Sponsored by Composite Solutions, Inc.
True Topper™ Provides An Alternative RV Slide Topper Solution
I wish I had heard of True Topper before I had spent a lot of money having one of my slide toppers replaced. If you read no further or get nothing else from this article, at least you’ll know that a much better solution to the traditional RV slide topper does exist.
Exactly why I needed to replace a very large slide topper on my RV is another story. Suffice to say my frozen slide topper was no match for the stout hydraulic slide mechanism Tiffin installed in my motorhome. I did end up replacing that slide topper, but I was wishing there was a better option.
The problem with existing RV slide toppers
Slide toppers can be temperamental, noisy, unreliable, and are often the topic of frequent discussion. They are slightly better than the alternative, however, which is manually getting up on a ladder or the roof and clearing off the slides before retracting them. This is not only time-consuming but dangerous. I’ve climbed on a roof after a big snowfall—it’s not a fun place to be.
RV slide toppers also detract from an otherwise good-looking RV. You don’t see them on expensive top-end motor coaches because they have better OEM solutions. If only you could bring that kind of innovation to the aftermarket and make your RV just as functional and attractive. Thankfully you can, with the True Topper system from Composite Solutions, Inc.
Why existing RV slide toppers are bad
At first glance, today’s traditional RV slide topper seems like a good idea. For the most part, it is. It keeps leaves and debris away from the top of the slide so you can retract the slide without having to manually go up and clean them, as mentioned above. That seems to be the only merit in their favor, however, and not a guarantee.
Over time, slide topper awnings tend to sag and collect debris, which at times must be cleaned out by hand. They can also collect pools of water, which can turn into ice. In cold weather, that ice and water can refreeze and cause damage when trying to extend the slide again (believe me, I know). RV slide toppers suffer from several other maladies.
Slide topper “walking”
Topper walking is when you have your slides deployed on a very windy day, or seemingly any day I’ve stayed at Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo. In heavy wind, your RV slide toppers will want to work themselves off or “walk” over the edge of your topper rollers. When it comes time to retract them, all kinds of havoc can occur.
The solution to topper walking is to pull your slides halfway in on those windy days. With today’s RVs designed to be fully functional only when the slides are fully deployed, this can be a bit of a headache.
“Until we installed the “True Topper” on our slideouts, we weathered strong storms and winds by closing our slideouts in order to prevent damage and to stop the noise of the violent flapping of our awnings. Nothing worse than worrying about the awnings or trying to sleep in a windstorm with awnings flapping. For peace of mind we’ve spent hours and/or the night with the slides retracted.”
Pete & Karen J – True Topper Customers
Tearing
RV slide toppers that are subjected to enough heat and wind will eventually tear. This usually doesn’t occur at a convenient time and can disrupt your exit from a campsite as you struggle to bring in a slide that is binding or bunching on slide topper fabric. When you get home, you have the added labor and expense of replacing that fabric.
Hardware adjustment and failure
The retraction hardware, rollers, covers, and other hardware can fail on an RV slide topper. Adjusting those strong retraction springs is not easy. The average RVer is simply not equipped to repair an RV slide topper while out on the road. As one YouTuber states in their video demonstrating how to adjust the spring tension on a slide topper, “Please use caution! There is lots of spring tension and gravity and pokey things that want to cause pain and injury.”
RV slide toppers may bring in water
RV slide-outs that have a lip or flange with a seal on the top of the slide are prone to bringing in water when the slide retracts. Yes, your RV should have rubber seals to prevent this, but they are rarely perfect, especially at the corner where the top and side seals meet. Invariably, if you are bringing in a slide during or just after wet weather, that top flange has the propensity to bring in some water with it.
The True Topper™ RV slide topper solution
Fortunately, there is a better solution available. Composite Solutions has developed the True Topper: a sleek, low-profile, permanent alternative to traditional RV slide toppers.
Founded in 2006, family-owned Composite Solutions first developed the Seamless Slides® slideroom, a one-piece slideroom that has been used by major RV manufacturers. They also developed the True Topper, also known as the Topless Topper®, an awning replacement system for sliderooms for the OEM market.
For RVers like you and me, Composite Solutions took that knowledge and created the True Topper™ awning replacement system available for retrofit on existing Class A motorhomes, Class C RVs, fifth wheels, and towables. This means that RV owners can now have those miserable RV slide toppers removed and be retrofitted with True Toppers at one of four locations while enjoying a lifetime warranty on parts.
Benefits of the True Topper solution
By replacing your existing RV slide toppers with True Topper, you can enjoy the following benefits.
- Slideouts can remain extended during windy conditions.
- No water or debris gets trapped behind the roof flange.
- No snow removal required.
- No noisy fabric flapping in the breeze.
- It’s maintenance free.
- It has a low-profile, high-end aesthetic.
- It will not fade, rot, or rip over time.
- There is a lifetime warranty on parts.
How does the True Topper system work?
