Replacing an A&E RV Slide Topper - "Standard Method"

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...
Here is the "express" version of this video, showing how to install a new A&E slide topper.
Here's our entire playlist of awning & slide topper videos:
• AWNINGS & SLIDE TOPPERS
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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!
Here we demonstrate the "standard" method for replacing a typical A&E slide topper (Carefree of Colorado toppers are different of course). If you feel comfortable that you can handle the installation (which we did in 20 minutes flat with two people and two stepladders), we also recorded a longer version, which includes how to take the needed measurements, how to complete the online order form, and also covers the full installation procedure as well. You can view that longer video here:
• Measure, Order & Repla...
Also, if you saw our first video on this topic last year, we tried an "alternate" installation technique that's a good method to consider using on deep slide-outs. You can view that video here:
• Replacing an RV Slide ...
The alternate method is a bit more involved, but we liked the fact that much of the work was done on the ground, and we didn't have to reach across our deep slide-out from the ladders. Watch both videos and choose the installation method that you're most comfortable with. Either way, it's probably easier that you thought!
We purchased our first slide topper replacement last year from Tough Top Awnings. When we opened the box, it was immediately obvious that it was superior to the original fabric (double-stitched and noticeably thicker) and it was less expensive than buying OEM replacement material from A&E.
Ray (Tough Top's owner) was very responsive when we had questions during the ordering process and he obviously takes pride in making a superior product at a lower price. When we decided to replace our bedroom slide toppers this year, it was a no-brainer to order from Tough Top Awnings again. You can get more detail by visiting their website:
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.
Many RVers are eager to learn more about using, maintaining and caring for their rigs. We hope our experience can help others go DIY, saving time & money, plus the satisfaction of a job well done.
We're handy RVers, not professional technicians. We're happy with the techniques and products we use, but be sure to confirm that all methods and materials you use are compatible with your equipment and abilities. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV. Any task you perform or product you purchase based on any information we provide is strictly at your own risk.
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[@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.

[@brianschauffler3593]

Do you have a sq ft price of the fabric?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Brian! Tough Top Awnings has pricing tools on their website that will help.

[@elizabethmackley3972]

I just changed mine yesterday by myself, it's an A&E 150inch long slide-out that took me about two hrs. to take the old one off clean top and put the new one in, I watched your video three times to make sure I knew how to do it I must say it would have been much faster and easier with help, I am 76 yrs. old so if I can do it anyone with a little DIY experience can, I also resealed the top with three coats of Hengs rubber roof sealer which took me about four days, makes me feel good to be able to do those things at my age. My name is Jack I'm on my wife's Facebook account mine was hacked big time.

[@RVgeeks]

You are a rock star, Jack! Awesome!

[@bobgodfrey9524]

Many thanks for the great video. Just replaced 2 slide toppers on my 2000 Newmar MountainAire today. One suggestion I would add is that it makes for a little bit easier maneuvering of the material if it is warm. Cold vinyl is stiffer and less flexible than warm stuff........just a thought.

[@randymilan-williams2379]

Great video and very helpful in doing the replacement. The only issue I had was, there was just a single hole in the bedroom slide and no hole in the dining slide mechanism. Locking the spring open became a real challenge but some creativity got the job done. Thanks guys.

[@RVgeeks]

Great to hear you were able to overcome an obstacle and get it done, Randy! 👍

[@johnnylightning1491]

How far you've come since this video. Thanks for the information. I may need this soon, I just bought an RV that needs a topper repair. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much, Johnny. You just made our evening! We still love Tough Top after all these years. We highly recommend their replacement material, and they still offer a discount to our viewers (code RVGEEKSROCK still works)!

[@dembonesmusic]

I used this product and method to replace our bedroom slide and a 24' full wall slide. It was a snap and looks great! Thanks for the video guys!

[@RVgeeks]

That's awesome Clark! It's great to hear that our video helped. This is definitely one of our favorite DIY tasks, because it's so expensive to have it done at a shop, and they just use the same inferior OEM fabric too. Before we replaced our first slide topper, we were so afraid of "The Spring" in the roller. Now we know it's a piece of cake! Glad you didn't waste your money either. :)

[@normanbreed1326]

Worked perfectly for both of our slides!! Thanks alot!!

