True Topper is THE COOLEST RV Slide Topper Device We've Ever Seen!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Traditional slide toppers flap annoyingly in the wind, wear out too fast, and collect water that pools up and stretches the fabric. They're also clunky and unattractive. We had a fantastic new type of slide topper replacement installed on our new RV - the True Topper.
SAVE ON YOUR OWN TRUE TOPPER(S)
Tell them "RVgeeks sent me" to get a 5% discount
www.truetopper...
Not ready to have the top of your slide cut off? The best replacement fabric we've ever seen, and used for years, is Tough Top Awnings.
SAVE ON TOUGH TOP AWNINGS AND SLIDE TOPPER FABRIC
Use code RVGEEKS at checkout for a 5% discount
www.toughtopaw...
@truetopper4418 @outdoorsrvmfg @thompsonrvinc
Peter Knize & John Sullivan host The RVgeeks TH-cam channel and create original articles about RVing on their blog, TheRVgeeks.com. They also co-hosted the first 5 seasons of The RVers TV show on The Discovery Channel, PBS iTunes and other outlets, also serving as co-executive producers on the show. Full-Time RVers for more than 20 years, they share DIY RV maintenance, repair, travel, upgrade and operational tips & tricks they've learned over more than 2 decades on the road.
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Even though we're handy RVers, we're not professional technicians. So although we're happy with the techniques and products we use, you should be sure to confirm that all methods and materials 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.
Special thanks to our friends Bill & Mark for providing the location for us to shoot this video… and allowing us to moochdock there. 😊
#truetopper #slidetopper #rvslideout
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Save on your own True Topper(s). Tell them "RVgeeks sent me" and get a 5% discount! www.truetopperusa.com
One benefit of awnings is that they create shade for the top of the slide. I do most of my camping in the southern states. It’s a huge benefit.
Interestingly, @donaldbailey5576... there's a testimonial on True Topper's website where a customer did some testing with a temp gun... testing with and without the topper to see about heat transfer into the RV. Admittedly, his slide topper was black, not white... but he found that it was cooler inside the slide WITHOUT the topper (i.e. with the True Topper). While the topper fabric color was surely a factor, air flow could also play a part.
Totally agree! Took my 1991 Hitchhiker 2 over on mothersday. Dennis and brother installed on my 12 1/2 foot slider and it works great. You WILL NOT FIND ANYBODY THAT TREATS THERE WORK AS PROFESSIONALY AS THEM. Very very critique of themselves, treat the job as if they owned it themselves. Very proud of product an workmanship.😊
@@joneyjimms1598 So great to hear! We had the same experience.
Thank you for this video, the answer to my issues with traditional slide toppers. I have just made an appointment with the Oregon location, can't wait.
That’s great! We’re sure you’ll love them as much as we do.
We had our two slides done by True Topper last spring. We love them!
@@kenkiest3045 Awesome! Us too! 😄
Now tell them to make a cover like this to protect the awning when it’s rolled in. Also would help keep it protected from UV.
I’d buy one of those in a minute!
they have an Outdoors RV with aluminum metal protective cover on main awning, very cool
😂 saw a little twig get a ride inside...was funny.
Had toppers on my 5 slide 5er, n all did was worry about them getting ripped off every windy day. Hated worrying about them! So yes, if i ever get an rv with a slide again, this true topper i would definitely want. Great invention. 🍻
If you looked close it came off, watch again😉
@@davidmccartney7577 how close do u think an iphone 12 mini will get u? 😂
It would be so much better if the True Topper was big enough to cover the entire depth of the slide, that would serve to protect the the entire slide when the slide is open and when closed it would cover at least a portion of the window blocking sunlight from inside your rig, reducing heat and keeping out uv rays from fading your furniture.
You guys are always on top of the best new products for RVers. 👍
Thanks Bill! Looking forward to seeing you mañana!
This slide topper looks super effective. We are preparing for full-time rv living and will definitely look into this for our new rig!
Saw Chris and Aaron’s demo video too. I just think they look so much better. Sleek and well designed.
@@joanmcerlean7158 We think so too! Glad someone finally decided to create a whole new take on slide toppers!
We had True Toppers installed earlier this year in Oregon. So happy we did this! (We did a quick video too) 👍🏻👍🏻 looks great
The wear and tear on the EDPM/.TPO will be huge if in a sandy or just dirty area. We have traditional slide toppers on a 40' 5thwheel with no flapping because they have the additional aluminium cover that weighs down to topper a bit and prevents any flapping.
I have to agree. I looked up the tough top covers he mentioned in the beginning. If that gets rid of the flapping then I’m fine with the rest!