Think of the True Topper as a giant wiper blade. When your slide is extended, the wiper cleans off the top of the slide as it retracts. The wiper is stiff and precise enough to prevent debris from getting underneath the Topper blade. Behind the Topper blade are your factory OEM seals, which are also designed to do the exact same thing. Once the slide is fully retracted, the spring-loaded True Topper closes firmly over the seam between your slide and the RV.
There is very little to go wrong or break down, and the True Topper components are guaranteed for life. Not only do you end up with a more attractive RV, you shed the extra weight of each RV slide topper. The four slide toppers on my coach account for about 250 lbs.
Fast facts about the True Topper system
- Installation of the True Topper retrofit system can be done at the four locations, listed below.
- The True Topper comes in black or white, but can be custom painted to match your RV.
- Each slideroom takes about 3-1/2 hours to complete and can be installed on most RVs.
- Composite Solutions is also fine-tuning additional solutions for a few of the more unique RVs on the market.
Will my RV get hotter when the fabric awnings are removed?
Surprisingly, no. In fact, just the opposite was discovered. The surface temperature of an exposed slide roof was considerably lower than a fabric covered slide. Possibly the fabric RV slide topper was trapping more heat, whereas the exposed slide top was benefiting from airflow or heat reflection, as many manufacturers leave the top of those slides painted white. You can learn more about this testing on the True Topper FAQs page.
How well does the True Topper do in the rain?
When using a True Topper™, there is no flange in the way, so water is free to exit the roof while it is being retracted and swept. In addition, most RVs have two wipe seals to act as a squeegee across the roof of the slide room. The True Topper includes a third wipe seal to provide 50% more wiping action as your slide room travels inward.
“The True Topper has consistently shown an equal or better result when tested at some of the industry’s most rigorous torrential rain booths provided by leading manufacturers such as Winnebago Industries and Tiffin Motorhomes.”
Composite Solutions Inc. on the True Topper
What about the lip or flange on the top of my slide?
That flange at the top of your slide poses no problem for the folks at True Topper. The upper flange or “lip” along the top of the slideroom is trimmed and replaced with a low-profile cover, which is attached over the remaining molding. All factory structure and seals are left undisturbed.
Installation locations
There are currently four locations where you can have your RV upgraded to the True Topper system, with more certified installation locations coming.
- Composite Solutions, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon
- Pro Finishes in Belmont, Mississippi (right next to Red Bay, Alabama)
- Classic Coach Works in Ormond Beach, Florida
- Campro RV Service in Topeka, Kansas
Upgrade your RV with True Topper
Whether you are needing to replace aging RV slide toppers or simply want better performance, fewer headaches, and a great look, upgrading your RV with the True Topper system is a worthwhile investment in your RV.
Since pricing for the True Topper will vary greatly depending on the RV, condition, size of the topper replacement, whether there is an existing awning or not, or if any additional paintwork is required, you’ll want to contact True Topper directly for pricing.
Before you do, measure each of your slides, end to end as shown below, and mention whether you currently have a slide topper on that slide. Contact True Topper today and get an estimate on taking your RV to the next level. Once the conversion is complete, you’ll never be replacing fabric or parts again, and your RV will look fantastic.
- Phone: (541) 203-0313
- Contact form: https://www.truetopperusa.com/contact-us
All around RV industry enthusiast who has been RVing for 8 years and enjoys trips with his wife and dogs in their diesel pusher.
the slide standard slide covers also stop the rain noise which this new one will not
True Topper sounds like an interesting idea. However, I have a feeling that it may not be able to maintain a firm wiper-seal when the slide top is not dead level. A couple of Bounders that I had had some ripple in the top. Also, If there is ice on top I am reasonably sure that only a hand-driven ice scraper or warm and sunny day would be able to dispel the ice.
My coach is the “older coach” in the article and I’m very happy with the True Toppers the guys put on it.
I’ve had roll out slide covers on four 5th wheels since 2000 and only issue was hail damage to them which also broke wheel skirting, a sky light and vent cover. My slide covers have stood up well in high winds and rain. When in the Arizona desert all winter I do need to wash off the dust that blows onto the top of the slides but other than that the covers have never caused me problems. This “new better mousetrap” at 3-1/2 hrs per slide to install on my four slides would cost a fortune.
Impressive!
Do you also do the regular Awning?
I’ve been looking for something that will help keep the sun off the negative side of the 5th wheel. Like an awning that goes to the ground.
This is very encouraging.
This system may work well for coaches or rv’s that are constantly using the slide in and out, but there are issues.
1. This system may scratch the paint on the top of your slide out due to what is on there (ie: bird droppings) which on expensive paint scenes will be costly.
2. More and more rv’ers are now full timers and live in their Motorhomes year round. Some live in extreme winter conditions with large amounts of snow, and do not retract their slides at all during these months. The toppers now used offer a buffer zone between the snow and the slide offering more insulation and a space between the elements and the slide.
