safe to get on the roof? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 08-11-2009, 02:04 PM   #1
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I was cleaning the roof of some massive tree stains this weekend, but that's a whole other story. On my ladder if I leaned as far as I could I would just barely reach the middle seam of my Burro with a sponge. Eventually if I have to work on the vents and such, how does one do that. Is it safe to get on these fiberglass trailer roofs if I put down a piece of board to spread out my weight? That would be about 175 lbs.
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Old 08-11-2009, 02:56 PM   #2
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It's probably a gray area, but I wouldn't, personally. Why put the stress on the shell and possibly end up with stress cracks (or temporarily "warp" the opening for the hatch just as you're working on it).

I'd do something like have a ladder on either side (the type that set up like an "A," not the type you lean on the side of the camper) and then a plank across the middle. Safety first, of course.

That said, I have not had to work on a centered vent; I bet others will have some good ideas for setting up staging.

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Old 08-11-2009, 04:07 PM   #3
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It's probably a gray area, but I wouldn't, personally. Why put the stress on the shell and possibly end up with stress cracks (or temporarily "warp" the opening for the hatch just as you're working on it).

I'd do something like have a ladder on either side (the type that set up like an "A," not the type you lean on the side of the camper) and then a plank across the middle. Safety first, of course.

That said, I have not had to work on a centered vent; I bet others will have some good ideas for setting up staging.

Raya
Nope...esp. not on a burro-the manual says not to do it-mine doesn't seem rigid enough!!!
Get an extension bar for your sponge-harder to scrub, but less likely to damage the trailer.

Pam
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Old 08-11-2009, 04:13 PM   #4
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I was cleaning the roof of some massive tree stains this weekend, but that's a whole other story. On my ladder if I leaned as far as I could I would just barely reach the middle seam of my Burro with a sponge. Eventually if I have to work on the vents and such, how does one do that. Is it safe to get on these fiberglass trailer roofs if I put down a piece of board to spread out my weight? That would be about 175 lbs.

Get a couple ladders and a plank, get a scaffolding, get on a brick wall beside the camper, get a pole with a scrub brush,.......
heck get longer arms if you need to.......

but dont climb onto the roof unless you want a sunroof and a sore head.
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Old 08-11-2009, 05:15 PM   #5
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After years of contortions I cut a piece of plywood and attached some support pieces underneath shaped roughly according to the contour of the roof (not the center portion but the side part). Covered these runners with some thick, resilient foam rubber I had, attached a rope to both ends of the long inner edge and attached the ends to a couple of 4" C-clamps which I then attached to the frame with suitable wooden pads. Got some thick pipe wrap from Home Depot to slide along the ropes and cushion them at strategic points and ended up with a work platform which spread the weight out over a wide area.

Generally speaking I think the roof is strong enough but I don't like to find out what the limits are. If I can spread the weight well enough I'm considering putting a hot tub on the roof.
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Old 08-11-2009, 06:44 PM   #6
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I thought the roof had to be fairly strong, I mean there's a heavy air conditioner up there (though probably not as heavy as me ). Then when the antenna was stuck in the up position, I had my son inside cranking on it while I coaxed it down from the outside, and that roof flexed a whole lot just from the antenna going down. Which made me wonder if the roof really could support an adult persons weight.
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Old 08-13-2009, 10:20 PM   #7
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Cut several 2 x 4's just the right length to support the roof from the inside. Also cut some plywood pads, approx 6 inches square to spread the ceiling load at the end of each 2 x 4. With these strategically placed under the area where you are working, the additional loading of your weight will be resolved by the floor.

Might not be a bad idea to set up some interior supports such as these for winter lay-up in areas where snow fall could cause a collapse of a roof.
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Old 08-27-2009, 03:26 PM   #8
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On our 13' Scamp, the whole vent assembly (cover, screen, etc) looks like it will come out from the inside with the removal of a couple screws. This might be the better option for a thorough cleaning of it.
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Old 08-27-2009, 04:21 PM   #9
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On our 13' Scamp, the whole vent assembly (cover, screen, etc) looks like it will come out from the inside with the removal of a couple screws. This might be the better option for a thorough cleaning of it.

Then you could reach through the vent hole and scrub that way. Is it a 14 x 14 vent?

Or you could get a car wash brush:

http://www.autobarn.net/8bruswittelh.html
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