[@inspired2rv661]

Hey guys, I use your videos to replace my topper last year and it was great. One of your videos recommended using baby powder to lubricate the rubber seal that you can only access when the topper is off. I did that and I’ve been telling people about it.. Yesterday, one of the campers I met told me that it only works if there’s talc in the baby powder. It’s the talc that is helpful and most baby powder has had the talc removed due to cancer causing evidence. Can you back that up for me or is that information in accurate? It’s too late now I’m not going back up there, but wondered if you can tell us something about that. It’s hard to know who to believe these days with so much information out there, really love and appreciate your wisdom and willingness to share it. 🙏🏻

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much for the comments, and great question. Yes, it is true that due to the potential for cancer, baby powder no longer contains talc. Unfortunately, it’s now mostly cornstarch, which, by itself isn’t a good choice for slide seals. Instead, we recommend using tire talc. Here is a link to our article about that, which includes a link to buy tire, talc: www.thervgeeks.com/how-to-care-for-rv-slide-out-seals/ Also, if you check out the following video, you’ll see how we reach underneath the slide topper to take care of the upper seal without removing the fabric: Maintaining RV Slide-out Seals - How To Reach Under Slide Toppers kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqesfWxpdsqUetU

[@inspired2rv661]

@@RVgeeks thank you, you guys are so awesome!!

[@grantcarroll4495]

First of all... THANK YOU SO MUCH for your DIY videos! You two are my 'go to' guys for sure when I'm working on my RV! :-) You are thorough, detailed and your videos and commentary are clear and precise. So far I have replaced the slideout topper on our bedroom slideout. Now it's time to do the big living room slideout. Question on this: I have watched this video and the one when you replaced the topper on your large slideout where you took the roller off and rolled it down the side of your coach. Ours is about the same length and depth. Is there any reason I couldn't use the 'standard' method so I wouldn't have to remove the roller? I understand the 'depth' part of it when sliding the new material on the roller if you are walking it down the tube while repositioning the ladder, but couldn't I just stand on the slideout roof and walk it down as well? I don't see that there would be any issue with this. Maybe I'm missing something...? Thanks for your help boys!

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks for the kind words, Grant! Much appreciated. We absolutely prefer the “standard method” as being the best choice for the vast majority of people. Our very first slide topper replacement was what we now call “the alternate method” because it is still a viable choice for some people. But we would never do it that way again ourselves because we think the new (now “standard”) way we do it is much better in most cases. Hope that helps!

[@raven7068]

You guys are awesome this is just the video I needed 👍😉

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you! Great to hear. 😊

[@deanbunnell4155]

I was successful installing my new slide out topper today! My unit did not have the anti billowing device you spoke of in the video. How important is that???

[@RVgeeks]

If you have a metal wrap/guard that covers the topper when it’s closed, it’s not important at all. If you don’t have a metal wrap, the lack of an anti-billowing device could allow the slide topper to unfurl in the wind while you’re driving down the highway on a gusty day. Even if your rig didn’t come equipped with one, it should be pretty easy to install. It’s just the small device itself, and two self drilling screws that hold it in place.

[@garyduran1]

Thank you ;)

[@janiedelarose4206]

Wondering, what if the allen wrench comes out and the spring unwinds? How do I rewind the spring?

[@RVgeeks]

Here are some tips about that from the expert: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnrNZ3qagbKCeK8

[@susanhatt8095]

Great video! Thank you! What is the small part attached to the side of the RV on the upper right side of the slide topper called and what is it’s purpose?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Susan! That's the plate that the anti-billowing device bumps up against if a wind gust tries to unroll the slide topper while you're on the highway.

[@susanhatt8095]

@@RVgeeks Thanks for your quick reply! It appears mine is missing. Is that part something you can buy individually?

[@RVgeeks]

Not sure, but we wouldn't worry about it, since the side of the RV would stop it without the plate there anyway. If there's no mark on the side of your RV from the little arm hitting it, then it probably never billows anyway.

[@kevinraub645]

Hi, love the videos. The slides on your rig have openings on the sides near the top, like my Fleetwood Discovery. I assume that, like mine, they are for the lock-in arms to extend out of when sldes are retracted. However, your openings have some kind of hatch coverings doors. Mine don't--they're just open--and let in all kinds of water. Are these things available for aftermarket, do you know? I am wracking my brain looking for a solution.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Kevin. Unfortunately, the only lock arms we've ever heard of like ours are factory installations specific to Newmar. What appear to be covers are actually the lock arms themselves, which are mostly flush with the body work when retracted. Sorry we're not of much help on this one, but we didn't even realize that any other brand even had power lock arms similar to ours at all.

[@dennismorgan8889]

Have watched the A&E std. bedroom several times before getting ready to replace it.My question is after letting the spring tension off to remove the old fabric would you not have to rewind the tension that you have left off after the new fabric has been installed??. Thanks.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Dennis. When we "pin" the roller tube before removing the old fabric, it prevents the spring from unwinding, so there's no tension to rewind. Hope this helps!

[@rontrem12]

Caution, Newmar decided not to use the locking screws and simply do 2 crimps on the channel about 2 feet in on both sides. This led to a lot of hard pulling that was not necessary.