Because the wipes are a very smooth plastic material, and the topper is actually quite light, there’s very little pressure on the top of the slide. But we’ll be sure to keep an eye on it, and keep you posted!
@@RVgeeks Thanks. When I looked into these a year or so ago, the cost to have them installed on my RV was very significant. That didn't even factor in the travel cost to go get them installed. To be a viable alternative for the masses, or to get manufacturers to use them from factory, they really need to get the cost down as the materials used are very inexpensive, but the labor is very high.
@@dankarau2307 We’re guessing that this product will be like so many others, and that becoming more popular and widespread will help bring cost down over time. We hope so, since we think these should replace roller/fabric toppers on every rig someday. It would be great to have a new & improved standard!
It’s a cool deal, pricing is the same as most toppers, fabric is noisy in wind and can pool water stretching the material
I have them on both of my slides on my 2000 Monaco dynasty and I love them.
It must be pretty expensive since there's no hint at what the cost is. Interesting product.
I wouldn’t say everybody could install it, but anyone with some skills can handle it easily. I also think I’d rather have a regular slide topper all things considered
We only showed them doing a few of the many steps involved. If you want to see pretty much the whole installation process, check out the Irene Iron Fitness TH-cam video. It's a pretty involved process. We're sure that a talented DIYer could handle it, but since they don't sell them as a kit, it's not an option anyway.
Someone will offer a DIY version sooner or later.
Miles and I are going to check out this product!
Great video! I took notes for sure! There was some very soft lightly bouncy instrumental music playing throughout. Drove me nuts searching my place for it before finally realizing it was coming from my TV. Kinda weird and if I had even a slight hearing deficit I wouldn’t have heard it. Anyway, thanks again for a very informative video!
Wished i had came across this video a few weeks ago....
An interesting product, thanks for the demo....
Would be interested in feedback from folks who have the True Topper AND who do a lot of winter camping. Wondering how well the True Topper deals with heavy snow and ice. Maybe now that you have an ORV (known for being capable of handling the colder weather), you can test your True Topper and report back?
Are you suggesting that we camp in the COLD?!?! How dare you! 😂 Seriously though, if we do, we'll be sure to report back. Also, there's a video we saw where someone showed their True Topper in the snow: th-cam.com/video/dXLwuMKmdhA/w-d-xo.html
@@RVgeeks Um, guys? Didn't you read the fine print on your ORV purchase contract? All of us who have ORVs are OBLIGATED to do some cold weather camping ON PURPOSE at some time during our ownership of the ORV rig! I'm sure it's in there! 😂😉
@@susanmartinriecks1843 Guess we should have read the fine print! 🥶😜😂
On my 2017 Image 2400BH rain noise was greatly reduced with my traditional slide topper. We also camp under pine trees where sap is an issue. I can see sap getting caught and spreading on the wiper.
Great points! We've had issues with sap on our slide toppers, too. It was always extra frustrating because if we didn't check and clean it off before closing the slides, it would roll into the fabric, and get the underside all sticky too. No good solution here except to check and clean before closing up. Love the forest, but hate the sap! As far as rain, we love it... the louder the better (within reason of course)! LOL Safe travels.
Hi guys, I’ve seen a few videos of the True Topper and really like it. Definitely the future of toppers. I “think” one of the rv manufacturers are now installing these as standard equipment. I’d like to get these on our 45’, 4 slide Holiday Rambler Navigator and painted to match but might be too pricey. As usual…another great informative video. Thank you for sharing!👍
@@terry3193 Thanks Terry!
Cool, not sure I’m 💯 % convinced … but I like the concept.
Completely understand. We weren’t totally convinced either… until we had one! 😄
It’s a good concept, but I could see that system leaving scratches due to debris and dirt on top of the slide causing the seals to leak.
@@makeupyourmindinator The smooth rubberized sweeps/wipes that brush water and debris off the top of the slide put no more friction on the material than the original seals that every slide room has. And the flap is very light, so there’s no pressure pressing it onto the surface. We’ve seen no sign that sliding under the True Topper is any different than sliding under the original seals… maybe even less. We’ll of course provide updates if there’s any change, but so far we’re absolutely sold on this new design.
Love the videos but that's a big no to this one. the upper part may be ok to cut off smaller slides outs but its there for a reason. on longer slides this adds a lot of force on the remaining ends. as your RVs twists going down the road adds unwanted force to all parts. some slides are 2000 lbs in them and the center of the slide pushes on the side wall mounted to the roof member. nice ideal but you own it after words
@@falcon7350 We think that True Topper is working with some manufacturers to see about making them available as OEM equipment. Should that happen, we’d imagine that not only will be manufacturers be satisfied that whatever they install will be structurally sound, but it would probably reduce the overall price as well. We’re eager to see where these go as they get more and more out there. We really love the concept, it’s working great for us, and we hope it’s super successful.
