Quote:
Originally Posted by 1retired06
If me, I would just order a new topper cover and install. With two folks, easy job. I replaced the living room slide topper on our rig last winter. Paid around $350. Spring tension is the one thing you have to be careful with.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CM7018
We had to repair / replace several slide toppers on our 2014 Montana 3850FL. We found a vendor that does upholstery repair and took them several slide toppers to have the sun dried/damaged material cut away and a new seam sewed into the section that goes into the rail on the side of the RV. You can only do this if there is enough fabric to completely wrap around the tube at least 1 1/2 times when fully extended.
We had to get one new slide topper because it would have been too short after the bad material was cut away. We got a new 96" x 40" slide topper from Tough Top Awnings for under $150 and did the install ourselves. We made a video that shows how we did it:
You should probably check all your other slide toppers as well. I see you are from Jacksonville - so probably as much sun exposure as we get in south Texas! |
To someone else, yes I have a 2019 381TH - And I love the floor plan.
This is exactly what I needed too see and hear - with a video no less. Interesting that I went too Lippert and they have every imaginable gear, motor, gadget, etc. Except what everyone is calling the topper material.
I do have 1.5 turns of excess material and until you and Daryles pointed out the fold over I would not have McGyvered it out. Looking only at the damaged side I was convinced it was exactly like replacing a screen. Bad thing about DIY is that you don't know what you don't know.
I'm not sure if I'm going to try and use the existing material or buy new. At the price point you paid I can live with and won't feel like I'm dumping a lot of cash to fix something I can probably do myself with the existing material. I'm not opposed to spending money on maintenance, just unnecessary spending.
I can see that it will be challenging. Anything with springs and tension can be difficult.
Yes, I'm in the sunshine state where UV rays will suck the life out of everything, but overall the remaining material has some legs left on it. Yes, my mother has a sewing machine, but the question is can I sew a straight line. Walking one can be difficult on some days if you know what I mean.
This is why I love this site and am glad I got a Montana.
