The slide topper do hold water but to solve that, take three pool noddles, tape them together in a triangle put them under the slide topper and that will help keep the water from pooling. Works great!
I have heard of people putting soccer balls under slide toppers. That keeps them from flapping in strong winds and it helps to drain water. When time to move they use a broom to pull out the soccer balls. I have never had a topper so I do not know how well this works.
Good to see you back and well. I will challenge you on leaving the gray tank open all the time, as a mechanical engineer, design and release, fluid flow, tanks, etc. in automotive, but never the less I know tank design and have many friends in the RV holding tank manufacturing business, i.e. Elkhart Plastics and Miller Plastics, the holding tanks are just that 'Holding Tanks' they are designed and engineered to work off of volume and flow, with a relatively flat bottom, leaving the dump valve open just sheds off the water and leaves the solids behind. Ever have to unclog and bathroom or kitchen sink drain?, yep that's solid buildup that is being left behind by leaving the valve open all the time. Safe Travels.
@@Florida_Man_Robb I've been building houses for over 30yrs and camping over 20. There are no traps on a house to shut so I don't understand why you think a camper would be different.
@@joechristopher1622 Who said anything about shutting a trap? The black and gray tanks have a valve at the opening, that’s it. What I am saying is that it is possible when you pull the valve to dump either of these tanks (especially if the tank is full) that as the tank empties it creates a siphon effect that can suck the fluid right out of the P-trap during the process. If you are inclined to leave that valve open you then have the possibility that sewer gases will move uphill right into your RV because there is no longer a fluid barrier inside the p-trap. I’ve had this happen after emptying tanks that were very full, I think it’s the high velocity of the emptying that causes the siphon effect. You’re never going to get this in a house because you never have that safe effect of closing the system off and then emptying it at a rapid rate. I stand by not leaving either valve open ever, it’s a bad idea and there’s no reason to do it.
I absolutely LOVE my X-chocks! I always leave my black tank closed and my tank sensors (on every RV I’ve owned) have never worked and you’re right, you don’t need them. Completely agree on the toilet paper and because I’m a full hook up camper too, I use a lot of water in my black tank. Being a solo camper, I actually have to try real hard to use enough water. Lol!
Full tank, the 'burp' is exactly how I described it! No odor, no visual. Just that tell-tale 'burp'. The sensors on my brand new TT worked only thru the first black tank fill/empty cycle and that was it. My first season camping, first TT, solo experience. Loving it! ❤️
Regarding TP. I've seen tests of rv toilet paper. In it they tested walmart TP also. The walmart TP actually disintegrated faster than some of the "RV" toilet paper. Regarding tanks, we would leave gray water open until a few days before we were going to move. We'd close it for two or three days so we'd have plenty of gray water to flush the lines after the black is dumped.
@@SaltyVetAdventures we are new to RVing but we buy the Scott RV TP and it hasn't caused any problems. In our sticks and brick house we only use Charmin and I can handle the Scott RV just fine. Haven't tried to use any of the regular stuff in our RV yet.
@@sherrimoonchild We have used Scott as well but finally settled on Angel Soft. Any septic safe paper should be fine. The key is to use plenty of water. The toilet isn't the place to be shy with water...unless you are doing some extreme boondocking. 😂
If you have doubts, you can check how well your TP breaks down by putting a few sheets in a jar of water and shake it gently. I haven't found one yet that doesn't disintegrate easily.
@@rifleriverrat9311 There's a video where this is just what was done. Several brands of regular and RV TP were tested. Some didn't disolve hardly at all and in other cases "regular" TP (like the Walmart brand) disolved faster than the "RV" TP. They found that not only could you get more comfortable paper than the single ply Scott crap, but spend less money.
I agree with everything you've covered. As far as toppers, like any roof, its the pitch angle. If your topper is mostly level with your slide, then yes it will hold water. White reflects heat, black absorbs heat. The topper is mostly used to keep the crap (needles etc.) off the roof, less wear on the seal wiper. The burping lol, that "stuff" creates its own gas. So when it gets full, there's not much room at the top.
Hey Guys good vid 👍 I love our slide toppers and wouldn't be without them for so many reasons.....BUT....I know what you're talking about the accumulation of rain water and I was looking at your large driver slide topper towards the end of the video . Mine would do the same thing. Using balls, noodles and all these other home remedies under the toppers are a waste of time, plus it's more stuff to carry. I have a real easy fix for you. The next time it rains go to the back of the slide and look up. You'll see that the topper roller is "bowing" inwards". The reason for that is the water is making the topper sag down and it pulls the roller inwards. If you see rain in the forecast, get your ladder and place a 6" long 2" x 4" between the roller and the slide itself. That will keep your topper taunt, water won't accumulate up top. It will spill off the ends like it should. If we're going to be somewhere for a week or two, it's something I do automatically when we arrive and set up. This is important to do because, remember water weighs a lot. Like 8.3lbs/gal. Trying to get rid of that water up there the way you're doing now, is not good for your slide systems. If you do what I recommended above, you won't have to that problem anymore and that water won't be stretching your material either. The other thing I do when I level, is I manually level our coach and I level it "BARELY" tipping forward to the front of the coach. Just BARELY. That helps tremendously with rain water running off and makes all your AC drain water go to the front gutter. PS: We've met a few people this year going to Maine that watch your channel. Blessings 💗
Thank you so much for this!! Some of this stuff is really pushed on other channels & groups!! I’m so glad you’re back & love your honesty…your real life/practical perspective on things is so refreshing!!