Looks neat but how long before that slide starts leaking where they hacked it up?
@@davidyoung4337 If you want to see the full installation of the system, including the incredibly thorough job they do of sealing the edge where they neatly and carefully cut it off (hardly “hacking it up”), check out Irene Iron Travels TH-cam video. The seal is FAR better than the original factory design. And keep in mind that a traditional slide topper totally blocks access to the top of the slide, making sealant inspection and maintenance impossible. The only way we were able to check and maintain the sealant at the leading edge of the slides on our motorhome over 18 years of fulltiming was to completely remove the topper. When we replaced the original material with far superior Tough Top Awnings fabric, we were able to see that the sealant was badly in need of attention. There’s nothing magical about traditional toppers, and anyone who actually owns a True Topper will tell you - they are superior in almost every way.
Good motor home
How do you lube the rubber seals with conditioner?
@@TraconWizard That’s another great thing about the True Topper compared to a traditional topper: access to the top seal. Just flip the True Topper up out of the way (it’s very light and can be lifted with one finger) to maintain the upper slide seal.
I think this would be great! My only concern is what happens when your slide isn’t level or not in sync? Would it damage that topper?
Great question! Since the True Topper rests very lightly on top of the slide, and glides/slides smoothly on a hard rubbery sweep, we don’t think it could catch on or damage the top of the slide. But we always extend and retract the slide while level, and if the slide motors went out of sync enough to torque the room very much, we’d likely stop the movement quickly anyway.
@@RVgeeks our large slide has had to have the camber done by Lippert and we have to get it done again. We only use RV parks and mostly on bases, so they are concrete pads. We go back again to get it done next month. We’d love something like this, but still concerned our slide would break that.
@@TheMyersAdventure Worth inquiring about through the True Topper website. They surely know if there’s any risk at all.
Looked into this to replace existing slide topper but they need to cut off the upper flange of my Tiffin slide room. I wasn’t comfortable with that so passed. Don’t recall the price but it wasn’t cheap but not ridiculously expensive.
@@davide8629 We were nervous too, but the experience of friends, and great word of mouth in general gave us a lot of confidence. Worked out great, so we’re happy we overcame our concert.
The only thing I can think of on a downside is the inability to keep "bird poop" from entering the RV. A traditional ST can not remove BP either but it rolls up outside the RV. Still seems like more positive for True Topper.
Also, before retracting True Toppers after longer dusty/desert stays you might still want to wipe the slide roof off using a pole extension and damp microfiber towel OR rinse them off like you showed. Otherwise dirt and sand could be dragged across your slide roof, with some inevitably getting by those sweepers. Like their simplicity. However if one wants window awnings, those would still need to be to added.
We do tend to keep things clean, so up on the roof a lot, and will be sure to check for bird droop periodically!
We’ll be sure to keep the roof of the slide clean, but it will be easier than cleaning under slide topper fabric (since they don’t stop dust from accumulating either). We’ll keep you posted!
I don't think I have ever seen a slide out that is flat like the one you show here. I am guessing that the slide has been modified? I would be concerned with a piece of a pinecone or sharp stick getting caught as the slide is moving in an ripping or tearing the roof.
@@NINEPOINTFIVEPROJECTS Our slide did indeed have the standard flange/lip on the top that just about all slides do, but part of the installation process is removing that. We’ve tried it in forested settings and watched how it works, and the way the sweeps are designed, we don’t think they could cause and damage. Check out our TH-cam video for lots more detail on how it works (and gets installed). It’s a really clever design that we think will catch on and become common.
I know you guys stay on top of maintenance, but over time I would consider eternabond tape on some of those seams around the ramp they installed. Look’s great 👍.
Have you seen an install video? Worth the watch. The ramp is bonded. Way more stable and permanent seal than eternabond.
@@Itsa_Mea Actually haven’t. Just paranoid myself about seams and exposure to elements.
Check out the detailed video our friends Chris & Aaron of Irene Iron Fitness posted here on TH-cam. That ramp is incredibly well sealed!
@@RVgeeks that's where I had seen it!!
You used dry debris but about debris that has been in rain for a few days?
@@MechanicMark613 We haven’t yet been in a forested campground in the rain yet, but we’ll report back at our first opportunity!
@@RVgeeks Well living in the Pacific Northwest we get lots of rain at times and those pine needles and leaves once wet become stuck and I am afraid that topper will not push them off
I wonder how hard it is to replace those rubber seals that clean the top of the slide?
@@rjahn3000 Not sure, but they appeared to us to be slid in from the end, so probably pretty straightforward.
I thought the topper keeps the sun and the elements off the top, I don't know how much it cost but is like a giant squeegee concept.
