Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Sunline RV Forum
Sunline User Photos

Go Back   Sunline Coach Owner's Club > Technical Forums > Repairs and Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Join Sunline Club Forums Today


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 09-11-2009, 04:50 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Galaxiedriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 251
SUN #254
Galaxiedriver
Replacing Slide Topper fabric

Full timing in SE New Mexico for 14 months left my slide topper fabric badly damaged from the desert sun and wind. Today I replaced the fabric.

I purchased new fabric from http://www.rv-motorhome-answers.com/...ut-topper.html . The new material was noticibly heaver than the original and their instructions made the swap out quite easy. It took me only 15 minutes to lock the roller tube and remove the old fabric. Here are a few photos.


The new fabric was a perfect fit as compared to the old.



It is necessary to unroll all of the old fabric from the roller tube and lock the roller. The roller is locked by inserting a device, I used a small Awl, through the cap slots and through a hole in the tube shaft. This is explained very well in the installation instructions. When unrolling the old fabric you are working against the roller spring so you must maintain a good grip on the roller until it is locked. A 2nd person is very valuable on doing this step.


The old fabric came off quite easily. A set screw on the trailer channel had to be removed to allow the cord to slide out of the channel. This screw keeps the topper from sliding fore to aft in the channel due to wind while traveling.



When the old fabric was removed, the slideout top was found to be quite dirty. At this point, I put the slide out in and pulled the trailer out of the garage and gave ity a good bath. While it was all accessable, I gave the rubber seal a good 303 treatment.




The installation instructions provide cautions to file the sharp corners of the channels that accept the topper cords. These corners are sharp and could tear the new fabric as it is installed. I did this on both the trailer channel and the roller tube.



I was able to do everything so far by myself. However, a 2nd person is required to keep the cords straight as they slide into the channels while the other person pulls the fabric into place.


Here the new fabric has been slid in place. This is where I tried to make sure it was square to both the trailer and roller then reinsert the set screw removed from the trailer channel earlier.


Next, the locking awl is removed by rotating the roller to take tension off it then remove the awl. Then the roller is alowed to slowly roll the slack out of the new material.


I put the slideout in and out twice to ensure the new topper rolled and unrolled evenly. Having verified that, the job is all done. Following the instructions priovided by http://www.rv-motorhome-answers.com/...ut-topper.html this was a very easy job. Not counting the time to clean the roof and apply 303 to the seals it took approximately 45 minutes to remove the old material and install the new. I fully expect this new heavier material to last far longer than the original.

I am very pleased with the new slide topper fabric, the fit, and the service I got from RV-Motorhome-Answers.
__________________

__________________
Paul & Jan
Columbia, Missouri
2014 Cougar 31RKS, 2012 blue Oval F 250 XLT 6.2 L, 6 speed, 4 X 4.
www.62ford.com/registry

Galaxiedriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 07:08 PM   #2
Moderator
 
JohnB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
JohnB is on a distinguished road
Paul

Nice job!

And thanks for taking the time to do the pics and the how to. It really helps. Now that Sunline is no longer, we are a self help group here for sure. These pic-o-do’s help greatly.

Thanks again for posting these

John
__________________

__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC

Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
JohnB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2009, 09:07 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Galaxiedriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 251
SUN #254
Galaxiedriver
You're very welcome John.

It didn't seem that it would be a difficult job, but I was a bit aprehensive before starting.

The hardest part is maintaining control of that roller while unrolling the old fabric and winding the slack out of the new. There is a good spring in there and it takes a good grip to keep it from unwinding.
__________________
Paul & Jan
Columbia, Missouri
2014 Cougar 31RKS, 2012 blue Oval F 250 XLT 6.2 L, 6 speed, 4 X 4.
www.62ford.com/registry

Galaxiedriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
A&E instructions for replacing parts on Slide Toppers EMD_Driver Repairs and Maintenance 0 09-13-2009 07:40 PM
Replacement slideout Topper fabric Galaxiedriver Repairs and Maintenance 0 08-24-2009 09:17 PM
Slide Topper Installation Sunline Fan Modifications 2 07-13-2009 02:43 PM
Treating Top Slide Seals when you have a Slide Topper PTHutch Sunline Slide Room Travel Trailers 4 04-29-2009 05:12 PM
Fabric Samples Sunline Fan Sunline Community 5 10-11-2007 07:32 PM


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sunline RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:37 AM.


×