Slide out awning pools water and sags during rain

[16ACE27]

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?

I had the same thing happen to me last year - zipped the non-UV thread. I bought a 50' roll off the Jungle site and used 17' of it. It was a DIY job for me. Come to North Florida and I'll let you use some of the remainder of my roll and help you install it. Or I can just ship you the roll (or fraction of it - less weight) at your expense.

PM me if intertested.

 

[NordicVetMBA]

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.

My slides won't move with the engine running - that's a safety thing I'm sure on the newer ones. I start the generator first if I am not on shore-power though.

Even with the generator or shore power, I let it charge a few minutes before moving the large slide - it makes a huge difference - slick & smooth versus slow & creeky and not necessarily even. The small slides are always fine, though ( I have a driver-side full-wall slide and 2 smaller passenger-side slides on a 38' diesel pusher).

I am planning to get the driver-side Schwintek sh!t replaced with a VROOM retrofit the next time I am in Tucson, though. That is not unique to Thor though, lots of Phaetons and Winne Tours stacked up at VROOM.

 

[EA37TS]

A number of years ago ( 8 or 10 ) the was some considerable discussion on this topic on the forum. There were quite a few suggestions on how to manage the issue. A searc of the forum might be in order.

 

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Thank you. I have viewed all the youtubes, I have found a local guy who will order new fabric and install. I can supervise and take credit for a job well done.

BTW, CW didn't even return my call. Dometic can't find my awning part number from my component list supplied with the Camper. This is a relatively new RV, 2021. I have a new respect for you guys and gals keeping older RV alive and running.

 

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

I had a professional installer replace the Carefree fabric with some Sunbrella fabric. That took about 2 hrs and I am glad to have him.

The production fabric removed was a cheap vinyl remnant of the original, worn, threads all broken down. The new fabric had the stronger material, upgraded threads and a the seam was bonded.

I was able to help feed the new fabric into the slots, but beware, the tool he used to hold the spring tension dropped out and I'm glad no fingers up there.

He inspected and no water damage done to the slide out, or interior, i was able to clean the upper surface of the slide out and lubricate.

One more repair done.....

 

[dkoldman]

My slides won't move with the engine running - that's a safety thing I'm sure on the newer ones. I start the generator first if I am not on shore-power though.

Even with the generator or shore power, I let it charge a few minutes before moving the large slide - it makes a huge difference - slick & smooth versus slow & creeky and not necessarily even. The small slides are always fine, though ( I have a driver-side full-wall slide and 2 smaller passenger-side slides on a 38' diesel pusher).

I am planning to get the driver-side Schwintek sh!t replaced with a VROOM retrofit the next time I am in Tucson, though. That is not unique to Thor though, lots of Phaetons and Winne Tours stacked up at VROOM.

For my coach the below is required to extend the slide and it is all for Safety and Integrity of power.

1. Engine or Generator must be running or on SP
2. Transmission must be Park or Neutral
3. Park brake must be set
4. Turn On the Slide ON/OFF switch which has a dedicated key on the wall

When I decided to go to Lithium batteries, I passed on a LI-BIM because that 15 minute cycle could not guarantee that I had full power from alternator 100% of the time when extending slides. So I bought the Victron Energy Orion XS 50amp DC2DC to mitigate that worry.

My Hydraulic jacks and slides both ties to same safety precautions / interlocks, both systems are by Power Gear.

I once had my jacks down and engine still running and mistakenly relaese the parking brake and the system scared the living crap out of me. It was flashing almost like some emergency vehicle was inside the RV

 

[ericmac450]

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.

Is there any one brand you all recommend more than others? I've got to replace both of my slide toppers and while I read reviews on Amazon I'm always skeptical.

This one seemed to have the best reviews I found.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2SYTJ..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=3MqjDjUJRi&th=1

 

[16ACE27]

Is there any one brand you all recommend more than others? I've got to replace both of my slide toppers and while I read reviews on Amazon I'm always skeptical.

This one seemed to have the best reviews I found.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2SYTJ..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=3MqjDjUJRi&th=1

I bought the Solera brand. $150 at the time.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSM26L0/?th=1

 

[NordicVetMBA]

Is there any one brand you all recommend more than others? I've got to replace both of my slide toppers and while I read reviews on Amazon I'm always skeptical.

This one seemed to have the best reviews I found.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2SYTJ..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=3MqjDjUJRi&th=1

"Brand-X" from China - I'm sure all of them are. They are not expensive, it's not a horrible job for a DIY'er to do either, just plan on doing it every few years.

My current coach is a 2017 and I haven't had to replace them yet but I did just notice a few pin holes in the main on the last time we used it, so I'm sure I'll be right there with you in a few months or a year.

 

[Scubawise]

Is there any one brand you all recommend more than others? I've got to replace both of my slide toppers and while I read reviews on Amazon I'm always skeptical.

This one seemed to have the best reviews I found.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2SYTJ..._0?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aref=3MqjDjUJRi&th=1

Thanks for the link.
Did not know I could do white when needed

 

[Scubawise]

"Brand-X" from China - I'm sure all of them are. They are not expensive, it's not a horrible job for a DIY'er to do either, just plan on doing it every few years.

My current coach is a 2017 and I haven't had to replace them yet but I did just notice a few pin holes in the main on the last time we used it, so I'm sure I'll be right there with you in a few months or a year.

I used this last year for small holes.
$25
Still works