We need are toppers because we lived in the snow it helps alot. We boondock alot to. We clean are black tank every 14 days. We have been Rving for about 10 years. Safe rving
Totally disagree about the slide toppers. We live and do most of our camping in the Northeast and they are a must!!!! Had ours for 5 years on our 2017 Brookestone and no issues. We were seasonal with that 5 th wheel and they saved a lot of aggravation!!!
My rv doesn't have toppers and I'm glad it doesn't. I took a large pool noodle, cut to fit slide top depth, hemmed up a bath towel, slid noodle through hem, added some rope. Throw rope over top, pull, the towel along with rigid noodle completely clean off debris and moisture.
Just bought a 98 coach Catalina motorhome with 44k miles interior is mint but outside was best up n first night I drove her back end was hit n I lost my bumper 😂😂 but just drove to Miami from Bronx NYC been boondocking everywhere 1st day in ft Lauderdale blow a calper n needed new brakes calipers n rotors n all 3 batteries aghhhhh but I love it I'm living now enjoying life I love RVERS
Great to see you're back. Hoping things are ok now. We have some things now that we say to ourselves now, "Why?". Hope to see you around in our travels. BTW, we love our ebikes as well !!!
I was mildly surprised about the slide toppers. I'm setting up an RV pad at my dad's place (in the woods) and I'm going up on the roof ever month to clean off the pine needles, leaves and twigs/seeds that keep dropping. I noticed that pine needles are working their way under the rubber seal. I'll probably have to bring in each slide halfway and clean off any strays. Something else that surprised me and made me go remove was the info on slide out supports! I'm living in my 2018 Jayco White Hawk and thought if I didn't put braces under there, the slide out would eventually start sagging after 5 or 10 years of constantly being extended. (My RV is my house). So happy you made this video and glad that enough people gave it a like for it to show up in my recommendations. You guys just got my Like as well!
Interesting remarks about the TP. We're always full hookups so water isn't an issue. Only remark about dumping, I always keep my grey valves close and dump them after I dump the black tank, the grey water washes away the residue in the hose so cleanup at the end of a trip is less smelly.
This is the first time I have tuned in to this channel and almost immediately my mind said…Tropical Palms Resort right by Old Town. I think it was the laundry area I recognized for confirmation! What great times I have had there! Carry on and enjoy!
The issue is the sag itself. Everything tends to sag. Including the tires, etc. When there is support under the slide and the body of the rig drops for any reason, it will very likely cause damage to the slide and /or mechanism. It's a bit of a risk either way, I think. Can depend on the ground it's on, the tires, or even an adjustment forgetting they're in place. But, they sell them and people can use them as they wish. I have a set I used twice, and put in the garage. Just a choice. They didn't make enough difference to justify the risk.
Hey, great video! I have been full time RVing for over 3 years. I don’t have slide toppers and was always a little jealous of people who have them. Now I know I’m not missing anything spectacular. Same for the stabilizers. And I agree with everything regarding the black tank. Tank indicator lights are stupid and the toilet definitely sounds different when the tank is getting full! Keep up the good work, happy trails!
I did not have a slide topper on my 2011 Heartland Edge. When it rained, the water would run down the side of the slide and then run under. This caused the floor to rot. When this was discovered, the slide was barely being held together. The slide topper kept the water off the top of the slide and solved that issue, even if it was too late. The slide topper also makes it quieter when it rains, keeps the tree residue (leaves, pine needles, sap) off the roof of the slide and it keeps the hot sun from hitting the slide roof.
TP for Macerating toilet? That weird thing worries me. I just stick with the Scott brand. Flush black til it’s clear. Finish with Gray to flush the hose. Don’t leave valves open because critters can make a home in your now empty gray tank, black open is just obvious problems. Great video
We live in our 5th wheel full time and we had a person come out that knows rv he build cinder blocks put them all the way around and we are sitting on six to 8 pillars so we do not use our jacks and he got us level plus our 5th wheel came with a washer and dryer combo so we use ours a lot and we replace our hot water heater with a tankless hot water heater and today I remove the bypass valve on the hot water heater because it leaks and due to we live in our year around I tied the two lines and cap off the bypass line thanks for sharing the things you do not need it helps those that do not know anything about RVing and those that are starting out thanks for sharing
OMG we are literally finalizing the paperwork at the dealer Right Now?! You Guys have such perfect advice!!! We literally were about to get the slide stabilizers!!! 😂 We’re moving from our home into a 37 feet crossroads Volante Travel Trailer! I know it’s not one of the best lol but for a first one it’s good enough lol I’m hoping in couple of years we once were close to paying it off, we’ll rent it and update!!
Totally get the burp statement, that is the only way I determine if it’s full, but you can also learn the sound it makes when it drops to the tank so you can determine how long before it gets full, we do lots of camping with water and electricity only so we have it down to a science as to how long we can be there using the bathroom all the time or splitting time with on board and park restrooms.
TP can be checked by putting a couple sections in a jar with water, shake it, and if breaks up readily then it is safe to use. Much cheaper. Do like my clothes washer.
As a 5er owner with 15 years & something like 1900 nights behind us, can't argue with anything there. Yeah, we have the laundry area prep. Turned it into a whopping huge pantry. Every two weeks it is off to the laundry & 1 1/2hrs later it is done.
This is such an awesome video. Really. I absolutely bought literally $1K of accessories (INCLUDING slide supports! (as you know from Discord)) and the info on the black tank is never something that gets old, despite the topic. I was looking at the slide toppers, as my trailer is prepped, but absolutely not spending the money on them. Another +1 for the X-Chocks (legit ones, make sure they're metal) and they make an amazing difference. Just a super solid video with awesome info. As usual... Thanks Brian & Erin!
