To clear or not to clear

The ceiling in my trailer consists of panels separated by strips every 4 feet. Over the years the panels have wrinkled where they slip under those strips. I firmly believe this is at least partially related to warming/cooling cycles especially when the roof is weighed down with snow.

The freeze/thaw cycles always scared me too. It's very difficult to get all the snow off the roof, but when it's deep, I try to climb up there and get the bulk off.

Last fall I decided I wanted to get some more years out of my 15 year old trailer and had the roof shrink wrapped like they do with boats. No worries this year. I'm going to try to get a few years out that plastic.

One of my trailers is over 40 years old. That iss the one I realy am concerned with. This one is the one in he bush.

Mfan wrote:
I've always wondered when people say, the dealership doesn't clear them , does that mean that the leaks never begin at a dealership or the dealership is not concerned about the trailer in 3 or 4 years , when the leak becomes evident?

What it means is that no dealer is going to pay staff to clear the roof on hundreds of lot models only to have to repeat the process every time it snows. In the rare occasion when a new roof does leak the dealer will simply make a warranty claim to repair it, any roof that leaks later after the trailer is sold is the trailer owner's problem not the dealer's. Cost is the same reason no dealer will install covers on lot models even though his parts store sells these covers.

I've always wondered when people say, the dealership doesn't clear them , does that mean that the leaks never begin at a dealership or the dealership is not concerned about the trailer in 3 or 4 years , when the leak becomes evident?

Next year cover it and don't worry about the freeze/thaw cycle. Search this Forum for `RV cover'.

Depends on the snow for me. I am also more worried about freeze / thaw opening up cracks in the seals.

If I think the roof should be cleaned off, I just do the bulk of it. I don't try to get every last bit. As mentioned earlier, I am careful to avoid damaging things on the roof.

It usually is not quick for me... need to get out step ladder, sometimes need to dig around the camper just for a place to setup the ladder!

With snow, one size does not fit all. Two feet of wet snow will weigh a lot, where the same, but dry snow, weighs much less. My concern is more about the freeze/thaw cycles, more likely toward Spring. The sun thaws from the bottom, causing water to get in the cracks/crannies during the daytime, then refreezes at night. When in the warm temp thaw process, I get on a tall step ladder, and push the snow off with a garage floor broom. If you catch it at just the right time, it just slides right off, and does a pretty good job of cleaning the roof too.

Jerry

Don’t worry about it.
Look at all the dealerships around you, they’re all covered in snow.
Mine is parked at the cottage, it’s never been cleared in 15 yrs. still standing.
You can and will do more damage mucking about up there.

Presume this isn't the first year you've had a camper. Of coupe clear the snow off the roof. I mean it isn't the immediate death of the trailer if you don't, but if you're asking the question, why not just clean it off. What's it take, like 15 minutes?

I would clear it, espcially before the thaw. If water can somehow puddle around the vent lids, they will leak as the water rises up into them.
Learned this one the hard way.