How to Replace a Carefree of Colorado RV Slide Topper (Model SOK II)

REPLACEMENT SLIDE TOPPER & AWNING FABRIC DISCOUNTS! Tough Top Awnings now offers a special discount for RVgeeks viewers! Use the coupon code "RVGEEKSROCK" at checkout for a 5% discount on your entire order at toughtopawnings...
NOTE: When placing your order, be sure to subtract 1.5 inches from the total inside cap-to-cap measurement when specifying "Fabric Width to be cut to" on the Tough Top Awnings order form.
Our favorite type of DIY RV project is one that's both surprisingly manageable and also saves a lot of money. Slide topper replacement fits that description to a T by being much easier to accomplish than one might expect, while costing as little as 1/2 to 1/3 the price of having it done at an RV shop. If you thought that replacing your slide toppers was out of your league as a DIY RVer, watch this first and you just might change your mind!
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Here's our entire playlist of awning & slide topper videos:
• AWNINGS & SLIDE TOPPERS
After videoing the installation of the first topper (which takes a lot more time of course), we completed the remaining ones in just 25-30 minutes each. Even though it may look as though we've done this before, this video shows the very first time we've ever worked on a Carefree of Colorado slide topper. It was really that easy to figure out, so this project just might be easier that you thought (we know a lot of people are afraid of "The Spring!"). The spring tension was noticeably less than on A&E toppers (which still aren't that strong) and wasn't intimidating at all.
If you have a different Carefree of Colorado topper than the SOK II models that we're replacing today (or if you simply want to see the "official" instructions for replacing the toppers), you can view all of Carefree's replacement instructions here:
www.carefreeofc...
We purchased our first slide topper replacement fabric two years ago from Tough Top Awnings. When we opened the box, it was immediately obvious that it was superior to the original fabric (double-stitched, very tight weave and noticeably thicker) and less expensive than OEM replacement material.
www.toughtopawn...
The piano music is my own performance of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899.
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Full-Time RVers since April, 2003, we share DIY (do it yourself) RV maintenance, repair, travel, upgrade and operational tips & tricks.
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Comments welcome! Thanks for watching! Don't forget to subscribe! #RVLIFE #RVDIY #RVLIVING #FULLTIMERV #RVREPAIR #RVMAINTENANCE #RVMODS #RVUPGRADES #RVTRAVEL #DIYRV #RVGEEKS

[@RVgeeks]

Visit toughtopawnings.com and use Discount Code RVGEEKSROCK to get a 5% discount on the same great slide topper and awning replacement fabric we use on our own RV.

[@robinbrouwers3914]

Ok, so i'm a fan of your videos. I've done all the jobs you have produced from the skylight replacement, fan covers, to boiling eggs. I've done all my lights to LED's and you have given me the confidence to do things i could not imagine i could have done before plus saved me a ton of money by making it look so easy. I've just looked at my slide tops and they are in need of replacement. I haven't done it yet but i'm gonna do it. I feel that your videos will get me through it. So bottom line thanks a ton and i'll write again once complete to let you know how it goes. May not be for a few months though.

[@theimaginator16]

It was a stroke of genius putting the subtle music in the background. I love your videos, and can't wait to see more!

[@craigstine7343]

Thank you for the informational video! Replaced both of my SOKII toppers on my class A today with the help of a friend. Only needed one 8 foot ladder and one of us on the roof top. The only hiccup was the company that provided my fabric sent two sizes of cotter keys to use to block the spring, but did not fit the hole, so we improvised and used a nail that fit better. It was a piece of cake between this video and the instructions.

[@RVgeeks]

Great to hear. Glad it helped!

[@John45acp]

We just received our new slide toppers and are installing them today on two slides. The video has great information.

[@tomc.6073]

This is a GREAT video for the guy who snagged a tree limb (that's me) with my awning... Thank you Cheers,

[@RVgeeks]

+Tom C. Ouch! Hope the fabric was already getting old.