This system would be inadequate for both the above situations
Who puts expensive paint scenes on the top of their slideout?
1. The first thing I did was go to the True Topper website, it clearly states that the leading edge of the True Topper is fitted with a “high slip material allowing for a smooth non-abrasive glide that gracefully removes any debris that has collected on the roof top each time the slideroom is retracted”.
I don’t know about you Pete, but I would not expect high slip material to scratch the paint on the roof of my slideroom.
2. Honestly, I’m not sure what point you are trying to make here. If you don’t want snow on your slideroom roof, then you take 5 minutes to run all of you sliderooms in and have the True Topper clear all of the snow off. How hard is that? They have multiple videos on their website and youtube showing just that!
And if you don’t want to be bothered with spending the 5 minutes to run in your sliderooms and you want to stay warm, no worries because snow is a great insulator! Because it is comprised of 90-95% air. That air is constricted, which then slows the process of heat transfer from the cold air outside through the snow layer.
Using an RV with slide-outs in snow is a major problem. The topper will not prevent snow from getting on top of the the slide-out or around its edges. The snow will melt during the daytime, freeze during the night. When it’s time to depart, the topper will not be able to retract with the slide-out. You will need to go on top of your icy roof and try to get the ice and snow off of your roof, the topper and the slide-out. A broom might work, but if ice got into the fabric of the topper, it will be frozen and will not retract. That means you can’t depart until it thaws. What else is on your roof? Since it’s covered, you might not realize what you’re walking on, causing damage. The leftover ice will bounce around on the roof damaging your AC shrouds in particular and anything else up there with it eventually falling onto other moving vehicles. If traveling into snowy areas, make sure you have a shop broom and a plastic snow shovel. Apartment doors, hinges and locks can easily freeze making these tools unavailable. The potential damage to an RV when camping in it during snow can be severe and I’m not even including driving in it or what this would do to your towed vehicle. Regardless of how well it is insulated and how well your heat pumps work, the outsides of RVs are not designed for real winter weather.
I have a Carriage Cameo 5er and I live in Alaska. Is there any way to have any of these installed in Alaska?
As a retired roofing contractor from central Florida, I question the longevity of the “wiper blade” after years in the Florida sun, as so many of us like to be. Traveling out West, yes I thought the winds were going to tear off my slide topper so my wife insisted we pull topper in a bit. As a life long roofer though, I’ve seen first hand what the sun can do to any petroleum based rubber or plastic and would question if this is in fact a long time solution. I’m happy with my present slide toppers, but always love to hear alternatives.
The True Topper™️ awning replacement is made out of extruded aluminum. We give a limited lifetime warranty on parts. If you have any other concerns, I would be happy to address them.
Jeff & Debbie Chase
Owners of True Topper
Are there any True Topper installers in central Florida. Looks like an excellent product.
We have an installer in Ormond Beach, Florida. Our installer is Classic Coach Works.
I had a 1999 Montana fifth wheel with 3 slides and no toppers. I lived in it in IL for 2 1/2 years while working in Bloomington, IL (actually stayed at the Yogi Bear Jelly Stone Campground in Goodfield). I had lots of snow, very cold (well below 0) weather and a nice wind that would rock the RV at times, and no problems. Just kept that pig LP tank full and the heater going with all the outside water and sewage pipes wrapped and heated and the unit skirted with plywood to keep the wind out). Sometimes my pillow case would be frozen to the side of the RV when I woke in the morning but I had a hot shower and the toilette worked as I got dressed to go to work each day. Laid in bed until I heard the snow plows running by before trying to head out, however.
Too bad if you live in the Midwest. Its going to be a 4 day round trip and thousands of dollars in fuel to get one installed.
We are working to train more installers to make it easier for folks to find a convenient location to get the True Topper™️ awning replacement.
-Jeff & Debbie Chase
Owners of True Topper
I’ll bet that ice frozen to the top of the slide will not be scraped off.
When Tiffin Motorhomes was testing the True Topper they did an ice test in a northern state in the winter. They built a dam, at least an inch thick,on the roof of each slideroom. They left the motorhome overnight, with no heat running, to freeze solid. The next morning they retracted the sliderooms and the majority of the ice was removed. They did the same test the next night but heated the motorhome to 70 degrees. When they retracted the sliderooms the next morning, all the ice came off. So, to answer your concern, the True Topper™️ awning replacement does remove ice well. I would love to answer any other questions you might have.
-Jeff & Debbie Chase
Owners of True Topper
I just had Slide Toppers installed on my 2020 Renegade
Verona two weeks ago. I met Jeff, Debbie and their Daughter Heide, at their Coburg OR factory. Their installers did a first class job! I spend a lot time on the Oregon Coast and not having fabric toppers in the wind will be great. I think sadly there are naysayers any time new product comes out. I have no concerns that the Slide Toppers will be far superior to any other toppers.