who climbs up the ladder and onto their roof... and who doesn't... you can give your age if you want.
I'm 71 and do it although with some hesitation.
I have a cover so I have to climb on my roof to remove it and put back on numerous times each year. I am 67 and have been doing it for 11 years without a mishap. Being small, lightweight, athletic, with no physical issues certainly helps. I try to be as mindful and careful as I can when up there, keeping in mind that this is an accident waiting to happen. When this cover falls apart I will not get a replacement, dreaming of a day I can just park my rig in my RV garage!
Mike Liner
'08 24' FL towing Subaru Forester
Climb at 70, very carefully. Every year the ground seems to get harder.
Orwan gets covered when it's going to sit for more than a month or so. On and off in calm weather, again carefully.
About the only thing I carry up to the roof is a rope which hauls everything else up.
Joel
About three, four times a years or more. And most of the times to wash off the dirt and mold that loves the roof. It took three years of caring a full bucket of water and water hose before it dawned on me that I could carry the empty bucket then fill it up on the roof.
DW will not let this old man (72) climb up without her being in the area. She knows one day I'll come flying off the roof trying to test gravity in that area. I keep telling her I'm sure it works so I don't have any desire to run that test.
glen
Hi all:
At age 79, still up 2 times a year, hose off and checking of any caulking issues. Do all VERY CAREFULLY11111
Bob
3-4 times a year to wash it
80 year old woman
Never without someone else present
Never with anything in my hands (I have a little winch thing on the roof to haul up tools.)
I try and stay in the center after my elderly neighbor stood on the edge of his SOB, looked down, fainted and fell off.
He broke lots of parts.
The other, much safer way, is to climb up through the escape hatch but the ladder is faster.
Langton
kool83704 - what causes you to hesitate?
We do climb onto our roof regularly. We are in our early 60s.
I am not fond of heights, so while I go onto the roof regularly I do hesitate beforehand - our original ladder is missing but we use a very sturdy multi-position ladder (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gorilla-Ladders-26-ft-Reach-MPX-Aluminum-Multi-Position-Ladder-with-375-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IAA-Duty-Rating-GLMPX-26/304228999) so my big discomfort is moving from the ladder to the rig but the extremely sturdy ladder helps. I just don't look straight down once I am up there (I do what I need to then come down). And if I can I stay on the ladder and just reach over I will do that instead. Once we replace the original ladder I think I will hesitate less but still hang on tight until I am up on the roof. Though I will always be careful at the edge or when I have to look down.
DH is braver, he has sat on the edge.
Jane
I quit doing foolish things like that years ago... the way I got it figured is that the money I'm saving on hospital bills will more than pay a detail shop to do the job. And look at all the unexpended sweat as well! ::) ;) :D
Since I don't see anybody jonesin' for the opportunity to take over the roof cleaning/checking/repairs, I still manage to haul my 78-year-old self and all the supplies up the ladder - and back down again! ;)
Our roof gets hand washed every time we go out. I go up like a fairly young man and I come down like an old spider. Margee is not happy with me when I go up. (Actually most unhappy). I’m 73 years.
I have been around ladders most of my life and I DO NOT LIKE the back ladder. I think it is the angle, anyway I set up a 10' step ladder along side and make the transition across. I'll use the back ladder if truly needed but that's it. Just remember, when you think you are at the last step, it's usually two more steps to ground level. Keep count..
Jon
I went up once last year to clean solar panels. I didn’t like it one bit, I’m 56. Like Lazy Bones I’ll pay someone to do that job. 🤪
While we're talking roof, what do you think the weight tolerance is?
Sure - done it once. Here's a Hollywood simulation of how it felt.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/v31wC4lbF7tm0/200.gif)
While we're talking roof, what do you think the weight tolerance is?
I delicately asked the mother ship before and they were confident that if one followed instructions using weight distributing boards, it's quite ample for anyone fit enough to actually get there. The ladder worries me more than anything. I got religion.
