Forum Discussion

SweetLou's avatar
SweetLou
Explorer
Jan 11, 2021

Snow loads for Trailer

Anyone with any experience storing a trailer outside for winter and the build up of snow on the roof? I know about winterizing so no issue there. I can get a cover for the trailer but it is 34 ft. My question is once you have it all covered and parked, can the roof hold 3 feet of accumulated snow on a flat roof? The trailer is well built being a NUWA, but I don't want to pay the big bucks to storage it if I can help it. Any thoughts?
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    I have owned 2 NUWA 5th wheels since 1996 and they get stored outside in the winter and not covered. Some winters we had multiple feet of snow. Neither unit suffered any roof damage and never leaked. I may have shoveled the snow off a couple of times in all those years but only when I was going somewhere. It is just too dangerous being on a slick roof.
  • My biggest concern would be snow melt that re-freezes to ice at the bottom of the snow load. Ice is much heavier than snow.
  • way2roll wrote:
    If you can walk on your roof, I doubt the weight of snow would be a problem. The issue comes in the depth of the snow and it melting into places like your AC and vents where the water can then enter the RV. But I've had over a foot of snow on our previous MH and no issues whatsoever.

    Agreed. I would first place a good quality thick tarp over the roof. Then get a a good quality cover so melt shouldn't find its way inside. It doesn't leak now, but also a little caulking around untis will help. I figure the weight may not be bad since we can walk on them but wanted to ask.
  • If you can walk on your roof, I doubt the weight of snow would be a problem. The issue comes in the depth of the snow and it melting into places like your AC and vents where the water can then enter the RV. But I've had over a foot of snow on our previous MH and no issues whatsoever.
  • ssthrd wrote:
    In three winters, I never had a problem with a foot or so of snow as long as it was not wet which translates to heavy. I tried to stay ahead of the game by cleaning it off when I had the time. The most I had to deal with was about 18 inches which caused no issues. Mind you the roof on my Wilderness was curved.

    A good gauge might be to clean it when the RV dealers do their inventory.

    No one will be around to clean it off so this is why I am asking the question
  • In three winters, I never had a problem with a foot or so of snow as long as it was not wet which translates to heavy. I tried to stay ahead of the game by cleaning it off when I had the time. The most I had to deal with was about 18 inches which caused no issues. Mind you the roof on my Wilderness was curved.

    A good gauge might be to clean it when the RV dealers do their inventory.