Living for many years in the Pacific NW with all the rain we definitely wanted awnings over the slides. However, our first winter as FT'ers in AZ & TX we're now wondering if that is wise given the wind, wind and more wind we've experienced. Our future travel plans include the PNW only in summer, the "dry" season that lasts less than 60 days up there and continuing to winter in TX/AZ.
So, for those of you who have been FT longer than us, do you continue to use the awnings over the slides? We're finding the noise when the winds are strong which is a frequent occurance leads to less sleep and we're figuring they will need to be replaced sooner than we expected just due to the winds. On the other hand, we love the fact that we're not getting the tree debris / water / etc. in the RV when we pull in the slides on moving day which we experienced before we had the slide awnings. We tend to move every 5-10 days so we're not very static.
Looking for suggestions / experience from those of you who have been on the road much longer than us relative "newbie FT'ers"!!
Thanks
Lucky Mike said
09:33 PM Mar 3, 2014
they make inflatable cushions that go between the awning and the top of the slide to keep the wind noise and snow loads down......I would not remove them....the awnings on the slides also dissipate heat on the top of the slide
TRAILERKING said
11:48 PM Mar 3, 2014
Don't take them off. Also if it is real windy/stormy some just put the slide in until it settles down.
Hdrider said
05:46 AM Mar 4, 2014
I wouldn't take them off. Like Mike said it adds a little shade to the top of the slides and keep should repel water away from the slide opening that just could allow water in.
When we are in very windy area's I have tossed a rope over the topper and tied it under the slide loosely.
Bill and Linda said
06:54 AM Mar 4, 2014
We travel around a lot of different areas of the country, move often as you do and I admit, sometimes in the SW the toppers can be a bit annoying.But we choose to put them on the new rig after about 3 seconds of thought.When we’re in the east, the western mountains or the PNW I just don’t want to climb on the roof and sweep debris off before closing the slides. Frankly, that can be dangerous.We believe the pros far outweigh the cons if you travel around. If I were sitting in SW all the time – might be different.
Workinrvers said
07:56 PM Mar 4, 2014
We really like ours to keep the debris off the slide out roofs. We actually replaced our old worn fabric with new last fall. The old fabric came off very easily so there is really no reason you couldn't just take the fabric off and store it for awhile. This way you can leave all the hardware on the rig and try going without the covers to see how you like it. You can easily "go back" if you want by re-installing the fabric. Here is a link that has some "how to videos" on the process.
WRT mikes suggestion about "AIRWEDGES" I bought a couple.....waste of money. WRT toppers on your slides...there are +s and -s. I have had them most of the time (A&E Dometic & Carefree) and like the A&E best. The carefree material/vinyl doesn't last. On my 3rd set in 3 years and with the Carefree roller enclosed it clogs up with snow or leaves. With the A&E most of the leaves and snow falls off when retracting. Everyone will have an opinion, that's mine after 7 years. If I was to buy new I'd say ordering toppers would be a 50/50 maybe for me.
WestWardHo said
09:12 PM Mar 4, 2014
While we're not the long term experienced RVers you asked for opinions from, we understand your concern. The recent heavy rain and winds in Southern California where we're now located had me nervous during the day with the BIG wind gusts. I kept asking Jesse if we should take the slides in but he was confident they would be fine. We've noticed having lived and traveled in the SW for a number of years that the wind almost always dies down at sunset.
Sherry
Bill and Linda said
10:13 AM Mar 5, 2014
Sort of related to Sherry’s comment about the winds: Some have asked about the Winegard SK-series HD, roof mounted satellite dishes and their wind loading issues. I.e. at what point do you want to lower these antennas for safety. If memory serves they are rated to about 45 MPH or so winds. (I’m being conservative here and for the life of me I can’t find the documentation to back this up. It is published but it’s not in the manual.) However, as these are pretty big sails on the roof and I would lower mine if the gusts get much above 30 for sustained periods. The dish will take it, but who knows about the roof. I wouldn’t panic with one or two gusts at that level; been there many times without issue.
Neil and Connie said
11:33 AM Mar 5, 2014
Bill and Linda wrote:
Sort of related to Sherry’s comment about the winds: Some have asked about the Winegard SK-series HD,
New Horizons told me they were good to 100 mph wind; although if it goes over about 30 sustained or 45 or so gusts we put ours down because it starts to wobble quite a lot.