[@dennismorgan8889]

Thanks again, replaced both room topper and the video was a great help. Went camping this past weekend first of season and had rain. Lots of water gathered on top of both slide toppers, never had this problem before. Does anyone make under temp. supports?? or do you have any ideas. Thanks Dennis.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Dennis! Original slide toppers often come from the factory with quite a few more wraps of excess fabric around the roll than needed. When installing new fabric that has been cut closer to the required size, that reduces the number of times the roller tube unwinds the spring when installing it, actually making the spring a little tighter. Did you order from ToughTop? And did you get the 15oz fabric? (that's what we ordered from them). Our slide toppers are very level (a poor design if you ask me) so they've always held water. We've heard of people stuffing a small beach ball, or something similar of the correct size, under the toppers, but we'd be more worried about forgetting something up there than the water. lol Sorry I'm not more help on this one. You might try this until you figure something out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKPbc3lvj96oqKM

[@dennismorgan8889]

RVgeeks THANKS FOR THE QUICK REPLY. Yes they are 15oz. Tough top and there is plenty of spring pressure. The beach ball idea except getting them back out of the long slide. I might try making a wedge out of thick card board one for the small room and two for the large. you could tie a rope on them for pulling out. Also remember to put a note on the retract buttons. Ill let you know if that works. Dennis.

[@dennismorgan8889]

Dennis Morgan This would be an excellent question to ask what the full timers do about this??

[@RVgeeks]

Dennis Morgan We often use the technique we showed in out "preventing a slide-out flood" video: raise or lower one end of the RV to dump the water off the front or rear of the topper. Or get up on the roof and push the water off with a wash brush and/or squeegee on a pole. Actually, the easiest and most common thing we do is not worry about water on the topper, since it just sheds when you close the slide anyway (just be sure the windows are closed, since there's going to be a waterfall down the side of the RV)! lol It does get everything all wet, but it will just dry out as we drive and at our next stop. The only time we really care if there's water up there is when we'll be parked in one spot for a long time... like a couple of weeks or more. That's because a pool of water left for that long starts to get pretty dirty, and gets the topper all dirty too, especially as the puddle dries out and leaves a residue behind. We don't worry about it too much, since with level toppers, it's hard to prevent water from pooling sometimes. Properly sloped toppers are high on our next RV's wish list! :)

[@dennismorgan8889]

RVgeeks OK thanks again for the info. You guys are a big help to us RV ers. How can I find that In /out flood video??. Dennis.

[@deniserivera-pertee9055]

you have everything, but," top mount "bracket replacement on arm. Please advise....

[@RVgeeks]

+Denise Rivera-pertee Hi Denise! We've never replaced a bracket on a slide out before, but Tyler at Top Top Awnings is expert on just about everything related to working on slide toppers. If you contact him through his website www.toughtopawnings.com he can probably provide some guidance. And be sure to tell him the RV geek sent you!

[@josephcaprara898]

F 250 2002 alarm system

[@azadtarikian]

Do you have a video showing how to adjust the tension on the spring for slide toppers? Toppers on my RV are saggy and rain water are accumulating on top of it. Thx!!

[@RVgeeks]

+Azad Tarikian Your timing is amazing, Azad! We have a new video coming out Friday morning where Tyler from Tough Top Awnings demonstrates how to tension slide topper springs! Stay tuned.

[@azadtarikian]

RVgeeks Great!!! Thx!

[@azadtarikian]

RVgeeks if my topper don't have the weathergard is that available to buy and install with the new fabric? I think this will protect it much better!

[@RVgeeks]

+Azad Tarikian Not sure on that one, but try emailing [e-mail] and I'll bet he'll know. 😊

[@sailork3506]

Extremely hard to find the little hole to put a small screwdriver through. Also, the oil filter wrench that looks like a vicegrip on steroids is great for gripping the cylinder and turning it. It can also hold it open if you can't get a screwdriver through the little hole.

[@allan6021]

Great videos, guys! My A&E slide out awning fabric looks to be in good condition but it sags a bit when fully extended, so it needs to be re-tensioned. Do you have any advice on how to re-tension the awning? If I remove the hex bars, can I roll up the tube a bit to tighten up the fabric and then put the hex bars back in place?

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much! We do have a video where Tyler, of Tough Top Awnings, explains about tensioning the spring on a slide topper. Hope it helps a bit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnrNZ3qagbKCeK8

[@RVgeeks]

And yes.... we think that sliding the hex bars aside might be the way to go!

[@peterdancy4238]

how do i tighten my slide topper

[@RVgeeks]

peter dancy You'd need to remove the fabric, as shown in the video, tighten your spring a turn or two, and then re-install the fabric.

[@peterdancy4238]

RVgeeks thank you lucky i asked you are very helpful

[@RVgeeks]

peter dancy Happy to help! Despite the fear of the spring that many people have, it's not that strong. It doesn't take all that much force to hold it in place, and will not overpower you. That said, when you remove the pin(s) that you put into place to keep it from unrolling (which you'll need to do to roll it tighter), I'd still recommend having two people do it together, just to be sure it doesn't slip out of your hands and unroll suddenly. Good luck!