I don't think it is an issue, but wanted to check.I have a tarp over the camper just to help with the weather. We have a first winter storm and we are expecting 3-5" of snow. The camper has the roof rack railing along the back side for whatever you put up there. Do I need to be concerned about water weight due to water accumulating there?The camper is not on the jacks so I am purely asking about the weight on the roof itself. I doubt it would be an issue, but like to check.Thanks

It might be a problem depending how much water is accumulated up there. Water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon or 64 pounds per cubic foot. You might want to consider putting a hole in the tarp so the water can drain out rather than a tarp becoming a swimming pool.

I've had the tarp slip off the frame and lay flat on the roof, collecting snow. Nothing noticeable happened. I have a 4" PVC pipe frame running the length of the roof to give a good peak to drape the tarp over. About 3' high. Snow mostly slides off if the ropes are tensioned enough.One thing I would caution is the tarp rubbing the paint off the corner trim. Like where the roof meets the walls, etc. Even with the tarp snug, the tarp burnished the paint off.I won't do tarps on the new camper. Building a barn,

I have no idea about yours. Mine has had almost 3 ft of snow on it. If you are worried about it, why not just get a ladder and take some snow off?

64 pounds per cubic foot.........hell, I can stand in one place on the roof and it would be 220 pounds per cubic foot. Snow only weights about 20 pounds per cubic foot.

jdc1 wrote:64 pounds per cubic foot.........hell, I can stand in one place on the roof and it would be 220 pounds per cubic foot. Snow only weights about 20 pounds per cubic foot.While some are confusing unit weights, what you’re saying is not applicable because the snow load is everywhere not just one spot so the total load could be much more. OP, you don’t need to worry about it unless there is a lot of snow. How much is a lot?None of us know that, so if you’re concerned, just remove the snow occasionally

Water/snow weight concerns | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

jdc1
Explorer II
Dec 13, 2020
64 pounds per cubic foot.........hell, I can stand in one place on the roof and it would be 220 pounds per cubic foot. Snow only weights about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
jimh406
Explorer III
Dec 13, 2020
I have no idea about yours. Mine has had almost 3 ft of snow on it. If you are worried about it, why not just get a ladder and take some snow off?
Bert_the_Welder
Explorer II
Dec 13, 2020
I've had the tarp slip off the frame and lay flat on the roof, collecting snow. Nothing noticeable happened. I have a 4" PVC pipe frame running the length of the roof to give a good peak to drape the tarp over. About 3' high. Snow mostly slides off if the ropes are tensioned enough.

One thing I would caution is the tarp rubbing the paint off the corner trim. Like where the roof meets the walls, etc. Even with the tarp snug, the tarp burnished the paint off.

I won't do tarps on the new camper. Building a barn,
Flute_Man
Explorer
Dec 13, 2020
It might be a problem depending how much water is accumulated up there. Water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon or 64 pounds per cubic foot. You might want to consider putting a hole in the tarp so the water can drain out rather than a tarp becoming a swimming pool.

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Water/snow weight concerns

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