When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How strong or RV roofs? I really need to clean my roof and probably need to flush out the AC unit and I am wondering if it is strong enough for me to walk on. I am a bigger guy, 6'9" and about 350 pounds so I don't really want to stress test it too much. I am sure that I can get most of it from a ladder but getting on top would be easier. Here is the camper that I have, it's a Dutchmen 261bhs.
I thought I was a big guy 6'5" 280 (before lunch), As for the roof I felt the same but was told it would be OK (TT Jayfeather 242) I use a piece of ply wood to stand on to distribute the weight. But if I were you I would go over to Home (RV forums) and ask the question in the trailer forum. Great resource I think you will get your question answered, by people that know a lot more about TTs then I do.
Geez, I'm a lightweight compared to you guys. I only weigh 185 and there are a load of trailers I will not even get up on without using plywood anymore. Historically it used to be said that 200 pounds was safe without using anything to distribute weight ( although I have never seen documentation for that) and I have walked a load of trailer roofs over the last 20 years. In fact will be on one this morning. Then along came the push to lightweight construction so anything could be towed by anything and now there is a lot of new stuff I will not get on without plywood.
My thought here is plywood would be an essential with this kind of weight and even then my guess is you are pushing it. depending on how large a piece of plywood we are talking. I don't think you can ask the manufacturer because I think they have no clue what the roof will bear. I find I can tell immediately by how much give the roof has, but if this is your first rodeo that might be tough. A ladder and a long handled brush might be safer and spraying out the AC, not sure why you feel it needs it.
Staying near the perimeter and using a brush would be my advice. I do know mine will hold me but I'm a lightweight at 160. I also rebuilt the roof on mine due to water leak and I added four 1.5" x 1.5" supports and gave the roof a slight curve.
I have been on mine a bunch lately at 270 and am very careful where I crawl around. My toyhauler has a bunch of water damage to the roof and some areas are pretty soft.
I'm 160 lbs soaking wet. I have three pieces of plywood prepped and ready to go for when I clean my roof this weekend. I've been up there a few times without the plywood and it has a little bit of give. Enough give that I feel a lot more comfortable walking on plywood instead of directly on the roof.
I painted the plywood so it won't absorb any water and also so it doesn't leave any "stuff" behind. The "stuff" could get stuck to the protectant that will be put down. I'm going to attach some thin foam on the bottom of the plywood to prevent scratching the roof. Yeah, it's overkill, but I'm OK with that.
If I was 350 lbs I would be looking at using one of these:
At 6'6" and 310 I tend to walk on the ground and leave the roofs to the little fellas.
Griz
In the "for-what-it's worth" department the reality of the world when i work is people pay me to do the things that frighten them or are too complex. For some folks, having someone else on the roof is a very reasonable suggestion and bespeaks perhaps of wisdom!
I started my day early to beat the heat and had to seal the seam where the front cap joins the roof on an "ultralite" camper. Personally I think the answer to camper weight is a bigger truck, not a lighter camper as Amazon shipping boxes are probably more robust. Simply leaning off the ladder and putting my hand on the roof to carry some of my weight was enough for an audible crack from the roof. What happens to ultralights is the front cap has so much flex it deflects and in fairly short order breaks the seal at the cap seam leading to significant leaks.
Not sure how many folks remember when it was possible to walk on any RV roof. No longer!
I'am 6-2 and 330#s and I get on the roof of my Cameo 2 or 3 times a year without the plywood and don't have any flex or wiggle problems, Carriage told me many years ago that anything under about 375 was not a concern unless trying to use it as a trampoline. However a friend that is 200#s at most, broke 4 roof trusses on his Springdale when he crawled on it, he didn't even stand up. It was not fun repairing those trusses and after opening up the ceiling I was amazed that it even held up the AC itself. So be very aware of what is happening and at least use the plywood to spread out the weight and if at all possible contact the mfg.
You hit it. Pick my own schedule and hours. Schedule around travel. Steady now until mid-August, then heading West again for a couple of months.
Beer/gas money. I might do the same thing. Pick up a few projects in the winter months and travel in the spring/summer/fall. Yeah, I'm sure it will work out just like that.
Yeah, NO. I'd go find a guy my size 5'8" and 155 and pay him. If you don't want to pay him, at your size I am sure simply threatening him will work too! Seriously, my unit has curved trusses and I can still feel a bit of flex. Thinking maybe it's a find a friend scenario here.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