I'm thinking of a side ladder too...or maybe even snagging a loading dock somewhere I could just reach over for some tasks... not crazy 'bout that ladder even if I DID eat fewer cookies.... :D
Weight tolerance, I think it is pretty good. I have been all over up there and I am not a small thing.
The 2x4s (I think that is what is in the ceiling) are spaced pretty close together in our LD and the run across is only 8.5'.
Lumber is pretty sturdy, assuming they used metal tie-ins of some sort to connect the roof to the walls to the flooring, it should be pretty solid.
Like any roof/ceiling, it is nice to put the weight on the framing (I have seen people step between rafters and go right thru the drywall ceilings).
I wouldn't necessarily stand on one foot and hop around to see what happens (more lbs in a smaller spot) and I would pay attention to any dipping of the roof and if it dipped I would move to a more solid spot (looking for those structural supports).
Jane
I use a similar ladder-climbing procedure to that reported by JonS, i.e., I set up an 8' ladder next to the LD's ladder, use the tripod ladder's rungs to climb past the angle on the LD's rear (no sense hanging out in space, defying the laws of physics and making the climb any more difficult than it has to be), then go up the rest of the way on the rig ladder. Since my rig is a 2003, it still has the rails around the top edge; maneuvering through the narrow space at the top can be a bit dicey, but it's manageable. I do put my cell (in a baggie if the roof jaunt involves hosing and scrubbing) in a pocket and wear water shoes (and ancient pair from river rafting days) for better traction when I go on the roof; the roof can be slick when wet, and there is a lot of stuff - like solar panels - to trip and fall on. If I know I'm going to be doing something that requires being on my knees up there for any length of time, I use knee pads.
Getting up on the roof of the rig is not something that's real high on my list of "fun stuff to do", but, for me, the only viable option for routine cleaning and maintenance.
As ever, YMMV.
72, I go up 3-4 times a year to clean and check things out.
I've been following this thread with much interest. I am in agreement with Lazy Bones 1 & 2, pay someone! I know age is just a number and not necessarily an indicator of ability but, frankly, the thought of people in their 80's climbing on rooftops makes me shudder. I'm trying to imagine my mom, in her mid-80's, doing so- NOT!
This thread reminds me of a few songs. First, you go up on the roof:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vbZZG57oik
Then you slip and slide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNt5FnMK2sM
Next thing you know, you're free falling!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZjwHNcWqg
Once a year, ascending with hose/sponge/cleaning solution in hand/attached to belt loops (bungees are such a wonderful invention)...I was so proud of myself the first time I completed this task I channelled Helen Reddy & serenaded the neighbors with a rousing chorus of I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar ::) ; the deafening silence was broken by the guffaws of the 20-something kid I had whacking bushes in the front yard. :P
A soon to be 65 I am thankful for y'all in the 7th & 8th decades who have inspired me that The Little Engine That Could is not just for pre-schoolers. :D I would rather climb the funky back ladder to heave myself over the edge of the LD than do the ladder marathon to clean the gutters on the single-story stix (climb ladder with blower/blow as far as possible/descend ladder/move ladder 3 feet/ascend ladder & repeat all previous steps until the entire perimeter has been blown). :P It would be much easier if I had something as sturdily attached as the LD ladder & had the confidence of 30 years ago to heave myself over the edge of the stix, but those gutters look awfully flimsy compared to the rail at the top of the LD ladder.
Lynne
I've been climbing since I was a little boy. I used to get into some pretty precarious situations
from lack of fear. It didn't take me too long to figure out, it was a lot easier going up than coming back down.
I keep that in mind when going up on the roof, which I do at least a dozen times a year.
And , I'm one of the younger ones around here at 61.
As and addition to my previous post.
I have an older LD equipped with the escape hatch.
I've used it a couple of times to get up on the roof without having to use the ladder.
It's a contortion act, but it's a doable option.