@@Norman1965arg The primary purpose of slide toppers is to prevent water and debris from being pulled into the RV when the slide is being closed. That’s exactly what this does, but a different (and we think, better) way. Since the top of the slide room is made from the same material as the roof of most RVs, there’s no more reason to protect it by covering it then there is need to protect the roof of an RV by covering it.
How do they address the removal of the old fabric topper and any mounting holes?
@@airizonneed1403 Great question! Because ours came with no slide topper, we’re not sure. But if we remember right, our friends Chris and Aaron of Irene Iron Fitness may have had slide toppers removed. If so, their detailed installation video would show how that’s handled.
But the top bracing of the slide also serves to provide structural integrity and a seal against the wall that's under pressure when the slide is in. Removing the upper horizontal support is a huge problem - it's not just a fiberglass trim piece.
@@marksr1907 We understand that people may have concerns. But as we ourselves, and our friends Chris & Aaron (who’ve had multiple True Toppers longer than we have), can attest, whatever the theoretical situation, we’ve had zero problems, and the slide works identically to the way it came from the factory, including closing and sealing normally. Look for these to start appearing as OEM gear without structural changes needed beyond the omission of the top flange. We’re incredibly impressed with the real life operation of the topper, and the slide, and haven’t seen reason for any concern.
Yep, I’m getting these installed on our new Alliance when we get it😎🇺🇸
What if the slide out roof membrane needs replaced?
@@MASONROSS69 The True Topper pivots right up out of the way, so it should be no problem.
@@RVgeeks What about the ramp?
@@MASONROSS69 It was secured down with adhesives, so we think that it can either be removed, or the membrane could just be replaced right up to it, and re-sealed. Hope it’s a LOOOONG time before having to think about it though!
I don't think of this as a slide topper but a slide-sweep.
It performs the most important functions of a traditional slide topper - preventing water or debris from coming into the RV (or getting crushed into the top flange) as the slide retracts. It just does it better, and looks better, all while allowing access to the top of the slide for cleaning and sealant inspection. It’s a better mousetrap in most ways, and once people get used to it, it will likely become the standard, or at least very common. After 20 years of full-timing with traditional toppers, True Topper addressed our biggest annoyances with them (pooling water / sagging fabric; allowing water that got under the edge during windy rainstorms to get under the fabric… and into the RV; flapping in the wind; blocked access for cleaning and seal/sealant inspections & maintenance; clunky, ugly design. We would never go back to old slide toppers.
Thanks for sharing. Like #17
It looks like a slide scraper.
@@M.Campbell It’s actually a slide squeegee, and does an awesome job!
The only thing that concerns me is the sun beating down directly on the top of the slide and transferring heat to the interior. We spend a fair amount of time in the South (even in the summer) for work and family reasons - I like that, conceptually at least, the fabric slide topper is keeping the direct sun off the top of the slide.
We had the same thought, but since the top of the slides are white, and there are TONS of rigs out there with no slide toppers at all, we weren't too worried. Then we read the test done by Mellow Honek (included on the True Topper website testimonials page), and it wasn't an issue for him (although he had a dark slide topper as I recall). We've been in some VERY hot weather lately (haven't we all?!) and the air conditioning has kept up easily... even running off our battery/solar bank!
That would not be hard to install at home.
A sweep not a topper 😮
@@bobconner422 Well, it does sit on top of the slide. 😉 Call it whatever…. It works GREAT! 😍
🤛👍🦅🙏😎🇺🇸
I agree with you, much better design but $1000 a slide is very steep.
@@neilrankin9945Hey Neil! We know they’re more expensive than regular slide toppers, but those are also pretty pricey for what they are. At least these provide something great! We expect they’ll come down if/when more mass production follows wider use. Hoping to see them as OEM gear.
You miss the benefit as it creates shade and drops the slide temperatures. No way would I buy this, this sure seems like a gimmick.
@@kmonto1971 We full-timed in a 4-slide RV for 18 years. 3 slides were equipped with toppers and 1 had no topper at all. The white top of the uncovered slide room reflected the sun very well, so that there was no noticeable difference in heat between that slide and the others. LOTS of RVs have NO slide toppers at all, and they stay cool enough to camp without them. The primary purpose of toppers is to avoid having to clear debris or water off the roof of the slide when breaking camp, and True Toppers do a great job of that. Take it from someone who has lots of experience with both types, that this is no gimmick. It’s just new and different and will take some getting used to. Once more people have friends with them and see and hear first hand how well they work, the clunky, inferior slide toppers we’ve all gotten used to will be like the horse & buggy compared to cars.
@@RVgeeks My infrared temp reader says otherwise. Before and after installation.