[@skymarshall94cobra]

Best Video ever, THANK YOU!!! I guy, 2 ladders took total 1 hour... I would only recommend if you do it with one person, its easiest to slide the new awning in from the roof

[@RVgeeks]

Very gratifying to hear we've been helpful. Thanks for such a nice comment. And congratulations on your awesome trailer. I learned something from you too, since I'd never seen one with THREE sewer outlets before! That is awesome! :)

[@mikeync9288]

I would only add one suggestion. After the fabric is removed it is an excellent opportunity to clean the top of the pullout and lube the top portion of the slideout seal. Great video!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks for the tip, Mickey! We actually showed doing just that in one of our early slide-topper replacement videos, but left out that detail here. Thanks for mentioning it! :)

[@rvtipsandtricks4529]

My wife and I absolutley love this channel! Ya'll are so informative and detailed:) We learned everything we need to know before we purchased our travel trailer:) Thanks guys keep up the great work!

[@kenshutster7879]

Good information. Changed mine today and took very little time. Very easy by following the steps on the video.

[@RVgeeks]

Glad it helped

[@whitefish146]

Great video we used it and has a great experience with the new TOUGH TOP sliding rite in !

[@stuffyoucando2]

Great video, I just replaced mine today and this was very helpful. Looks as good as new, now on to replacing the fabric on the A&E (Dometic) that’s on the other side.

[@heidebill]

Thanks for the Video , Bill

[@fisherguy]

Helpful video, doing two slide toppers right now, one thing that is frustrating is when the screws shows at 3:26 break on both toppers, arrrggghhhhh.

[@RCRacer-77]

Yes I can send you some pictures. The patio awning is about 2 foot in front of the topper. Thanks for the reply

[@sixfeetundertg]

Thanks Guys, Yet another great video!

[@RVgeeks]

Robin Brouwers What a nice comment Robin! You just made our day. :) Your timing is great. I assume you saw that as of this morning, Tough Top Awnings is giving a 5% discount to RVgeeks viewers? Use the discount code "RVGEEKSROCK" (can you tell they like us, too? lol) when you check out at toughtopawnings.com. We're actually heading to Vancouver, WA in a couple of weeks to shoot another video with them! Please do let us know how you make out with your installation. - Peter

[@theimaginator16]

Ok Just checked them out, instant sub! lol thanks for the tip!

[@rhess10]

GREAT video. I recently had the tension spring either break or let loose in a very long slideout topper. I have been dreading this project. This video helps quite a bit. Would you recomment any lube for the rollers or anything?

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry to hear, Russell. We have never once lubricated the rollers or any other part of our slide topers. (We’ve owned our rig for over 17 years). So we would have to say no on that.

[@gonebyrv9748]

Hi. Just watched your excellent video. Am thinking of replacing my large awning with a Tough Top replacement. If pictures are worth a thousand words, then a good video must be worth a million. Please consider doing a replacement using the Carefree of Colorado Ascent model. I've read thru the CofC directions, but a video with tips and tricks would be MUCH better.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Karen & Steve! Your timing might just be uncanny. We've been talking about doing another Tough Top Awning video, showing how to replace the fully-enclosed Carefree of Colorado slide-toppers. I just looked at the Carefree website and see that the Ascent is a fully-enclosed slide-topper. Is that the one you were referring to, or were you talking about a patio awning?

[@gonebyrv9748]

RVgeeks That would be excellent. Yes, I am talking about the slideout cover awnings with the enclosed "cans".

[@RVgeeks]

Karen snd Steve Fischer I'd suggest dropping an email to Tough Top and let them know you're interested. We were talking with them about connecting with them next month in Washington to do a video shoot of the enclosed Carefree topper. That might be your model. Maybe a note from an interested customer might light a fire! lol

[@gonebyrv9748]

RVgeeks Will do.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much Ryan! I'm gonna give major props where due here. We recently spent a fantastic week hosting Jason & Nikki Wynn as our guests here. If you aren't familiar with them, they're better known as Gone with the Wynns: gonewiththewynns(dot)com. Jason is the most amazing videographer, and he generously shared some tips with me. I dare say you won't be seeing videos from me without background music again. lol If you check out their KZbin channel, you'll see what fantastic work he does.

[@RCRacer-77]

Ok my right rear SOK II slide topper needs to come off the left side of the roller because the patio awning is forward of it. Please help with how to deal with the spring in the left end of the tube. Loved the videos, always helpful when tackling projects on the motorhome.

[@fabiangomez357]

Did you figure it out?

