Slide Toppers (aka Awnings) – definitely!

Doug Setzer • April 17, 2025

A rv is parked in a parking lot next to a tree.

As with most things in RVing, you ask 5 people a question about “is such and such worth it?” and you’ll get a 1/2 dozen or more answers. One of these is “Are slide toppers (awnings over top of the slides) worth it?”. For me, the answer is a resounding YES.

  • I rarely, if ever, have to worry what I park under because I know the slide topper will keep the top of my slide clean.
  • The extra work/maintenance is minimal.
  • They help keep the sun from beating down on the top of the slide.
  • A side benefit is that they quiet down our bedrooms in the rain since both have slides – the rain hits the slide topper instead of the top of the slide.

I have watched forums over the last few years and it seems that when the question is asked, you get 3 basic answers:

  1. By far, this is the most common: I have had them and I will always have them.
  2. In second place: I’ve never had them and here’s why I won’t. (extra work, extra maintenance, concerns about flapping in the wind and water pooling from friends/other RVers that have had them)
  3. A distant third place: I had them, they flapped in the wind and I’ll never have them again.

As I listed above, the benefits are numerous and far outweigh the negatives. If you like camping in the woods and under trees, they save much work. Without them, you need to inspect the top of your slide before bringing it in (for our camper with 4-slides, it’s a convenience that is worth it).

For the folks who regularly camp in windy areas and unprotected areas often – the flapping may be an issue. Things can be done to combat it, but you’re one of the few who have a legitimate argument against not  having them.

Other blogs you might like...

Two smiling women beside “Community Spotlight” and “Life on the RV with Mary Walker” text.
By Jennifer Schillaci • October 26, 2026
Meet Mary Walker of Life in the RV in our latest Learn to RV Community Spotlight, and find out how you could be our next guest.
By Jennifer Schillaci • October 20, 2026
Get Lost in Fall Together
Two people smiling in front of a modern glass building on a sunny day
By Jennifer Schillaci • October 12, 2026
Join us as we Explore with Stan Cromlish of the Wandering Gypsy RV Life Podcast and Learn to RV
Person walking along a wooded trail with tall trees and green foliage
By Jennifer Schillaci • September 28, 2026
RV fitness without the shame: rucking, hiking, biking, running & pickleball tips from RVers on staying active life on the road no maktter your skill level
RV campsite with people relaxing in foldable chairs beside a white camper, mountains in the background
By Mindy Smith • September 5, 2026
Enter Go RVing's RV-2-50 contest for a shot at $5,000. Celebrating America's 250th year with RVers everywhere — deadline is September 15
PRVCA presents Hershey America’s Largest RV Show logo with campground and RV icons
By Jennifer Schillaci • August 29, 2026
Heading to the Hershey RV Show? Get Learn to RV's insider tips on tickets, parking, must-see booths, meet & greets, and the official Hershey scavenger hunt.
Niagara Falls collage with waterfall views, family photos, and a Niagara Falls State Park sign
By Jeff and Monica Grant from Dean and Gertie Explore the World • July 25, 2026
See how America’s 250th became our classroom as our full-time RV family explored Williamsburg, Wells, Lake George, Fort Ticonderoga, and Niagara.
Adult carrying a child on shoulders under leafy trees, looking up and smiling
By Missy Jack of Jack Adventures Await • July 24, 2026
Life with Littles Real talk on full-time RVing with babies, toddlers : the constant mess, the mental load, and the radical presence that makes it all worth it
Two children sit at an outdoor folding table with snacks and crafts beside a road.
By Jennifer Sansford • July 14, 2026
Our kids still ask for things. The difference now is what happens next. Over the past year, we've been showing our children, ages 9 and 11, different ways to start and run a business while we travel. It started as a way to keep them engaged and give them a sense of ownership on the road, and it's turned into something we're genuinely committed to. When they ask for extras now, the answer is almost always the same: that's what your money is for. Not as a punishment, but as a real lesson in what things actually cost and what earning something means. The result is kids who think before they spend — because they know what it felt like to earn it. I am not saying they spend it wisely every time, but they are learning. Here's how we've been doing it.
Friends gathered around a campfire beside a silver camper at dusk in a wooded campsite
By Jennifer Schillaci • July 13, 2026
Is your RV summer feeling slower this year? Jennifer & Tasha talk fuel prices, burnout, comparison traps, and what's ahead for season 3 of Learn to RV the Podcast
Show More