Slide toppers are to reduce the radiant heat of the sun transmitted into the slideout. I did not have one on my bedroom pop-out and in Southern California on a sunny day it was impossible to sleep in the day until I installed one.
We have 2 slides on our travel trailer. Often camp in the trees. Do not have slide toppers. Just go up on roof and sweep off trailer slides before pulling them in.. Heard that slide toppers were more trouble than benefit...glad you confirmed in this video.
I may have missed something but I let the black tank fill up or close to full before dumping. I was told to never leave the black valve open when hooked up. Also, we use Charmin but have a separate waste basket for poopie paper. We were told not to flush it.
Carefree of Colorado says in there info. that water will pool on the slide and when bringing slide in that you must bring it in 6" at a time to allow water to drain off. It's just part of the deal. better option is get a rig with out a slide , alot less issues .
So glad that you're back! I hope your issues were resolved in a positive way! I'd love to see you do a full review on the ebikes now that you've had them for a while. Are they only good on pavement or do they work on the gravel/ dirt roads in some of the campgrounds?
I don't know if we'll do another dedicated review video for them, but I can tell you that they work great on grass, dirt, and gravel with the fatter tires. We've had them on trails several times and they're a blast! We even took them out on the beach last month and cruised around for a while. It was a pretty firm-sand beach here in FL though, there isn't any of that fluffy mid-Atlantic sand down here.
Great video. I do have a question, @Five2Go. You suggest, when hooked-up, that campers open their gray tank leaving their black tanks closed until opening to dump. My practice is to keep both tanks closed until I dump the black. The reason is that I open the black first, and flush the sewer hose with gray water to ensure the sewer hose doesn’t get mucky. Why do you suggest opening the gray tank even before the black is emptied?
When you dump grey is up to you. When we're somewhere for a week+ we leave grey open until a night or two before we leave. That gives it enough time to fill up a bit to use for flushing the hose after emptying black.
Hello. We added the Lippart toppers to 315RLTS Grand Design. We found We needed to roller topper out away to make it drop angle and run off the water. Works much better.
Slide Topper? I would get a tarp and keep my living room and space. Just like in baseball. When it rains snows sleets, cover the field. When there is forecast for rain, snow etc,, bring slide topper in early and still use a tarp. Just a thought. Good warning statement though. Thanks.
I was just talking with a RV mechanic about slide Jack's, I made a set and he suggested not to use them in case if your camper settles and you slide doesn't that's where you get into trouble...
Most of what you say is good BUT I have a topper on mine not real big but tension and angle is what is critical to not have water build up. No issues not to mention less heat in the camper. Also sealed the whole roof in a white color to keep cooler. As far as the black tank I just hook another hose to my black rinse connection( if you have one) and put a gallon meter on it and turn it on .I usually do that in the middle of a weeks stay. The hose stays connected on my rinse the whole time were there.I flush the tank like you flush your toilet in the middle of the week more often if the toilet sees more action lol. and at the end before we leave. I have a Y at the water spout and turn it on without having to shut the rv fresh water. Just replenish the chemicals in the tank and good to go. 10 minute job while sitting by the camp fire lol when done that tank is clear water and no odor .love that black tank rinse connection.
There is an easy fix for that if you’re gonna be out there for a long period of time put a 2 x 6 and stand it upright and that will keep the water from creating a lake on your slide topper I did it and it works good
The net cost of using coin lanundries is often much higher than one might think. However one can use even just a washing machine to considerably cut ongoing costs. The vast majority of the campground laundry rooms are quite small tub sized and charges over $1.50 per load.
In my experience traveling for work I live in my RV to keep my camper cool slide out toppers are a must for your AC will run nonstop the water is a pain but so is trying to keep the camper cool without them in the Southern State the northern state you probably could do without
I understand that with a family of 5 you're better off using a laundromat but you better be there to move your clothes to the dryer when the washer stops and when the dryer stops or you run the risk of finding your clothes dumped someplace. Slide toppers? The pros outweigh the negatives. If you're concerned about accumulated rain water, just tilt your RV towards the front or rear so the water rolls off. You're correct about the TP but there's an inexpensive device you can use so that you don't use TP or very little TP. Its called a bidet. Costs about $20 and its easy to install if you've got one of those porcelain toilets. Most people don't need one of those fancy heated bidets. Its held in place by the 2 screws that holds the seat in place and add a sharkbite Tee into the toilet water supply pex. You'll use a little more water using one but you'll save water in the long run because you won't have to shower as ofter because a bidet lets you feel fresh. Also because you're using very little TP, your black tank sensors can read more accurately. Good luck!
We agree about toilet paper. We eliminate putting paper down the toilet by using doggie poop bags and placing in trash. It works for us. Enjoyed your video
Love the laundromat ..was jealous of toppers but not now...I got a clog with toilet paper it took 3 days for me to fix even did back flushing in black tank..I'm self taught new nothing about campers ..all I can say is oh boy!....living the life now wouldn't change it
My wife and I are buying a 5th wheel for the purpose of full timing while she does travel nurse contracts. She keep looking at having the washer/dryer combo as a good thing. I keep thinking it's a lot of space and weight that I'd rather have for other things. I also wonder how clean big blankets and towels will get. I also figure using the local laundromat might be a way to take in the local vibe in different states and towns while we look for a house and decide where to buy.
While I agree tue slide toppers are a pain I would not go without them. We will manually tilt the rig front or back to drain them or get up on the roof with a long handle windshield squeegee. Agree about the TP. However with it being my wife and I the washer and dryer is a must for us.
