorm. Yes it may puddle up ( but I am not gonna go up there to look at it)

If it makes you feels better and maybe someone else can chime in, but I have read all kinds of issues on this forum, and this is the very 1st I have heard of this concern. I certainly don't recall anyone complaining about a damaged slide topper due to water? Wind yes.

One more thing to think about... Some people full time in their RVs and they leave their slides out 24/7. They may have issues with wind and have to clean for leaves & debris.

If I were you I would not worry about it, if the topper does get damaged due to water puddles send the bill to Duckface, if anybody knows anything about water running off the back... they name might be Duckface.

 

[Scubawise]

When you retract the slide it sheds the water.
When the cover fills enough, it'll overflow, regulating itself.
The water is a zero worry thing.
There is no, to extremely small but no greater, reason to be concerned.

Same here. Water drops off when retracting

 

[Scubawise]

My brother tilts is A class levelers slightly down on slide side so water run off

 

[GTM41261]

When you retract the slide it sheds the water.
When the cover fills enough, it'll overflow, regulating itself.
The water is a zero worry thing.
There is no, to extremely small but no greater, reason to be concerned.

Duck is spot on once again. Nothing to worry about ours does it after a hard rain. just don't be stand at the back of the slide when putting it in unless you want a shower.

 

[dkoldman]

My brother tilts is A class levelers slightly down on slide side so water run off

Some people do the same thing and even worse as matter of routine. I can quote 100s of threads where people fault the slides as defective and poor quality of Thor. I have read where some say they have to purposely unlevel the RV to get the slide straight

A failed slide was probably my biggest phobia against buying an RV, especially a large single wall slide. About half the time we toured a TMC RV, the slide didn't work properly for some reason. The dealer always said they could fix, but my belief was that too many people had access to use the slides and did not use properly.

Absolutely No way I introduce the potential of error / issue with a wall slide trying to move water off a topper.

When others are around, my slide is always key locked so no one that thinks they know what they doing can operate. I start my engine and 100% auto level first. Verify clearance, and fully extend slide not stopping. I wait for the motor whine to tell me to stop. If it going to rain, it is coming in preferably before the rain starts. A light shower and it stays out and the topper does what it is suppose to do puddles be damm. A severe storm, wet or not it is coming in, but I do so out of concern for wind damage not water puddle.

When bringing in I do the reverse. With engine running, verify clearance inside and bring slide in, raise jacks and I am ready to roll.

 

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Interesting thread. However, we were leaving the park over the weekend, I retracted the slide out.. the aft end on the inside of the RV starting pouring water down the wall all over the floor. Today i got up there and the awning topper un zipped from the attach rail, leaving a huge hole for the water to accumulate on the top of the slide out. We got all the towels out and there doesn't seem to be any water damage behind the refrig, or cabinets.

It looks like the thread that secures the inner rubber core just disintegrated, i have a friendly call to carefree in the morning.

Is this a DIY? or does it take multiple people, ladders and cursing to fix this?

 

[NordicVetMBA]

Interesting thread. However, we were leaving the park over the weekend, I retracted the slide out.. the aft end on the inside of the RV starting pouring water down the wall all over the floor. Today i got up there and the awning topper un zipped from the attach rail, leaving a huge hole for the water to accumulate on the top of the slide out. We got all the towels out and there doesn't seem to be any water damage behind the refrig, or cabinets.

It looks like the thread that secures the inner rubber core just disintegrated, i have a friendly call to carefree in the morning.

FYI - they sell the regular awning & slide topper fabrics on Amazon, you just need the measurements. Lots of YouTube videos on swapping out a slide topper fabric, it is quite easy - and depending on the quality of the replacement, it is something like "not much more" than $100. Compared to other Class A repairs - it will not break the bank.

If water is ponding up, the fabric is probably aging (UV rays, etc., ) and not sufficiently "tight" to vent the water off. You don't get 10 gallons all at once - you get 1 raindrop at a time, so if the fabric is in good repair, it should just drip off.

I doubt they last more than 4 or 5 years; it's just normal wear and tear. I don't care for mine; I plan to replace them with the True Toppers next time. Here in the west (with the mountains and the wind), the flapping is really annoying.