Water/snow weight concerns

[silverbullet555]

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

[burningman]

Remember we are talking about a 25 year old camper. I’d treat it more delicately the older it gets.

[Bedlam]

In areas where you get rain and snow combining is where you hear about roof failures due to weight. You will hear much more about leaks when the snow is thawing because water can pool in places with nowhere to go.

[JRscooby]

I think I would worry more about the tarp/rack making a pond. Water pushing on a dam is the reason so much work is put into the base of the dam. Will the base of the rack hold that force? Might want to put something (Basket Ball?) under the tarp to force most of the water to run off.
Another thought; I know many around here think most science doesn't matter, so this can't effect them. But we are told that water can get in cracks in rock, freeze, and the expansion break off large slabs.
And most tarps, out in weather for couple of months will seep if water sets on top of them. That water, now in the shade under tarp, is likely to freeze. Can you be sure it will not get in any crevice, seam, or other place where that expansion can do damage?

[jaycocreek]

I was born in Boise Idaho and can't remember a time the snow got deep enough to have to shovel the roof..There were a few years we got some snow deep enough to hooky bob to the bus stop,but not many..A week later it was all gone..Boise is actually in the banana belt of idaho getting less snow than the other areas north of it..I certainly wouldn't worry about snow load on your camper in boise...

Enjoy Bogus..I can remember there first night of night skiing...Had lots of fun on that hill..

[JimK-NY]

Where I live we often get freezing rain in the Winter. If the snow accumulates a foot or so and then it rains and freezes, we can end up with a foot of frozen ice and slush that will weigh more than several feet of snow.

Even so the camper should easily handle that weight. I certainly would not be concerned about a few inches of just snow.

[silverbullet555]

Thanks all. I was mostly worried about the load that could form from melting snow and the water pooling into the remaining snow. We didn't get much and we don't normally get much at a time.

The camper isn't on it's jacks so the only concern would be the weight on the structure of the camper and it sounds like that is not a concern.

Thanks again. Now if I can knock out a few chores and the oldest kid can get caught up in school, we can use it at the local ski hill and stay the night.

[jaycocreek]

towpro wrote:
I hated having roof rack on my truck campers. total useless thing, that only helped to crate a pool with cover on and more screw holes to leak.

I tried several 3/4" pvc conduit as bows, pieces of wood, etc, but nothing stopped the pool.

but than the pool never created any problems wither.

for winter storage I used to use the 4 jack legs, plus a 4x4 under the front with all thread adjustable jack stands under the 4x4 to take some of the load off the front jacks.

I had the same thing with the cover on so I took off the front cross bar...Problem solved..As to snow load,it depends on the snow type,wet and heavy I'm out there shoveling before it freezes,light and fluffy,3ft doesn't bother me much but I shovel anyway at around 1ft..

[towpro]

I hated having roof rack on my truck campers. total useless thing, that only helped to crate a pool with cover on and more screw holes to leak.

I tried several 3/4" pvc conduit as bows, pieces of wood, etc, but nothing stopped the pool.

but than the pool never created any problems wither.

for winter storage I used to use the 4 jack legs, plus a 4x4 under the front with all thread adjustable jack stands under the 4x4 to take some of the load off the front jacks.

[GDS-3950BH]

I have yet to see an RV dealer shovel snow off or roofs of stocked units. Out in Indiana I highly doubt the manufacturers are clearing off the thousands of units they have sitting in fields.

[Grit_dog]

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

[jdc1]

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]

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]

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]

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.