Slideout Awnings

Hello, I am new to the forum and we are purchasing a new 32QBBS it actually is being delivered on Saturday. How many people went for the slideout awnings are they worth it. The company is asking me do we want them installed. What does everyone think of them.

Hello and nice to meet you. My opinion is that I would not have a slideout without one. Keeps leaves, rain, snow and other debris off the actual slide. Here in the South, we have problems with pine needles that can get into anything. The cover does a great job of keeping them out. I do recommend the one that has the aluminum cover that protects the awning when in. When I was dealing with the salesrep, I told him if he would put me one on the camper, he had a deal....took him all of about 30 seconds to say yes!!

Good luck and happy camping. You will enjoy this forum and the folks here are very helpful.

Happy Trails.

I agree with Mmiller 100%ly. You won't regret having it.

TC

We have friends that put them on then took them off, we go to the coast a lot [ Pacific ] and the wind will make them flap. They said that night it was hard to sleep when the wind got going. I do not have them for that reason.

What happens when you have skylights, do the awnings block out the lig

Crazymcs To the forum.
We have them on our 29RLBS. We are very happy with them.

I have the same model and love mine. You'll need to rig up some kinda frame under the awning when its out to keep water from pooling up on the bigger awning. It doesn't keep its tension very good. I made a little frame of plastic water pipe and put it under mine when I know its gonna rain or I'm gonna be there a few days.


http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/gallery/DIY-Pic-s-of-repair-s-and-Mod-s/Slideout-Awning-frame-to-stop-sagging-pic_571.htm

http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/gallery/DIY-Pic-s-of-repair-s-and-Mod-s/Awning-frame-Size-comparison-pic_574.htm

I made it so it could slide apart and I store it on top of my beach loungers in the compartment

Welcome to the forum crazymcs.
We have one and I wouldn't want to be without one, especially when bringing in the slide in the rain. You could opt for one of these: http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/rvmhsa_summit.asp?m=01020301 (I would have, but this model wasn't available at the time).

I am a firm believer in them. One night we had our flap in the wind, but then it rained and the pooled water made the flapping stop.

When I bought my Cat I bought the awnings at the same time. I didn't want to pay the service charge to have them install them so when I got the Cat home I started the 1 hour process of installation. For 2 awnings!
The awning channel is already built into the Cat (was on mine anyway), all I did was align the brackets, drill the holes , and bolt everything on. The main slide was a bit tricky, had the DW help hold this one up when I was on the roof attaching one side then the other.

As for flapping and rain pooling, go to Wal-Mart and buy 1 or 2 rubber balls (~12" in diameter or so) and stuff under the awning in the middle. No flapping, no pooling of rain! Use your travel broom to push it out one side or the other when ready to hit the road.

Awnings help keep the sun (aka heat) off the slide so it helps a bit in the summer. Wouldn't be without mine!

crazymcs.

We had the slideout covers installed after we bought our Cat. We think they're great. We haven't had any problems with flapping. They will block some light that comes in your skylights, but they will also block some of the heat that enters through the skylights and thin roof of the slides.

I agree. The awnings may collect water but the plus are worth it. Also a air wedge is available to keep off the water.

Does the extra water we collect effect the slides?

I've never worried about it, or had any issues from it.

I have a 30RLBS WC. With a window in the side, right above the big slide. I was hoping this slide topper would work. No luck yet.
http://www.carefreeofcolorado.com/rvmhsa_summit.asp?m=01020301

Since we have skylights the only thing I have found that will work is the Air Wedge at this web sit.
https://ssl.perfora.net/www.awningairwedge.com

The Air Wedge would block the light of skylights on the slide outs, correct? Would the Carefree Colorado awning, still let in some light? Does any one have an awning on their slide that has skylights?

The air wedge will block some light. Turns the light comeing in to a blue hue. Cool. Air wedge is used only when it rains. What one individual did was move the metal mount on the side of the trailer as close to window as possible. Forest River does not do that. This gives it more slope. You get some light with all toppers. The loss of light is out weighted by the benifits

What metal mount are you talking about. We do not have an awning and I get up on the roof every time we close down, the awning would save that.

The awning is attached to the trailer with this rail. They use the same type of rail on the slide toppers.

Thanks Portagie, I will have to look at ours.

You very welcome. On the big slide get that rail as high as the measurments will let you. The more slope the better.