RV Maintenance – Slide Toppers

Slide Toppers are those awning-like things that extend and retract with the slider. Some hate them, others love them. I am glad our motorhome has them, even though they add to the maintenance chore list.

The purpose of slide toppers is to help shed water off the slide when extended, to help prevent water from pooling and getting under or around the gasket that keeps the inside of the slide dry and draft free. They also help to keep debris from settling on top of the slide, which if not removed before closing the slide will cause damage to the gaskets and the slide itself. You don’t want your slide functioning as a trash compactor crushing leaves, twigs and other things that trees tend to shed constantly.

Advice Is Cheap

Many of us follow a variety of RVing forums, Facebook groups and pages to learn more about the RVing lifestyle, others’ experiences and a way to properly do something to avoid mistakes, disasters and unexpected expenses. While there’s a lot of good advice being shared, there’s plenty of not-so-good advice too. You, and you alone, have to decide whether that advice is good or bad, and hopefully you decide wisely.

Dash Cam – A Visual Record

Improvised Dash Cam using a Kodak Z70 pocket video camera.

The dash cam has become popularized on YouTube, showing auto accidents and other events involving motor vehicles that amaze the viewer. Some show crazy drivers, accidents and other roadside scenery, both good and bad. Dash cams have been in use for decades, recording events as they happen. Law enforcement uses them to document officers in the performance of their duties, to use as evidence of the suspects behaviors and actions during the incident.

Ladder Up

It’s a common thing to see an RV step ladder attached to the rear of a motorhome. Most prefer to hang their RV step ladder on the rig’s ladder. I know some of you newbies are asking why do I need an extra ladder if there is one already on my rig? Well, once you start to perform the required maintenance you’ll quickly find out. Although the rig’s permanent ladder allows you easy enough access to your roof, it still isn’t so easy to reach the upper sides or the top of your windshield while laying in a prone position on the roof, your head and shoulders hanging over the edge. A good, appropriate height step ladder helps solve that issue.

Not Enough Muscle In Those Arms

You’d expect that a manufacturer of RVs would carefully think out the design and fabrication of the components used to build products, whether that be anything from a pop-up camper to a Class A Motorhome. A quick Google search is all it takes to find what others have experienced – RV breakdown because of poor design, improper manufacturing processes, and/or faulty equipment. Buyer beware, problems arise where you least expect them.