Thanks for the info, I'm about to buy my first 5th wheel with 3 slide outs. So that's good to know. I've never had and problems with the tp in the rig. We just don't put it does the toilet we have a small trashcan with a swinging lid and just toss it in the campground trash. We always use what we normally use. And I have a toilet wand sprayer that I hook to the shower and clean the black tank before we leave the campground, we always have full hook ups.
Thank you so much for this video. Very informative! I used to have a small trailer that was always parked in an RV park. Now I know NOT to get the sliders, when I buy a new one.
The one thing that you didn't mention about slide out covers is that they do help keep the RV cooler (if white) when you are in an extremely hot climate like Arizona in the summer!
My brother in law was telling me that if his black tank isn’t completely full and he has to drive to dump it.. he will first dump a bag of ice down into it. Said it helps break everything up and makes the dump go faster and smoother. I don’t own an RV but he was just telling me that about his this last week.
Actually the Walmart Everyday series toilet paper breaks down as well or better than the RV/Marine stuff and is much softer. Knowing when your tanks are full may not be an issue for people like you that have to have hookups and think that's camping, but for people that like to get out into the wilderness it's pretty important to know when it's getting ready to go dump.
So happy you mentioned the advantages of going to laundromat- can get bedding , rugs, clothes done in such a little time. Also not real sure about long term effects from vibration on an RV caused by washer agitation and spin cycles. Also , females can use a washcloth (keep separate from other washcloths) to wipe after urinating. Reduces the toilet paper 🧻 use dramatically so don’t fill the black tank as fast. Really helps when boondocking.
We do not put toilet paper in the tank at all. We have a little garbage can that seals that toilet paper goes into. We do not use the toilet for solid waste at all. That is why the ebike or golf cart are at the ready and go to the campground facilities for that.
If you use stabilizers even on the older RVs they can be a big problem I've seen so many people just put a tiny bit too much pressure on the stabiliser and it separates the top seal from the RV inside, then it leaks please send to all kinds of unpleasant places like crazy when it rains.
Elbow grease is the best investment one can make. I don't need tricks to make something "appear" clean. I want to actually clean stuff properly by scrubbing, rinsing, washing out, organizing etc. Those actions help me sleep better when I put my head on my pillow.
First time viewing you both, great video! I agree with all you said, including about the RAD bikes, we also have two, they are great!. However, there is one thing we do like & I always recommend and that is the slide toppers. Yes we camp in the woods 99% of the time so they have been great for us. Our 5er is 7 years old as are the toppers. We have yet to have to replace or have a problem with them on our 3 slides. Our large couch slide-out has pooled with water, but not to the extent of it preventing the slide to come in. I did go up and tighten the roller a turn and that help tremendously. I enjoy your interactions and on screen presence and information and subscribed. Hope to see more great tips and information. Thanks.also
The slide topper do hold water but to solve that, take three pool noddles, tape them together in a triangle put them under the slide topper and that will help keep the water from pooling. Works great!
we just bring slide in let it drain and put slide back out but your idea works also
Great hack!! Thanks
I dont understand, do you have a photo
Shawna I will get a picture tomorrow
I have heard of people putting soccer balls under slide toppers. That keeps them from flapping in strong winds and it helps to drain water. When time to move they use a broom to pull out the soccer balls. I have never had a topper so I do not know how well this works.
Good to see you back and well. I will challenge you on leaving the gray tank open all the time, as a mechanical engineer, design and release, fluid flow, tanks, etc. in automotive, but never the less I know tank design and have many friends in the RV holding tank manufacturing business, i.e. Elkhart Plastics and Miller Plastics, the holding tanks are just that 'Holding Tanks' they are designed and engineered to work off of volume and flow, with a relatively flat bottom, leaving the dump valve open just sheds off the water and leaves the solids behind. Ever have to unclog and bathroom or kitchen sink drain?, yep that's solid buildup that is being left behind by leaving the valve open all the time. Safe Travels.
Plus, leaving any valve open you increase the likelihood of sewer gasses flowing up through your tank and into the RV, nope nope nope.
Sewer gases only if the traps are dry
@@joechristopher1622 Leaving the valve open can siphon the traps dry, that’s why you smell the poo. If you like poo, by all means leave the gray open.
@@Florida_Man_Robb I've been building houses for over 30yrs and camping over 20. There are no traps on a house to shut so I don't understand why you think a camper would be different.
@@joechristopher1622 Who said anything about shutting a trap? The black and gray tanks have a valve at the opening, that’s it. What I am saying is that it is possible when you pull the valve to dump either of these tanks (especially if the tank is full) that as the tank empties it creates a siphon effect that can suck the fluid right out of the P-trap during the process. If you are inclined to leave that valve open you then have the possibility that sewer gases will move uphill right into your RV because there is no longer a fluid barrier inside the p-trap. I’ve had this happen after emptying tanks that were very full, I think it’s the high velocity of the emptying that causes the siphon effect. You’re never going to get this in a house because you never have that safe effect of closing the system off and then emptying it at a rapid rate. I stand by not leaving either valve open ever, it’s a bad idea and there’s no reason to do it.
I absolutely LOVE my X-chocks! I always leave my black tank closed and my tank sensors (on every RV I’ve owned) have never worked and you’re right, you don’t need them. Completely agree on the toilet paper and because I’m a full hook up camper too, I use a lot of water in my black tank. Being a solo camper, I actually have to try real hard to use enough water. Lol!
That's good to know Lori, I'm fixing to be a full time camper.
