How much snow on roof OK ?

Several years ago we had a lot of accumulation of wet snow and roofs on buildings were caving in and I was concerned about the motorhome roof also. I had 3 feet of wet snow and decided to shovel it off just to be safe. In the process I cracked both air-conditioning covers, trying to remove the snow. So knowing what I know now I would just leave the snow alone, your app to do more damage than good. The only time I would remove it is if I decided to travel, I would not want the snow coming off the roof on a car in back of me.

Last winter WNY State had a record snow fall. Where I live outside of Buffalo we had 81 inches (almost 7 feet) of snow fall in three days (we average 94 inches all winter). After shoveling our driveway because we broke two snow blowers trying to get out, I had to shovel the roof on the house because with drifting there was over 8 feet of snow up there. My wife asked "Aren't you worried about the RV's roof" which is winter stored about one mile from our house. I told the DW I can't worry about it now, that's why we have insurance. A week later I did go check on the rig and everything was fine. However, during last summer I had a bad leak that I think, scary, think that I finally traced to leak to the rear AC unit not being torqued tightened to mfg. specs of 40-50 inch pounds. Leak did not stop until the third tightening to specs after I consulted Dometic's web site. So the roof can hold a heck of a lot a snow weight, especially dry snow. But was my leak the off shoot of the severe winter we had 2014/15 or just coincidence that the poorly tightened AC finally started to leak. That I don't know.

In our campground several years ago, we got 3 inches of snow one weekend...followed the next weekend by 15 inches of snow. Several "snow shelters" (they are NOT actually intended for snow load) collapsed, but to my knowledge no roofs on the campers collapsed. Probably several folks found leaks the next year though.

I'd be worried about the weight of the snow causing cold/frozen/inflexible seals to break loose and then the snow-melt to find the cracks in the seals. I doubt that the sheer weight of the snow would cause the roof to collapse unless it was just a foot or two of wet snow.

Thanks all. I won't worry about it till shoulder is better.

USMC46 wrote:
We are currently in a rented cabin in western Montana with the winterized coach sitting next to the cabin. I'm curious how much snow it is safe to leave on the roof ? I have a currently bad shoulder preventing me from climbing to remove the accumulation. I expect there may be 3-4 inches of very recent snow there now. Will a heavier accumulation do damage ? Thanks.

you could have a foot of snow and wont hurt it. thousands of Rv in Dakoda,montana,wisconson,Minnisota,illinois, BC alberta etc have that and more at times on Rv Roofs

Powder or wet? Makes a hugh difference in weight per CuFt.

Roofs are built to be able to walk on thus structurally sound to support a lot of localized weight, so a LOT of snow would need to accumulate to cause any structural damage.