Those of you who have slide toppers already know that they get beat up pretty bad – either driving down the highway or setup in camp during high winds. They typically start tearing at the edges. So you get out the old awning tape or Gorilla tape and seal it up, until the tape dries out. Or the stitching around the poly cord comes undone and you have to resew it. You can extend the life of the topper that way but what you typically don’t see (until you actually remove the topper) are the hundreds of pinholes that have magically appeared.

I’m not sure how much it would cost a mobile tech to replace a slide topper but I was fortunate enough to have one replaced as part of an insurance claim. I took it to an independent repair shop and watched very closely while they were doing it. Turns out it’s not that difficult but an extra set of hands really helps. Just pin the roller tube with a cotter pin so you don’t have to re-tension the spring. About 6 screws later, you’re pulling out the old topper, and seeing all the pinholes.

I also found a great source for new topper material here in the Rio Grande Valley. The material is heavier than the OEM slide topper, the poly cord sewing is top notch and I got it in white instead of the heat absorbing black. I can’t really compare prices but it cost me $104 (in 2023) for a 146″ X 46″ slide topper. If you’re in the market for slide toppers or awnings, check out The Shade Shoppe in Don Wes Flea Market. They can also do the installation although I’m not sure what they charge for that.