Full tank, the 'burp' is exactly how I described it! No odor, no visual. Just that tell-tale 'burp'. The sensors on my brand new TT worked only thru the first black tank fill/empty cycle and that was it. My first season camping, first TT, solo experience. Loving it! ❤️
Yes!
Regarding TP. I've seen tests of rv toilet paper. In it they tested walmart TP also. The walmart TP actually disintegrated faster than some of the "RV" toilet paper. Regarding tanks, we would leave gray water open until a few days before we were going to move. We'd close it for two or three days so we'd have plenty of gray water to flush the lines after the black is dumped.
I have never understood why people paid for crappy paper. I am a fan of Angel Soft and I boondock a lot.
@@SaltyVetAdventures we are new to RVing but we buy the Scott RV TP and it hasn't caused any problems. In our sticks and brick house we only use Charmin and I can handle the Scott RV just fine. Haven't tried to use any of the regular stuff in our RV yet.
@@sherrimoonchild We have used Scott as well but finally settled on Angel Soft. Any septic safe paper should be fine. The key is to use plenty of water. The toilet isn't the place to be shy with water...unless you are doing some extreme boondocking. 😂
If you have doubts, you can check how well your TP breaks down by putting a few sheets in a jar of water and shake it gently. I haven't found one yet that doesn't disintegrate easily.
@@rifleriverrat9311 There's a video where this is just what was done. Several brands of regular and RV TP were tested. Some didn't disolve hardly at all and in other cases "regular" TP (like the Walmart brand) disolved faster than the "RV" TP. They found that not only could you get more comfortable paper than the single ply Scott crap, but spend less money.
I agree with everything you've covered. As far as toppers, like any roof, its the pitch angle. If your topper is mostly level with your slide, then yes it will hold water. White reflects heat, black absorbs heat. The topper is mostly used to keep the crap (needles etc.) off the roof, less wear on the seal wiper. The burping lol, that "stuff" creates its own gas. So when it gets full, there's not much room at the top.
Hey Guys good vid 👍
I love our slide toppers and wouldn't be without them for so many reasons.....BUT....I know what you're talking about the accumulation of rain water and I was looking at your large driver slide topper towards the end of the video . Mine would do the same thing. Using balls, noodles and all these other home remedies under the toppers are a waste of time, plus it's more stuff to carry. I have a real easy fix for you. The next time it rains go to the back of the slide and look up. You'll see that the topper roller is "bowing" inwards". The reason for that is the water is making the topper sag down and it pulls the roller inwards. If you see rain in the forecast, get your ladder and place a 6" long 2" x 4" between the roller and the slide itself. That will keep your topper taunt, water won't accumulate up top. It will spill off the ends like it should. If we're going to be somewhere for a week or two, it's something I do automatically when we arrive and set up.
This is important to do because, remember water weighs a lot. Like 8.3lbs/gal. Trying to get rid of that water up there the way you're doing now, is not good for your slide systems. If you do what I recommended above, you won't have to that problem anymore and that water won't be stretching your material either.
The other thing I do when I level, is I manually level our coach and I level it "BARELY" tipping forward to the front of the coach. Just BARELY. That helps tremendously with rain water running off and makes all your AC drain water go to the front gutter.
PS: We've met a few people this year going to Maine that watch your channel. Blessings 💗
Thank you so much for this!! Some of this stuff is really pushed on other channels & groups!! I’m so glad you’re back & love your honesty…your real life/practical perspective on things is so refreshing!!
Thanks Dawn!
Just found you! So glad. 😎😎😎 As a newbie full-time RV’er I’m going to go binge watch your previous episodes. 👍🏼👍🏼
We need are toppers because we lived in the snow it helps alot. We boondock alot to. We clean are black tank every 14 days. We have been Rving for about 10 years. Safe rving
Use a good additive to your black tank that will process everything into a slurry that will run out nicely… I use piranha brand… works well!
Totally disagree about the slide toppers. We live and do most of our camping in the Northeast and they are a must!!!! Had ours for 5 years on our 2017 Brookestone and no issues. We were seasonal with that 5 th wheel and they saved a lot of aggravation!!!
I am a engineer and l look at slide outs and say to myself these will be another problem l don't need
My rv doesn't have toppers and I'm glad it doesn't. I took a large pool noodle, cut to fit slide top depth, hemmed up a bath towel, slid noodle through hem, added some rope. Throw rope over top, pull, the towel along with rigid noodle completely clean off debris and moisture.
Just bought a 98 coach Catalina motorhome with 44k miles interior is mint but outside was best up n first night I drove her back end was hit n I lost my bumper 😂😂 but just drove to Miami from Bronx NYC been boondocking everywhere 1st day in ft Lauderdale blow a calper n needed new brakes calipers n rotors n all 3 batteries aghhhhh but I love it I'm living now enjoying life I love RVERS
Finally!!! Some else that agrees with me!!! You DON'T need a slideout topper. Just something else that can break (and break easily)
Great to see you're back. Hoping things are ok now. We have some things now that we say to ourselves now, "Why?". Hope to see you around in our travels. BTW, we love our ebikes as well !!!
Thanks Pat!
I was mildly surprised about the slide toppers. I'm setting up an RV pad at my dad's place (in the woods) and I'm going up on the roof ever month to clean off the pine needles, leaves and twigs/seeds that keep dropping. I noticed that pine needles are working their way under the rubber seal. I'll probably have to bring in each slide halfway and clean off any strays.
Something else that surprised me and made me go remove was the info on slide out supports! I'm living in my 2018 Jayco White Hawk and thought if I didn't put braces under there, the slide out would eventually start sagging after 5 or 10 years of constantly being extended. (My RV is my house). So happy you made this video and glad that enough people gave it a like for it to show up in my recommendations. You guys just got my Like as well!
