New Slide Topper Installation

[LK23]

I have a 2005 Itasca Horizon 40AD and live in the Denver, Colorado area. I have a hole in the slide topper fabric on my passenger side slideout. I am out of warranty so I ordered new topper fabric from Dometic. I asked Dometic about installation and they said they allow .5 to one hour for warranty installation of new topper fabric.

I have contacted several of the Dometic authorized repair facilities and have received quotes of 2 hours, 4 hours, etc. but nothing that seems reasonable. Plus, some of the places leave me with the impression that they have never performed a topper replacement.

Any suggestions? Has anyone had this work done previously?

[LK23]

I have a 2005 Itasca Horizon 40AD and live in the Denver, Colorado area. I have a hole in the slide topper fabric on my passenger side slideout. I am out of warranty so I ordered new topper fabric from Dometic. I asked Dometic about installation and they said they allow .5 to one hour for warranty installation of new topper fabric.

I have contacted several of the Dometic authorized repair facilities and have received quotes of 2 hours, 4 hours, etc. but nothing that seems reasonable. Plus, some of the places leave me with the impression that they have never performed a topper replacement.

Any suggestions? Has anyone had this work done previously?

[jimandsue60]

I have done it and it took me less than an hour for a 20 foot slide out cover, smaller ones are much easier. If you want to do it I can give you some tips. You will need to be on a ladder and the roof.

Jim

[LK23]

Did you have instructions? Nothing was shipped with the topper fabric.

[Fossilhog]

I'm pretty sure mine came with an instruction sheet, but I think there's a posting somwhere with advice. I know I extended the slide, then using phillips screwdrivers, unwound the last few winds of the fabric and it slid right off. You may have to remove screws the hold the fabric on the side of the rig channel. Then with a neighbor, we slid the new fabric back on, slowly let the tension off, one screwdriver at a time. I had to let the slide in and out a few times to center the fabric. I bet it didn't take 20 minutes a side.

[jimandsue60]

LK23, I had instructions. I don't have them anymore but can walk you thru it. I will take some photos tomorrow to give you a good tutorial.

Jim

[LK23]

I found the instructions hiding in the bottom of the box. I don't think I can do it myself so I had better find someone else. I have a bad back and cannot lift much, plus, I don't need to be on a ladder.

It worries me when I call an Dometic repair facility and I have to explain what a slide topper is.

[jimandsue60]

LK23, if you are in Florida this winter I would be more than happy to help you do the replacement. We will leave Florida and head north towards Michigan late spring.

Jim

[LK23]

Thanks for the kind offer, but we won't be in Florida this year.

[DonGee]

I had mine done at 3 Ts in Lake Havasu City, AZ. They started the job I turned my back and it was finished. I trust them with just about anything and if need be you can hook up at their shop and spend the night. See ad in WIT Mag. Lot warmer than Denver.
Don, WIT 70041

[Ready2Travel]

2 to 4 hours is way to long. Took mine off to repair and now that I know how to do it could probably do it in less than an hour. Would require 2 people however, the 2nd person would only be needed for 5 minutes or so to help slide the topper in when reinstalling.

[Thudman]

Just got an estimate from CW/Gulf Breeze, FL. For two slide toppers, labor $53 each, shipping 34, toppers about 140 & 170 ea, total about 492, incl tx. Ain't cheap, but the 106 labor seems reasonable to me.

Thudman