[@CarverKingsOfficial]

What happens if you loose the tension? How do you fix that

[@RVgeeks]

This video should provide some help; kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnrNZ3qagbKCeK8

[@glennrichter7279]

I have the exact same awning. What is the purpose of the sliding bracket on the backside of the deflector? It lines up with an existing hole in the wind deflector. No previous hole for mounting the bracket to the camper, and I think the wind deflector would flop around while going down the road with just two small screws on the ends to hold it.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Glenn. We think that bracket may be for use in a version of this slidetopper that has the complete cover around the fabric. The cover attaches there (we think). On this model, it's not used.

[@K9Kazoo]

Is there a way to just adjust the tension and fix the sag due to water pooling?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Bryan! There is indeed a way to adjust the tension on a slide topper. We have a video with Tyler from Tough Top Awnings demonstrating the basic technique on a Dometic model, but a Carefree slide topper would be similar. You can see that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnrNZ3qagbKCeK8 Unfortunately, even with the tension increased, a slide topper that was mounted perfectly level by the manufacturer is very hard to prevent water from pooling on. It’s just a bad design. A smart manufacturer will mount the RV side of the topper higher so that water can never pool. We have that same problem on our rig, with our very level toppers holding water no matter how tightly retention them.

[@michellecooke7781]

The topper awning is in good sharp but the tension needs to be tightened as it sages after opening. I have looked at all the carefree manuals and online elsewhere for instruction as to how to tighten the tension. Can you provide me with instructions on how to do this? Is there a video on this process I can watch? If no video are there pictures I can look at?

[@RVgeeks]

Contact Tyler at www.toughtopawnings.com for expert advice. And tell him the Geeks said hi! 😊

[@suzannedospassos8375]

when ordering the fabric. I just measured the old awning and used those measurements why are you measuring from cap to cap.. ???

[@RVgeeks]

Great question, Suzanne! It’s not unusual for fabric to shrink over time, and by measuring the roller instead, it make sure that the fabric is the right size for the roller, not the old fabric.

[@RVgeeks]

You'll love watching their videos. By the way, that's their RV ("Windy") modeling the "Summit" model slide topper in the video. lol

[@fabiangomez357]

what if you are replacing the entire roller with awning fabric attached? I ordered a complete replacement and need to know how this differs?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Fabian. If the replacement roller comes with brand new fabric on it, there really isn’t any reason to replace it. While it isn’t as high-quality as Tough Top Awnings fabric, it is brand new, and you might as well get as much use out of it as you can before bothering to replace it. When it does wear out, and you just need new fabric, you absolutely want something superior to original fabric, and that’s where the Tough Top Awnings really shines. It’s just not worth throwing out brand new original fabric to install it.

[@fabiangomez357]

@@RVgeeks I purchased my used RV recently and it didn't come with a roller tube with fabric, therefore I ordered a replacement tube to drop into my brackets. Hopefully I explained it better that time. I just have to unwrap it and put it on the brackets but i'm not sure how to or if i need to do anything involving winding or spring pressure. I do plan on using the stock fabric on it till it rips.

[@RVgeeks]

Got it! Not sure if the spring comes pre-wound or not. If so, it’s almost certainly pinned in place. If that’s the case you’d want to install it completely before pulling the pins. If it’s not pre-wound, we are guessing the installation instructions would include information about how to wind the spring, and how much.

[@fabiangomez357]

@@RVgeeks i just checked, you are correct. there is a red warning label and a cotter pin holding it in place. the instructions say to install in place, then release the pin while holding the roller and that it will settle itself after a few ins and outs of the slide. thanks for the help, much appreciated.

[@littlet-rex8839]

My fabric slides in from the other end, will it release the spring to pull the end out of the other side?

[@RVgeeks]

We're going to refer you to the expert on this one - Tyler at Tough Top Awnings. He is the absolute authority on this. Give him a call at [phone]‬, tell him The RVGeeks sent you, and if you buy fabric from him (you should... it's the best!) be sure to use the discount code RVGEEKSROCK to save 5% (ordering over the phone or online, either way). Tyler can surely answer your question. Let us know how you make out!

[@littlet-rex8839]

RVgeeks thank you so much 🙂

[@fabiangomez357]

@@littlet-rex8839 what did you end up figuring out about this?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Randy. How close is the left side of the patio awning to the right side of the slide? If I private message you my e-mail address, can you send me a couple of photos showing that area on the RV?

[@jolindawatson8924]

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