Bill and Linda said
11:47 AM Mar 5, 2014
Neil and Connie wrote:
Bill and Linda wrote:
Sort of related to Sherry’s comment about the winds: Some have asked about the Winegard SK-series HD,
New Horizons told me they were good to 100 mph wind; although if it goes over about 30 sustained or 45 or so gusts we put ours down because it starts to wobble quite a lot.
On a New Horizons roof, or one built similarly, they may be good to 100MPH. {Grin} (Was Cole smiling when he said that?) But I’m with you – we put ours down.No reason to be the test case.
Lucky Mike said
11:55 AM Mar 5, 2014
if the wind is over or around 100 mph outside.........Trust me , you wont be in your coach worrying about your dish!!!! (hurricane force starts at 70)
even at 30 & 40 mph your dish should already be down and secured......
if the wind gusts are enough to sway your unit then its powerful enough to damage the seal on the fasteners holding your dish down or roof plate......if the wind is great enough to make you pull your awning & chairs in its gonna be a problem no matter what the manual says.
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 11:56:29 AM
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
12:06 PM Mar 5, 2014
We've learned that its better for us to have the Tailgator sitting on the ground rather than on the roof or ladder bracket. We're were sitting here in Texas is always a breeze from 5-7 to 25-30 daily. The RV rocks or wiggles to much for the tracking to stay locked.
We don't have slide out awnings. When we were back east, they would have been nice to keep all the pinestraw off the roof. Where we are now though, I would't want them.
BiggarView said
12:07 PM Mar 5, 2014
Lucky Mike wrote:
if the wind is over or around 100 mph outside.........Trust me , you wont be in your coach worrying about your dish!!!!....
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 11:56:29 AM
Maybe Trailerking will be standing under his awning
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 12:08:50 PM
Bill and Linda said
12:11 PM Mar 5, 2014
Lucky Mike wrote:
if the wind is over or around 100 mph outside.........Trust me , you wont be in your coach worrying about your dish!!!! (hurricane force starts at 70)
even at 30 & 40 mph your dish should already be down and secured......
if the wind gusts are enough to sway your unit then its powerful enough to damage the seal on the fasteners holding your dish down or roof plate......if the wind is great enough to make you pull your awning & chairs in its gonna be a problem no matter what the manual says.
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 11:56:29 AM
Mike:
I assure you I, nor my rig, would be anyplace close to a 100MPH wind. You will notice I said "Grin." I've endured many hurricanes, but in house.
Our Airstream, all by its lonesome, has endured that kind of wind twice. No damage.But it was tied down to a pad AND it’s an Airstream that is only 10 feet tall - and - it's an Airstream.
Time to bug out by around 40 in my book or before if you can. Sooner is always better.
BiggarView said
12:25 PM Mar 5, 2014
Bill and Linda wrote:
Lucky Mike wrote:
if the wind is over or around 100 mph outside.........Trust me , you wont be in your coach worrying about your dish!!!!.....
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 11:56:29 AM
Mike:
I assure you I, nor my rig, would be anyplace close to a 100MPH wind.....Time to bug out by around 40 in my book or before if you can. Sooner is always better.
Bill, hurricanes, I agree... gust fronts or squall lines on some thunderstorms have frequently been known to top 100MPH. Let see you outrun that. Thankfully they don't happen that often and usually they are only common in certain parts of the country. But yeah, your point is well taken.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 12:28:58 PM
Bill and Linda said
12:52 PM Mar 5, 2014
biggaRView wrote:
Bill, hurricanes, I agree... gust fronts or squall lines on some thunderstorms have frequently been known to top 100MPH. Let see you outrun that. Thankfully they don't happen that often and usually they are only common in certain parts of the country. But yeah, your point is well taken.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 12:28:58 PM
Your right and the problem with thunderstorm fronts is there is really no time to bug out. Close up all the slides, put down all the antennas and in most cases go find a cinder block structure to ride it out – Like the bathhouse as all are aware.It depends. In many places we stay that is the best you can do because of the non-predictability of thunderstorm paths until it is too late to move.Hurricanes – totally different picture.