Slide topper "if you camp under trees a lot" 🤣🤣🤣
Trees are a big part of why we camp!
Interesting remarks about the TP. We're always full hookups so water isn't an issue. Only remark about dumping, I always keep my grey valves close and dump them after I dump the black tank, the grey water washes away the residue in the hose so cleanup at the end of a trip is less smelly.
This is the first time I have tuned in to this channel and almost immediately my mind said…Tropical Palms Resort right by Old Town. I think it was the laundry area I recognized for confirmation! What great times I have had there! Carry on and enjoy!
The stabilizers are mainly for people who keep theirs open in one spot for a prolonged time so they don’t sag overtime
The issue is the sag itself. Everything tends to sag. Including the tires, etc. When there is support under the slide and the body of the rig drops for any reason, it will very likely cause damage to the slide and /or mechanism. It's a bit of a risk either way, I think. Can depend on the ground it's on, the tires, or even an adjustment forgetting they're in place. But, they sell them and people can use them as they wish. I have a set I used twice, and put in the garage. Just a choice. They didn't make enough difference to justify the risk.
Yep, and if you store a lot of heavy items in the slide out area then I would recommend them
Hey, great video! I have been full time RVing for over 3 years. I don’t have slide toppers and was always a little jealous of people who have them. Now I know I’m not missing anything spectacular. Same for the stabilizers. And I agree with everything regarding the black tank. Tank indicator lights are stupid and the toilet definitely sounds different when the tank is getting full! Keep up the good work, happy trails!
I did not have a slide topper on my 2011 Heartland Edge. When it rained, the water would run down the side of the slide and then run under. This caused the floor to rot. When this was discovered, the slide was barely being held together. The slide topper kept the water off the top of the slide and solved that issue, even if it was too late. The slide topper also makes it quieter when it rains, keeps the tree residue (leaves, pine needles, sap) off the roof of the slide and it keeps the hot sun from hitting the slide roof.
So glad you're back 🥰🥰Safe Travels guys 💙
Thanks Tanya!
Love my washing machine . Absolutely hate laundromat .
How many people are you washing for?
@@kcb5336 Two!
That sounds neat!
Agreed!!!!
100% agreed. I always feel I am gonna get robbed there. Parking lot is always small. And I hate the period of waiting for your cloth to be done.
So good to see you guys today!!
TP for Macerating toilet? That weird thing worries me. I just stick with the Scott brand. Flush black til it’s clear. Finish with Gray to flush the hose. Don’t leave valves open because critters can make a home in your now empty gray tank, black open is just obvious problems. Great video
We live in our 5th wheel full time and we had a person come out that knows rv he build cinder blocks put them all the way around and we are sitting on six to 8 pillars so we do not use our jacks and he got us level plus our 5th wheel came with a washer and dryer combo so we use ours a lot and we replace our hot water heater with a tankless hot water heater and today I remove the bypass valve on the hot water heater because it leaks and due to we live in our year around I tied the two lines and cap off the bypass line thanks for sharing the things you do not need it helps those that do not know anything about RVing and those that are starting out thanks for sharing
New RV owner - GD Reflection 28BH 5th Wheel. Your advice here and other videos provide a ton of useful tips and experience. Thanks!
We don’t RV now but we may some day. So thanks for all the information. 🙂👍
OMG we are literally finalizing the paperwork at the dealer Right Now?! You Guys have such perfect advice!!! We literally were about to get the slide stabilizers!!! 😂 We’re moving from our home into a 37 feet crossroads Volante Travel Trailer! I know it’s not one of the best lol but for a first one it’s good enough lol I’m hoping in couple of years we once were close to paying it off, we’ll rent it and update!!
Slide toppers are invaluable in the South and Southwest where they keep the hot sun off the slide roof.
Totally get the burp statement, that is the only way I determine if it’s full, but you can also learn the sound it makes when it drops to the tank so you can determine how long before it gets full, we do lots of camping with water and electricity only so we have it down to a science as to how long we can be there using the bathroom all the time or splitting time with on board and park restrooms.
The slide toppers here in New England a must. But we are in a TT....So i drop the nose of trailer to drain them....1 min tops.
I think the slide toppers are a must have.
TP can be checked by putting a couple sections in a jar with water, shake it, and if breaks up readily then it is safe to use. Much cheaper. Do like my clothes washer.
We are about to start shopping for trailers so this is amazingly helpful! Thank you!
Toppers are essential in southern US. Need all the sun protection you can get. Make a HUGE difference with minimizing heat.
As a 5er owner with 15 years & something like 1900 nights behind us, can't argue with anything there. Yeah, we have the laundry area prep. Turned it into a whopping huge pantry. Every two weeks it is off to the laundry & 1 1/2hrs later it is done.
This is such an awesome video. Really. I absolutely bought literally $1K of accessories (INCLUDING slide supports! (as you know from Discord)) and the info on the black tank is never something that gets old, despite the topic. I was looking at the slide toppers, as my trailer is prepped, but absolutely not spending the money on them. Another +1 for the X-Chocks (legit ones, make sure they're metal) and they make an amazing difference. Just a super solid video with awesome info. As usual... Thanks Brian & Erin!
For me toppers are a must have. I corrected the buckets of water on our extra long slide with a cradle kit.
Slide toppers are to reduce the radiant heat of the sun transmitted into the slideout. I did not have one on my bedroom pop-out and in Southern California on a sunny day it was impossible to sleep in the day until I installed one.