Oh my gosh, Glen....I never thought to fill the bucket AFTER I got up there. I’ve been hauling it with me up the ladder, full. 🙄
I climb up there to wash, but I’m fairly young in this crowd. My only time I had to really watch, was over winter when we got 18” of snow over night. I crawled up and very meticulously pushed the snow off the roof with my (by the end frozen) legs and arms, while trying to figure out where the edges of the RV actually were. I definitely was sitting or lying down the entire time up there. My goal was to prevent the roof from caving in. He he
Rebecca, next time you might try getting up on a ladder next to the RV and using a long-handled push broom to push/pull the snow off the roof. Might be a little safer than getting on the LD roof. At least if you fall, the snow will soften the blow a bit. 😉
Not having lived in areas that frequently experience snow, I have no experience with the frozen white stuff, however, I have seen devices that can be placed on rooftops that melt falling snow to prevent its accumulation.
Seeing pictures of rv’s covered in snow, I’ve often thought such heaters would be useful on the roof of an LD since it is primarily aluminium.
Amazon sells such devices for walkways and such. Powerblanket WM24x60C Summerstep Snow and Ice Melting Heated Walkway Mat, Anti-Slip, Connectable, 120V, 300W, 2' Wide x 5' Long, Black Amazon.com: Powerblanket WM24x60C Summerstep Snow and Ice Melting Heated... (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQ3HM6V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_y1GjDbK07D3P6)
Could such a device be used on an LD roof?
When I do go up on the LD roof, I carry an empty bucket, a scrub brush, towels and a small bottle of soap. Sometimes I only use windshield washing liquid to clean the roof and avoid water altogether if possible. Generally, though, I climb the ladder (carefully) with the water hose and then loop the hose around the AC unit to keep it in place.
More often than not, I simply hose down the roof while clinging to the ladder. Takes only a few minutes to wash off what little dirt accumulates. At 65, I’m still agile enough to get the job done. 😬
Kent
Not having lived in areas that frequently experience snow, I have no experience with the frozen white stuff
Admittedly, I don't have a lot of experience with snow and RV's but the push broom method seems to work fairly well. This photo is not very representative of some of our larger snowfalls but it's the only one I could easily find. It helps if you can collapse your RV. ;)
We had neighbors with one of those Hi-Lo TTs when I was a kid...I thought it was really cool--Thx for the pic & the memory trip.
Lynne
Over the past 24 years and a many dozens of LDs, I have spent a lot of time on LD roofs, installing gear and raising and lowering our kayaks. Both of our LDs have carried kayaks. The roof isn't fragile.
At 170-lbs, I'm not that light and have only a couple of times felt significant movement under my feet when walking on the roof, In one case, rot was eventually found. What I try to do is always step on the roof joists, the roof' supporting crossmembers. This better transfers the weight into the wall, rather than having the weight supported support by the 1/2" plywood underlayment.
I apply strips of 3M's Safety Walk tape directly over the roof joists, where I regularly step, for extra traction. The boats and my feet are usually wet, when loading up after a day of paddling, making the roof slippery . The Safety Walk tape provides better traction and also marks the place where I should be always be stepping. The joists can be located by bouncing a foot long the length of the roof, feeling for the firmer spots.
The roof joist locations can be confirmed inside the rig, by looking at the ceiling for the lines of flat head nails, going from side to side. The ceiling paneling is nailed to the joists, during construction, to hold the paneling place while the adhesive sets.
3M Safety-Walk Slip Resistant Tread, Black, 2-Inch by 180-Inch Roll, 7635NA... (https://www.amazon.com/3M-Safety-Walk-Resistant-180-Inch-7635NA/dp/B0006HVKM4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?keywords=3M+Safety-Walk+Slip+Resistant+Tread%2C+Black%2C+2-Inch+by+180-Inch+Roll%2C+7635NA&qid=1562907764&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmr0)
Heavier individuals may want to use boards, running front to rear, to more evenly distribute the weight, the boards could be glued to the roof, if desired for a semi-permanent installation, good for accessing the solar panels for cleaning.