Living for many years in the Pacific NW with all the rain we definitely wanted awnings over the slides. However, our first winter as FT'ers in AZ & TX we're now wondering if that is wise given the wind, wind and more wind we've experienced. Our future travel plans include the PNW only in summer, the "dry" season that lasts less than 60 days up there and continuing to winter in TX/AZ.
So, for those of you who have been FT longer than us, do you continue to use the awnings over the slides? We're finding the noise when the winds are strong which is a frequent occurance leads to less sleep and we're figuring they will need to be replaced sooner than we expected just due to the winds. On the other hand, we love the fact that we're not getting the tree debris / water / etc. in the RV when we pull in the slides on moving day which we experienced before we had the slide awnings. We tend to move every 5-10 days so we're not very static.
Looking for suggestions / experience from those of you who have been on the road much longer than us relative "newbie FT'ers"!!
Thanks
Don't take them off. Also if it is real windy/stormy some just put the slide in until it settles down.
When we are in very windy area's I have tossed a rope over the topper and tied it under the slide loosely.
We travel around a lot of different areas of the country, move often as you do and I admit, sometimes in the SW the toppers can be a bit annoying. But we choose to put them on the new rig after about 3 seconds of thought. When we’re in the east, the western mountains or the PNW I just don’t want to climb on the roof and sweep debris off before closing the slides. Frankly, that can be dangerous. We believe the pros far outweigh the cons if you travel around. If I were sitting in SW all the time – might be different.
We really like ours to keep the debris off the slide out roofs. We actually replaced our old worn fabric with new last fall. The old fabric came off very easily so there is really no reason you couldn't just take the fabric off and store it for awhile. This way you can leave all the hardware on the rig and try going without the covers to see how you like it. You can easily "go back" if you want by re-installing the fabric. Here is a link that has some "how to videos" on the process.
http://toughtopawnings.com/how-to-replace-rv-awning-fabric.html
Sherry
Sort of related to Sherry’s comment about the winds: Some have asked about the Winegard SK-series HD, roof mounted satellite dishes and their wind loading issues. I.e. at what point do you want to lower these antennas for safety. If memory serves they are rated to about 45 MPH or so winds. (I’m being conservative here and for the life of me I can’t find the documentation to back this up. It is published but it’s not in the manual.) However, as these are pretty big sails on the roof and I would lower mine if the gusts get much above 30 for sustained periods. The dish will take it, but who knows about the roof. I wouldn’t panic with one or two gusts at that level; been there many times without issue.
New Horizons told me they were good to 100 mph wind; although if it goes over about 30 sustained or 45 or so gusts we put ours down because it starts to wobble quite a lot.
On a New Horizons roof, or one built similarly, they may be good to 100MPH. {Grin} (Was Cole smiling when he said that?) But I’m with you – we put ours down. No reason to be the test case.
even at 30 & 40 mph your dish should already be down and secured......
if the wind gusts are enough to sway your unit then its powerful enough to damage the seal on the fasteners holding your dish down or roof plate......if the wind is great enough to make you pull your awning & chairs in its gonna be a problem no matter what the manual says.
-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 11:56:29 AM
We don't have slide out awnings. When we were back east, they would have been nice to keep all the pinestraw off the roof. Where we are now though, I would't want them.
Maybe Trailerking will be standing under his awning
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 12:08:50 PM
Mike:
I assure you I, nor my rig, would be anyplace close to a 100MPH wind. You will notice I said "Grin." I've endured many hurricanes, but in house.
Our Airstream, all by its lonesome, has endured that kind of wind twice. No damage. But it was tied down to a pad AND it’s an Airstream that is only 10 feet tall - and - it's an Airstream.
Time to bug out by around 40 in my book or before if you can. Sooner is always better.
Bill, hurricanes, I agree... gust fronts or squall lines on some thunderstorms have frequently been known to top 100MPH. Let see you outrun that.
Thankfully they don't happen that often and usually they are only common in certain parts of the country. But yeah, your point is well taken.
-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 12:28:58 PM
Your right and the problem with thunderstorm fronts is there is really no time to bug out. Close up all the slides, put down all the antennas and in most cases go find a cinder block structure to ride it out – Like the bathhouse as all are aware. It depends. In many places we stay that is the best you can do because of the non-predictability of thunderstorm paths until it is too late to move. Hurricanes – totally different picture.