I agree will all except the tank cleaner. I don't care about the indicators (like you say. They don't work) but fear the poop pyramid!
We have 2 slides on our travel trailer. Often camp in the trees. Do not have slide toppers. Just go up on roof and sweep off trailer slides before pulling them in.. Heard that slide toppers were more trouble than benefit...glad you confirmed in this video.
I may have missed something but I let the black tank fill up or close to full before dumping. I was told to never leave the black valve open when hooked up. Also, we use Charmin but have a separate waste basket for poopie paper. We were told not to flush it.
Those slide stabilizers are what are used under the slide out beds on pop ups.
Carefree of Colorado says in there info. that water will pool on the slide and when bringing slide in that you must bring it in 6" at a time to allow water to drain off. It's just part of the deal. better option is get a rig with out a slide , alot less issues .
I seriously appreciate this video. I just moved into a 2018 sand piper 372lok and this information is extremely helpful!
So glad that you're back! I hope your issues were resolved in a positive way!
I'd love to see you do a full review on the ebikes now that you've had them for a while. Are they only good on pavement or do they work on the gravel/ dirt roads in some of the campgrounds?
I don't know if we'll do another dedicated review video for them, but I can tell you that they work great on grass, dirt, and gravel with the fatter tires. We've had them on trails several times and they're a blast! We even took them out on the beach last month and cruised around for a while. It was a pretty firm-sand beach here in FL though, there isn't any of that fluffy mid-Atlantic sand down here.
@@Five2Go thank you!
Great video. I do have a question, @Five2Go. You suggest, when hooked-up, that campers open their gray tank leaving their black tanks closed until opening to dump. My practice is to keep both tanks closed until I dump the black. The reason is that I open the black first, and flush the sewer hose with gray water to ensure the sewer hose doesn’t get mucky. Why do you suggest opening the gray tank even before the black is emptied?
When you dump grey is up to you. When we're somewhere for a week+ we leave grey open until a night or two before we leave. That gives it enough time to fill up a bit to use for flushing the hose after emptying black.
Hello. We added the Lippart toppers to 315RLTS Grand Design. We found We needed to roller topper out away to make it drop angle and run off the water. Works much better.
Thanks awesome video, I was going to buy the slide support for two slides not knowing what can happen, thanks for the info you guys are awesome.
Slide Topper? I would get a tarp and keep my living room and space. Just like in baseball. When it rains snows sleets, cover the field. When there is forecast for rain, snow etc,, bring slide topper in early and still use a tarp. Just a thought. Good warning statement though. Thanks.
I was just talking with a RV mechanic about slide Jack's, I made a set and he suggested not to use them in case if your camper settles and you slide doesn't that's where you get into trouble...
In the heat to slide out toppers do help create an air void so the slide out don't get as warm
You two just seem to be a lot of fun ! Thanks for the video.
Most of what you say is good BUT I have a topper on mine not real big but tension and angle is what is critical to not have water build up. No issues not to mention less heat in the camper. Also sealed the whole roof in a white color to keep cooler. As far as the black tank I just hook another hose to my black rinse connection( if you have one) and put a gallon meter on it and turn it on .I usually do that in the middle of a weeks stay. The hose stays connected on my rinse the whole time were there.I flush the tank like you flush your toilet in the middle of the week more often if the toilet sees more action lol. and at the end before we leave. I have a Y at the water spout and turn it on without having to shut the rv fresh water. Just replenish the chemicals in the tank and good to go. 10 minute job while sitting by the camp fire lol when done that tank is clear water and no odor .love that black tank rinse connection.
There is an easy fix for that if you’re gonna be out there for a long period of time put a 2 x 6 and stand it upright and that will keep the water from creating a lake on your slide topper I did it and it works good
The net cost of using coin lanundries is often much higher than one might think. However one can use even just a washing machine to considerably cut ongoing costs. The vast majority of the campground laundry rooms are quite small tub sized and charges over $1.50 per load.
Our class c doesn't have slides but in one campground we stay at by a big lake the west wind shreds toppers on a regular basis
In my experience traveling for work I live in my RV to keep my camper cool slide out toppers are a must for your AC will run nonstop the water is a pain but so is trying to keep the camper cool without them in the Southern State the northern state you probably could do without
I understand that with a family of 5 you're better off using a laundromat but you better be there to move your clothes to the dryer when the washer stops and when the dryer stops or you run the risk of finding your clothes dumped someplace.
Slide toppers? The pros outweigh the negatives. If you're concerned about accumulated rain water, just tilt your RV towards the front or rear so the water rolls off.
You're correct about the TP but there's an inexpensive device you can use so that you don't use TP or very little TP. Its called a bidet. Costs about $20 and its easy to install if you've got one of those porcelain toilets. Most people don't need one of those fancy heated bidets. Its held in place by the 2 screws that holds the seat in place and add a sharkbite Tee into the toilet water supply pex. You'll use a little more water using one but you'll save water in the long run because you won't have to shower as ofter because a bidet lets you feel fresh. Also because you're using very little TP, your black tank sensors can read more accurately. Good luck!
I have a 2020 with 3 slide outs and the manual and the sales men at camping world recommended me to get slide out stabilizers
We agree about toilet paper. We eliminate putting paper down the toilet by using doggie poop bags and placing in trash. It works for us. Enjoyed your video
Love the laundromat ..was jealous of toppers but not now...I got a clog with toilet paper it took 3 days for me to fix even did back flushing in black tank..I'm self taught new nothing about campers ..all I can say is oh boy!....living the life now wouldn't change it
My wife and I are buying a 5th wheel for the purpose of full timing while she does travel nurse contracts. She keep looking at having the washer/dryer combo as a good thing. I keep thinking it's a lot of space and weight that I'd rather have for other things. I also wonder how clean big blankets and towels will get. I also figure using the local laundromat might be a way to take in the local vibe in different states and towns while we look for a house and decide where to buy.