The rear ladder is strange, my driveway is sloped and if a rig is pulled straight in and not leveled, the first few steps feel like a rock climbing move, with the backward slope. Using a tall step stool place next to the ladder, for the first part of the ascent, helps a lot.
Larry
"strips of 3M's Safety Walk tape directly over the roof joists"
Larry, that is a neat trick (as I read I was saying how does he know from the roof where the joists are, no nails on that side - lol). But your method of finding them would work great for me.
I think we will put some of that tape on the roof - to help with any rainy days as well as standing in more sturdy spots.
Jane
"Using a tall step stool place next to the ladder, for the first part of the ascent, helps a lot."
----
No step stool, but exactly why I use the 8' ladder for the "get past the outward bend" first part of the ladder climb! (Just did that Wednesday. ;) )
Greg and Kent, thanks for your concern and suggestions..... I actually grew up in NE Ohio in the snowbelt, so I do have lots of experience with snow. Growing up I did use a snow brush to clean off the top of my car. The issue with the LD is that there was a foot and a half of snow on top, there is now way to "brush" off a foot and a half of snow. The good news is that we typically don't get that much snow here, in fact, it had been 50 years since the PNW got that much snow. So in another 50 years I will be almost 100..... most likely I will not be climbing on my LD roof then. ;-)
Apparently I didn't take a photo of the entire LD, but I am including the photo of the front. (which seems to be the only one I took).
Actually, I have been up on the roof several times. A few times I had no access to a real ladder and found the ladder to the upper bunk makes a nice and secure step ladder to the outside back ladder.
John
Of course one could just pull one’s self up like climbing a rope. Without using one’s legs. But I don’t do that in public because I don’t want to embarrass the other guys. Ya. That is my story. And I’m sticking g to it.
Great picture, Rebecca...it rather looks like your rig is grimacing, which I certainly would have done with that much snow on my head & nose. Kudos to you for the rescue.
Lynne
I am 77 put gave up heights when I was 75. Figured why press my luck. Can still stay active at sea level :)
When I had my 2003 Twin-King I used to climb on its roof all the time and didn't feel fearful. Since I've had my 2017 Mid-Bath and am now 77 years old, I don't climb on the roof as often. I really miss the roof railing from the older model. It made me feel more secure. I now mainly climb on the roof to bring up my satellite TV antenna. I regret that I didn't order the roof-top mounted satellite antenna from Lazy Daze. I had friends who had told me that with a portable satellite antenna, I had more options as I could move it to different locations. However, I've found that with all the trees and other obstructions, I often times didn't get reception. So now I've been carrying the satellite antenna up to the roof by having tied a belt onto the handle, and find a good spot to receive better TV reception. Taking it down on a rainy day is a challenge that I haven't encountered yet, but likely will soon.
Monica
2017 Mid-Bath
Monica--
You get the Helen Reddy/I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar award...I am in awe. I've got the roof rack to grab onto, & I just take a hose & cleaning supplies when I make the trek--taking your sat up & down is inspiring.
Lynne
Another of the many reasons I regret LD eliminating the overcab bunk's escape hatch on midbath and twin/king models: it was an easy, safe way to get up on the roof.
Another of the many reasons I regret LD eliminating the overcab bunk's escape hatch on midbath and twin/king models: it was an easy, safe way to get up on the roof.
I wasn't aware of that and am a bit confused by it. I thought an escape hatch was law.
