How much is too much? Snow.

Besides a layer of snow will protect it from damaging UV rays..

B.O.

Currently got about 8" of snow/ice on the roof and it will stay there til spring. You have to remember the vents, antenna and sundry other plastic fragile thingies under the snow. The first year I got up there and neatened up, but could never precisely place the vents and such. The fear of damage causing leaks lets me let sleeping trailers lie, though it's hard to see your old camping buddy cold and snowswept while you sip wine inside next to the fire.

Just another reason we're glad we could put up a covered area for Rocky - and before Rocky the ROO lived there. But....IF we lived in a big snow area, I'd be inclined to keep it pretty well cleared off. In TN, we do the freeze/thaw thing and that can cause problems of it's own. But, the weight of all that snow just, to my way of thinking, can't be a good thing. If the dealers want to leave snow piled high, that's their problem, but I'd rather have all that weight off.

Snow and Ice melt from the bottom, not the top. So a nice 40 degree day will reduce the height of the snow and all that melting water will seep into any crack that it can. Night falls and the temps drop back to below freezing and that water will refreeze causing expansion in any crack or crevice it can find.

I'm an advocate of winter covers and cleaning snow off when it is safe. Dark colors cause melting more than light colors. Just my thoughts after running a marina for the last 25 years and having boats or trailers for the last 40 years. Your results may vary.

Oh, and another reason I push the snow off? Just cabin fever! I just want to get out and do something involving the camper!

I get nervous about when the snow starts to melt and then freeze. Water and ice can work its way up and into areas where it shouldn't be. I push snow off my TT when it gets to maybe 12" or more, especially near the end of winter when things start thawing out. I use a sturdy stepladder, I don't like walking on the roof of my TT (it is an ultralight, and I am far from ultralight...lol).

I use the snow rake a few times each winter, leaving about 6 inches so I don't do any damage. I don't think it makes any difference to the TT, but the DW is quieter after I'm done...

Nvr2loud wrote:
I leave about 6" of snow on most of my trailers roof, I shovel off the rest... my blade never touches any part of the trailer roof, A/C, domes, antenna, ect. I just remove excess snow to reduce weight. Currently I have 3 feet of snow on top of mine, and I need to find the time to remedy that.

I also have a few other things in need of clearing... a boat, an enclosed utility trailer, and a metal shed (reinforced with wooden beams and posts to hold the snow load.

Hey Nvr,
What Province are you in?
One would be well served to listen to the advice of folks like Nvr, that live in those areas where snow and it's potential for damage are known.

FWIW, last year, I had a fresh coat of roof paint on the Hilton and was pretty diligent about moving off what we call Minnesota Mortar. That is that type of snow where the first few inches are wet and the next foot varies from wet to kinda wet, Snowman making stuff. With the new paint, the snow came off fairly easy. I'm thinking I may tarp the roof next year. Snow comes off pretty easy off the plastic tarps. Still building courage to break out the snow rake, it's darn cold up here, this AM.

16 years on a seasonal site with two different trailers in Central MN. Never cleared one off ever. Roofs held up just fine. Let it melt off then I didn't have to wash them. The less climbing around on them and rubbing on the rubber fabric with a broom, scrub brush or shovel the longer it will last with little chance of damage.

B.O.

We had our TT on a permanent site in far north Wisconsin for 6 years. Went through 6 winters of ice, snow, below zero weather just fine. I would think more damage would be done by somebody climbing up there and trying to clear the snow/ice then if you just leave it alone. We would need to clean it and the trailer when we opened it up in May, but that was all. I would say to just leave it alone.