Hi. My name is Mike and y'all just freaked me out with the ending of this video so, I just subscribed!
Thanks for covering the slide toppers! I see these all the time and I had debated on them for our rig.
From someone who didn’t have them on the travel trailer and now has them on the class A they are a must have!
While I agree tue slide toppers are a pain I would not go without them. We will manually tilt the rig front or back to drain them or get up on the roof with a long handle windshield squeegee. Agree about the TP. However with it being my wife and I the washer and dryer is a must for us.
Just a tip your better off allowing your grey tank to fill up before emptying your black tank that way you can flush your hoses with your grey water.
Good to see you back
Thanks Wayne!
Thanks for the info, I'm about to buy my first 5th wheel with 3 slide outs. So that's good to know. I've never had and problems with the tp in the rig. We just don't put it does the toilet we have a small trashcan with a swinging lid and just toss it in the campground trash. We always use what we normally use. And I have a toilet wand sprayer that I hook to the shower and clean the black tank before we leave the campground, we always have full hook ups.
You guys are so right. There are things that you "NEED", and things that you want. To me the NEED has priority!
Thank you so much for this video. Very informative! I used to have a small trailer that was always parked in an RV park. Now I know NOT to get the sliders, when I buy a new one.
Or just get hard sliders. The cheap cloth are like buying cheap boots.
All so true! Excellent video guys, miss you guys
Hey Tyson! We need to do dinner again soon!
Save enough gray tank to rinse the black tank stuff in the drain hose! Black 1st gray 2nd!
Slide topper must have: An old basketball with only a little bit of air. Cave in the bottom of it so it won’t roll, then shove it under the topper.
super cool to see you guys still going. I ran into you at Devils Tower in 2017 when you had the tow behind and the Copper F250
Slide topper are a must for me
Instaĺed correctly side toppers are great! Sorry guys when we get caught in snow....fabulous!
Definitely agree on the slide toppers. I’ve had nothing but issues with my large ones. My short one over the bedroom slide does great.
Get your slide toppers adjusted correctly. They are awesome if installed correctly.
The one thing that you didn't mention about slide out covers is that they do help keep the RV cooler (if white) when you are in an extremely hot climate like Arizona in the summer!
My brother in law was telling me that if his black tank isn’t completely full and he has to drive to dump it.. he will first dump a bag of ice down into it. Said it helps break everything up and makes the dump go faster and smoother. I don’t own an RV but he was just telling me that about his this last week.
Slide toppers are the best investment of your RV. Slides can leak these toppers help this problem
If you have slide toppers holding water, you probably need to readjust them.
Didn't know that about slide toppers and rain. Thanks for that info. Actually, all good info. 😎
They do that when they aren’t installed properly.
Actually the Walmart Everyday series toilet paper breaks down as well or better than the RV/Marine stuff and is much softer. Knowing when your tanks are full may not be an issue for people like you that have to have hookups and think that's camping, but for people that like to get out into the wilderness it's pretty important to know when it's getting ready to go dump.
Hi! Welcome back! THIS is an amazing (and true) video. Great information!
Really like the ideas of the folding Ebikes. Solves the hauling a golf cart around! By chance can we get the model name of your two bikes please!
They're both from Rad Power - the white one is the RadMini ST 2 and the black one is the RadMini 4. You can check them out at www.five2go.com/radpower
So happy you mentioned the advantages of going to laundromat- can get bedding , rugs, clothes done in such a little time. Also not real sure about long term effects from vibration on an RV caused by washer agitation and spin cycles. Also , females can use a washcloth (keep separate from other washcloths) to wipe after urinating. Reduces the toilet paper 🧻 use dramatically so don’t fill the black tank as fast. Really helps when boondocking.
We do not put toilet paper in the tank at all. We have a little garbage can that seals that toilet paper goes into.
We do not use the toilet for solid waste at all. That is why the ebike or golf cart are at the ready and go to the campground facilities for that.
If you use stabilizers even on the older RVs they can be a big problem I've seen so many people just put a tiny bit too much pressure on the stabiliser and it separates the top seal from the RV inside, then it leaks please send to all kinds of unpleasant places like crazy when it rains.
We have never had a problem with our sensors on our tanks both our clAss a and our class c 17 years ago still working 👍 great
We agree with you on all the points you made. Good video! New subscriber here.
Thank you!
Elbow grease is the best investment one can make. I don't need tricks to make something "appear" clean. I want to actually clean stuff properly by scrubbing, rinsing, washing out, organizing etc. Those actions help me sleep better when I put my head on my pillow.
I so agree with not having a washer and dryer!
First time viewing you both, great video! I agree with all you said, including about the RAD bikes, we also have two, they are great!. However, there is one thing we do like & I always recommend and that is the slide toppers. Yes we camp in the woods 99% of the time so they have been great for us. Our 5er is 7 years old as are the toppers. We have yet to have to replace or have a problem with them on our 3 slides. Our large couch slide-out has pooled with water, but not to the extent of it preventing the slide to come in. I did go up and tighten the roller a turn and that help tremendously. I enjoy your interactions and on screen presence and information and subscribed. Hope to see more great tips and information. Thanks.also
Costco Toilet Paper works awsome aswell, it breaks up really well, no problems using that brand