New R-Pod 196 Hood River Owners

We just purchased our R-Pod 196 in Salt Lake City.  We're excited to start new adventures.  Our maiden voyage will be this weekend with a visit to Zion National Park.  We previously had an Outback toy hauler and several tent trailers.

Congratulations and welcome! I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories. Zion NP is one that I would like for us to visit some day.

We too are the proud owners of a new R-Pod 196   This is our first trailer so we are excited yet a little trepidatious...so much to learn   The dealership we bought it from in Coos Bay Oregon have been super helpful, but I do have a question I would like to run by you guys.  They suggested an awning or topper for the slideout which I thought was spendy and unneccesary, but my wife feels that it would save us seal repairs in the long run as most of our camping would occur in forested areas.  I know I could just climb up on the roof of the trailer and sweep off any debris when we are ready to move on, but I am no spring chicken and my wife prefers I not do that    I believe I read that the gutters or channels that direct the rain water away from the slideout would have to be cut in order for the topper or awning to be installed.  Maybe that was just for that particular product.  We have kept the trailer covered since we bought it (with the slider in) and will not be taking it out until May.  What do you guys do or suggest we do regarding this?  Thanks for letting us join you. 

How does the cost of the topper compare to the cost of an ambulance trip and hospital costs?  If you tend to camp in areas with a lot of leaf fall in the autumn months, probably a good idea.  We tend to camp where leaf drop isn't an issue for the most part, if it is, I get up on a stool and use a broom - at least I am still limber at 66.  We purchased our 177 back in January 2011 and do not have such a setup for our slide, nor have there been any issues regarding this.

I'm an old guy too.  I use a 4 foot tripod step ladder.  Very stable even on uneven ground.  It's too big to fit in the rpod storage but fits easily in my open pickup bed.