On the snow removal subject I use one of these.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bon-Tool-25-in-Snow-Roof-Rake-28-200/301743456?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD25T%7C25-1_HAND+TOOLS%7CNA%7CPLA|71700000034127224|58700003933021546|92700031755124805&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvdXpBRCoARIsAMJSKqIMEjERkVjIVRcTGfD2NVNyF5qiljBreyeV7tlML_Z4e3PVXgZ1EdEaAs4FEALw_wcB
On roof climbing it got me laughing because my wife has been yelling at me and calling me a stupid stubborn old man because I broke out my old climbing gear and went fifty feet up a couple of trees around the house to saw off mistletoe infected limbs. She was standing at the bottom of the tree yelling up at me and I told her she should back off a bit so if I fell I wouldn't land on her.She saw no humor in the remark. :)
I believe they use a window now for emergency egress. Perhaps someone with a newer LD can confirm that?
"Perhaps someone with a newer LD can confirm that?"
On my 2004 30'IB the rearmost window on the drivers side is an emergency exit!
I believe they use a window now for emergency egress. Perhaps someone with a newer LD can confirm that?
Any of the sliding windows, except the small kitchen or shower windows, can be considered to be escape routes.
Larry
Any of the sliding windows, except the small kitchen or shower windows, can be considered to be escape routes.
Larry
Makes sense I guess but an escape hatch in the sleeping quarters seems kinda comforting
On my 2013 31 IB the rear window on the passenger side has the industry-approved red latches and exit sticker. That said, a panic-powered size 11 boot can make an emergency exit out of most any window.
"...the rear window on the passenger side..."
That's curious! Wonder why they switched sides from 2004 till your build in 2013?
I missed this thread when it went by. (out of country without a special data plan for my phone) At 72 I go up and down alot. Two years ago I renovated the roof of a 2001 MB for friends. I figure at least 500 trips in 3 months. I tie a rope to a bucket, and fill the bucket with supplies. The other end of the rope is tied to the aluminum railing at the back near the ladder. I don't go up without the wife home, and I keep an FRS radio pair. To complicate things my driveway is slanted toward the street, and I had to park nose in to fit. That made the angle worse. I always manage to need some tool I forgot to put in the bucket.
Lots of things to fix in a 16 yo LD. New skylight, A/C shroud, escape hatch, clean and seal of the roof, hand repairing all of the marker lights which involved soldering, lube sat antenna and batwing, FFan cover, CB antenna base removed, etc. Took me three months. (Total, not just the roof)
One mishap, fell off of the ladder when my shoe slipped off my foot. I was almost down, shoe was on the bumper, left me hanging, but I almost could touch the ground. Now I check the shoelaces to make sure they are tight. RonB
Glad your fall was not serious, Ron! Yeah, that driveway doesn’t leave you much room to operate.
One observation, it looks like the older models had roof racks while the newer ones do not. I would think the roof racks would make climbing up there a bit safer.
Hi Greg. Yes the roof racks are great to hang on to. I usually wear knee pads. I do walk around, but carefully and slowly. That tree on the side provides places to hold on also. My fall was mostly swinging up against the ladder, and because of my negative angle it wasn't too bad. A few small bruises, but now I'm more careful!
Do the new ones not have the roof rack? RonB
Ron, doesn’t appear so if you look at the photos on their website. Not on the published option list either:
Lazy Daze - "Photo Gallery" (http://www.lazydaze.com/photogal.htm)
"... it looks like the older models had roof racks while the newer ones do not."
Sadly those roof racks disappeared sometime back around 2006. ::)
"... it looks like the older models had roof racks while the newer ones do not."
Sadly those roof racks disappeared sometime back around 2006. ::)
The older roof racks offer handholds and a psychological sense of safety, in actual use they have limited utility.
I can't remember ever seeing anyone carry gear on the roof, secured to the rack.
When working on the roof, the rack does prevent accidentally backing off the sloping rear.
I came close to falling off once while laying Eternabond tape along a roof seam. It's safer to finish taping the rear of the seam using a ladder.
Larry
Hi Greg, thanks for noticing. I know that for liability insurance reasons, even the ladder itself was optional for a few years. I'm not sure if the 'tie down' railings returned after that, or if they were optional, and faded away. RonB