How to Measure for an RV Slide Topper (Solera 5000 Series Sizing)

A slide topper is the roll-up vinyl awning over a slide-out room. It keeps dirt and debris off the slide roof and stops water from pooling up there, which Lippert says helps prevent seal damage and mold. Solera 5000 Series toppers come in fixed sizes and Lippert builds them to order, so the measurement is the one thing you have to get right. Here's how to do it the way Lippert's own sizing chart does.

What to measure (and what not to)

You're measuring the slide-out room flange to flange. The flange is the trim piece (T-molding) along each side of the room's exterior. Measure from the outside edge of one flange to the outside edge of the other. Don't measure wall to wall, the room's inside width, or the case of your old topper.

1. Run the slide out far enough that you can see both side flanges clearly.
2. Hook your tape on the outer edge of one flange and have a helper hold it there.
3. Pull the tape across to the outer edge of the opposite flange. Write the number down in inches.
4. If you already have a Solera topper, extend the room and look under the fabric on the right side (as you face the RV), near the wall. Lippert puts a variant code label there that shows the length and color. If you can read it, write it down. It's the quickest way to match what you have.
5. Measure how far your slide extends. Solera slide toppers extend up to 48 inches, so if your room goes farther, contact us before ordering.

How Solera 5000 sizes map to fabric width

Every Solera 5000 topper has two widths: the topper size and the fabric width. The fabric is always 5 inches narrower than the topper, so a 7' topper carries 6'7" of fabric. Sizes run from 5'6" to 16' in 6-inch steps, in black or white.

Match your flange-to-flange number to the fabric width, not the topper size. Use Lippert's ranges:

For example, Lippert sizes a 64" room with a 6' topper (5'7" fabric). Lippert also makes a few in-between sizes, such as 11'7" and 12'10". If your old label shows one of those, contact us before you order.

Once you have your size, pick it (and your color) on the Solera 5000 Series RV Slide Topper Awning page.

Height and mounting clearance

The topper's fabric slides into an awning rail on the RV wall above the slide. The roll tube mounts to the room itself with access plates and brackets near the top corners, so it travels in and out with the slide. Lippert's 5000 Series aftermarket manual sets these limits:

• Rail height: in the standard setup, along the line where the roof meets the wall, or 3" minimum to 6" maximum above the slide's T-molding. If the access plates mount on the T-molding instead of below it, the rail must be 4-1/2" to 7-1/2" above the T-molding. Check the roof line first; some RVs already have a rail.
• Rail alignment: level and parallel with the top of the slide room's T-molding. A rail that's out of square is one of the reasons Lippert gives for fabric rolling up at an angle.
• Backing: every screw that supports the topper must go into a backer inside the wall. Your RV manufacturer can tell you where those are.
• Bracket position: the access brackets have a lower position for normal clearance and a higher one when the topper needs extra clearance.
• Factory prep: some RVs leave the factory with Solera access plates already installed. If yours has them, you won't need new plates.
• Corners: the complete topper is 5" wider than its fabric. Check around both top corners of the slide room for lights, trim or anything else that could get in the way.

What about awning arms?

Slide toppers don't use support arms. If it's your patio awning (the big one over the entry door) that has a bent arm or a weak gas strut, that's a different part: the Solera 69" Standard Flat RV Awning Support Arm Assembly, Black (281154). Lippert describes it as a single 69-inch flat arm for power and manual awnings, with a gas strut and a friction joint that makes it easy to drain off rainwater. Before you order, check that your existing arm is the same length, style and color.

Black or white?

Lippert's advice is simple. Black absorbs more heat and suits temperate regions. White reflects heat and is the better pick for hot climates. Both are made from 13.5 oz vinyl with heat-welded seams. Past that, it comes down to what looks right on your rig.

Replace just the fabric, or the whole topper?

If the roll tube, springs, end caps and rail are all in good shape and only the vinyl is torn, brittle or stained, you can usually replace just the fabric. The Solera Universal RV Slide Topper Replacement Fabric (432253) is a 50-foot roll of black vinyl, 48" wide, with the polycord already welded in. You cut it to length. Lippert lists it as compatible with Solera and other major slide topper brands. (The white roll is a separate Lippert part, 432252.) One roll covers several rooms. For example, three 15' toppers use 14'7" of fabric each.

To size the new fabric, Lippert says to measure the old fabric end to end and cut the new piece to the same length with scissors and a straight edge, or lay the old fabric down as a template. Cut it square. While the fabric is out, measure the opening in the awning rail: Lippert says it should be no larger than 3/16", because a wider opening can let the fabric pull loose.

A word of caution: changing the fabric means releasing and re-winding the roll-tube springs. Lippert's procedure calls for 2–3 people, two ladders and 14 turns of tension on each end. Lippert's owner's manual warns that releasing spring tension the wrong way can cause injury, and that spring tension should only be checked by a certified technician. If that's not your comfort zone, have a tech do it.

Replace the whole topper if the roll tube, heads or brackets are damaged, if the springs won't hold tension, if your old topper is the wrong size, or if you're adding a topper where there wasn't one.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Measuring wall to wall or across the old case instead of flange to flange.
• Ordering a topper size that matches your number. Your number matches the fabric, and the topper is 5" bigger.
• Skipping the 48" extension check.
• Opening the slide more than 8" during installation (Lippert's limit), or unrolling more than one turn of fabric, which Lippert says makes the topper lose tension and go slack.
• Running the slide before pulling the spring tension clips. Lippert warns this can damage the topper and the RV.
• Rolling the topper up wet and leaving it. Dry it out as soon as the weather allows; Lippert notes that mildew grows on the dirt, not on the vinyl itself.

Need other Solera or Lippert parts while you're at it? Browse the full Lippert collection.

FAQ

My measurement falls between two fabric widths. Do I round up or down?

Don't round. Find the range your number falls into in the chart above and order that size. For example, everything from 62" to 67-3/4" gets the 6' topper with 67" fabric.

Can I install a Solera 5000 topper myself?

Lippert designed it as a do-it-yourself install. Their manual calls for 1–2 people, a drill or screw gun with bits, a screwdriver, a 1/8" hex key, a tape measure, silicone sealant or butyl tape, and silicone lubricant. The kit includes the fabric on its roll tube, the mounting hardware and the awning rail.

How do I clean it?

Lippert recommends 1/4 cup of dish soap in five gallons of warm water. Extend the slide, apply the mix liberally to the fabric, retract the slide for five minutes, then extend it and hose off. Let it dry before you retract.