When buying an RV with slides, there are several things to consider such as whether it is a slide topper, its storage accessibility and its usability when slides are closed. A slide topper is like an awning that goes over the top of the slide. This prevents any debris or water from puddling up on top of the rubber roof of the slide and either causing damage to the roof or preventing it from sealing properly when the slide is closed.
Most RVs have some type of storage under the unit, referred to as the basement. This storage is only accessible from the outside. A number of manufacturers are making the storage slide out with the slide, preventing back injury from having to crawl under the slide to try to get what you need or having to close the slide to make it easier to access the storage.
When looking at RVs at shows, their slides are open to show how roomy the insides can be. With the slides in, however, it can be like going through an obstacle course when trying to get to the back with all the different walls in the way.
If you decide to get a unit with a slide, try to get one with windows on every wall. This greatly increases the brightness in the RV and also improves the cross ventilation in the unit. Before opening the slide of your RV, make sure that you have enough room to avoid hitting any trees or poles while opening it. For safety, always make sure the slide is closed and locked before moving down the road.
