Walking (crawling) on the roof

[gypsmjim]

2015 Jayco Jay Flight SLX.

I want to put vent covers over the two roof vents. I haven't put a ladder up on the side yet, but I think I can reach them from one. If not, is the roof strong enough for me to climb up on top to do the job?

[Harvey51]

The only way to tell how the roof is constructed is to open it up. I had a seam in the ceiling that leaked so I opened it enough to see a little and get a camera into. The ceiling joists are 2x2s 16 inches apart. The only thing on top of them is the sheet metal roof. Under them 1/8 inch wood sheeting. The leak seems to be caused by a drooping or broken 2x2 running side to side with a vent in the middle attached to it. This causes a pool of water beside the vent. The temporary fix is strips of wood running across three of the 2x2 joists to elevate the low spot. I know I must remove a ceiling sheet and deal with the bad joist. I wouldn't be surprised if I broke the 2x2 by stepping on it. Now I put planks across from one side to the other to support my weight when on the roof. And wonder if the walls are strong enough.

I hear good quality new RVs have steel or aluminum joists. Maybe something like metal studs?

A friend of mine was so disgusted with RV construction that he bought a used school bus, took off the roof and walls and built new ones with heavy steel beams. Very strong. Very heavy.

[SCVJeff]

down home wrote:
Our Dealer told us the ladder wasn't strong enough for us to climb on the roof, of our Fifth Wheel. It was just for looks. So therefore the roof is not strong enough to walk on either. Better let the Dealer Do it. They did with a straight face so it has to be true. Dealer has speshul light weight Folks to do it.

thats probably true. I cringe sometimes when I see how the rig flexes when people climb the ladder, but that's a mounting problem. Still not buying that anything short of a tent can't support 150lbs ON the roof.

[LarryJM]

Sillybugs2 wrote:
Thanks for the plywood idea. Dh wants to get up and really inspect our so will have him do this. And bonus we already have a piece.

While I can walk on mine I actually carry two 1/2" x 12" x 24" pieces of particle board with carpet wrapped around them in my Van so if I need to get on the roof I use those as "stepping stones" to move around and kneel on when on the roof. At home I have a 2'x3' piece of 3/8" plywood that I use as an "additional" platform with a piece of old carpet under it for added protection and to provide a larger work area for things like stools, etc., but still use the two "stepping stone" boards to get to the larger plywood "platform".

Just too easy to take this extra step to ensure no problems. Even with walk on roofs if you kneel on them that can be a HUGE amount of force from your knee in an "EXTREMELY" small area.

Larry

[navegator]

The guy put his foot through the roof and yes there was sufficient damage to a fairlly new unit to have it declared a total loss by the insurance company, we had to bring a small ladder inside so that he could step on the ladder and stop pulling the rest of the roof futher down, and for your information there was no structural damage caused by water or any other problems, some units only have reinforsing where you have the A/C and the vents the rest of the roof is basically self supporting.

Not all pull trailers are constructed to the same quality of workmanship and I AM TALKING PULL TRAILERS NOT 5TH WHEELS OR MILLION DOLLAR "A" CLASS UNITS.


navegator

[wa8yxm]

As I type this I am watching Extreme RV.. They are visiting the factory where MY RV was built.. Interesting, that is one good roof. 🙂

[SCVJeff]

As far as I'm concerned there were structural issues looming and he just triggered the failure. Think about it.. That roof is not only supporting an air conditioner, but the entire shear of the RV itself, and you are suggesting that 145lb (if true) distributed across both feet can collapse a roof and total the unit? Something is missing from this story..

Even so, your flat statement that anything missing a ladder is not meant to be on top of is incorrect.

[navegator]

I would like to see "SCVjeff" and "Dodge guy" tell the guy in the one rv park we where in that his roof was strong enough to carry his weight and it collapsed when he got on the roof to the point that the unit was a total acording to the insurance company, trailer was a 2012 pull model year the guy was 145 pounds, his trailer did not come with a ladder, my friends 2004 trailer did not come with a ladder and the manual stated that it was not meant to be walked on it at all.

Some of the persons that wash RV'S look for ladders to see if they can get on the roofs, if no ladder they use step ladders on the side of the unit to wash the roofs with out getting on the roof at all, they are not dumb if they damage a roof because it was not accesorised for walking on the roof.

Some pull trailers are not the same as class A or class C or 5th some units are not as well built as others you need to be aware of what you can do and can not do up there.

Then of course it is not my dime, I can have more that four persdons on the roof of my RV.

navegator

[Weldon]

I have been on the roof of a Jayco that did not have a ladder. No problem...if in doubt use the plywood as mentioned.

[spoon059]

One of the selling point of Jayco's is the Magnum Truss Roof system, which is built stronger than most travel trailers. They are supposed to be able to hold up to 4500 lbs across the whole of the roof. I'm not sure if the SLX line (formerly the JaySwift I believe) has that same roof construction. On the Jayco website, it is a selling point of the JayFlight and Eagle lines. The SLX line doesn't mention roof construction.

Contact your dealer, or better yet JAYCO and ask them. For that matter, my trailer is a flat roof with 2x2 construction, no ladder and no mention of "walkable roof". I have installed 2 roof vents and crawled across my trailer roof both time to install them. I stayed low and spread my body weight out, rather than all the weight on a single foot at any time.

[wa8yxm]

ON my motor home, as I said the roof is more than strong enough The ladder, not nearly as strong (it is history, I use a much better ladder now)

The best advice I can give is be careful.. When I worked as a professional roofer we walked all over many roofs,, Some were good and solid Some not so much so you learned to set your foot down carefully "Feel" the roof and if it felt like it was going to let you down.. Step elsewhere, dig in the the straight claw hammer and inspect the rotted wood.. Replace it, build it up and continue the re-roof job.

If your roof feels "soft" or "Springy" or "Spongy" Be very very very careful

IF it feels like the kitchen floor.. that is how mine feels.

[dockmasterdave]

I think the point was, there is no yes or no answer everytime. Read the manual or check the website for your specific unit.
Research it, don't rely on opinions of those with different units.

[shadows4]

dodge guy wrote:

dockmasterdave wrote:
Listen to all the people telling you it's OK, Then when your foot goes through the roof, ask who is going to help pay for it?
If not, research it in your manual or online.
I don't give a damn what their manual says. Mine says no.
Plain as day.
Quote from the original owners manual, "do not attempt to walk on the roof" Apply 1/2" plywood over it first to spread the load.
Everyone can do as they wish. We need more cool stories on here.
A sheet of plywood at $20.00 or risk it?

Yes, but you own an AmeriLite. those are built to be very lite! I wouldn`t walk on that roof either, heck even the floor itself is iffy!

X2

[dodge_guy]

dockmasterdave wrote:
Listen to all the people telling you it's OK, Then when your foot goes through the roof, ask who is going to help pay for it?
If not, research it in your manual or online.
I don't give a damn what their manual says. Mine says no.
Plain as day.
Quote from the original owners manual, "do not attempt to walk on the roof" Apply 1/2" plywood over it first to spread the load.
Everyone can do as they wish. We need more cool stories on here.
A sheet of plywood at $20.00 or risk it?

Yes, but you own an AmeriLite. those are built to be very lite! I wouldn`t walk on that roof either, heck even the floor itself is iffy!

[dodge_guy]

navegator wrote:
If your trailer did not have a ladder from the factory when you purchased it you CAN NOT walk on the roof, it probablly is not strong enough, have a kid that does not wheigh to much do that for you.

navegator

Just because a ladder wasn`t installed doesn`t mean you can`t walk up there! it just the way the trailer was optioned!