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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / January 2007To shovel snow off roof or not to shovel
I have a question, Today I was out shoveling the snow off of my Popup roof, it had about 1.5 feet of snow on it. I have done this numerous times so far this winter. I store it on base with about 400 other campers and Popups, but I seem to be the only one that is taking the time to clear the snow off of the roof. Is it a waste of time to take the snow off of the roof, or does it actually help to keep it on. Right now the snow is up to the roof itself. >I have a question, Today I was out shoveling the snow off of my Popup roof, > it had about 1.5 feet of snow on it. I have done this numerous times so [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > roof, or does it actually help to keep it on. Right now the snow is up to > the roof itself. Have you ever seen a roof leak caused by snow piling up in the valley's of a house? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... john...I use a broom... > I have a question, Today I was out shoveling the snow off of my Popup roof, > it had about 1.5 feet of snow on it. I have done this numerous times so [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > roof, or does it actually help to keep it on. Right now the snow is up to > the roof itself. If you get so much snow that it crushes or otherwise damages the popup roof, that would be the LEAST of your worries. Popup roofs are built to withstand the weight of an air conditioner and/or bicycles and boats. A couple feet of accumulated snow shouldn't hurt anything. If the roof leaks (a *VERY* bad thing), it's going to leak in the rain as well. Leave the snow alone. Using the trailer tongue jack, many folks store their camper out-of-level (tilted fore or aft) to encourage water/snow run-off.  Signature:) JR Snow can weigh between 20 and 50 pounds per cubic foot (depending whether it is light and fluffy, or wet and sticky). Let's say your camper roof is 8 ft wide and 12 ft long, or 96 square ft. That would mean that snow 1 ft deep would add the weight of 1920 to 4800 pounds to your roof! Snow two feet deep would weigh between 3840 and 9600 pounds - yep, 2 to 5 tons!! [Note, you are now clearly exceeding the weight limits of the axle assembly, and putting just that much more stress on one part of the wheel bearings, causing much more wear.] Additionally, snow left on the roof may melt some on warmer or sunnier days, then freeze at night. This ice build-up at the bottom of the snow pile weights about 62 pounds per square foot PLUS whatever new snow falls on top of it. Do your own math for your camper. Myself, I would shovel or sweep off the snow! > I have a question, Today I was out shoveling the snow off of my Popup roof, > it had about 1.5 feet of snow on it. I have done this numerous times so [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > roof, or does it actually help to keep it on. Right now the snow is up to > the roof itself. > I have a question, Today I was out shoveling the snow off of my Popup roof, > it had about 1.5 feet of snow on it. I have done this numerous times so [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > roof, or does it actually help to keep it on. Right now the snow is up to > the roof itself. I saw a regular TT crushed because the weight of the snow.... Newt That really made me feel better about going out and shoveling the snow off. Thanks all for the feedback. > That really made me feel better about going out and shoveling the > snow off. Thanks all for the feedback. You can bet that I would be cleaning it off. It is a good idea to clean off any structure that has a foot or more snow on it because that is a lot of added weight. It is even worse if you have a lot of snow on your pop-up and the wind is blowing hard at the same time. That introcuces another load factor that can flatten things. >> That really made me feel better about going out and shoveling the >> snow off. Thanks all for the feedback. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >blowing hard at the same time. That introcuces another >load factor that can flatten things. If the wind is blowing, wouldn't it blow the snow off? At least that's what happens around here. Tom >>> That really made me feel better about going out and shoveling the >>> snow off. Thanks all for the feedback. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > If the wind is blowing, wouldn't it blow the snow off? At least that's > what happens around here. Not if it is wet snow. It packs down and stays in place until it melts. Snow can be light and easily blown around or it can be real wet and sticking to everything. I said BROOM dammit! john > That really made me feel better about going out and shoveling the snow > off. > Thanks all for the feedback. > I said BROOM dammit! I've used a small electric snow blower on the roof of a house. > I said BROOM dammit! > > john Sweep off a foot and a half with a broom??? Especially when the snow is heavy and wet? I usually leave an inch or so on top and let the sun melt it. But use a big shovel to move off the top layers. But mine is a 5th wheel so a bit bigger job. > > I said BROOM dammit! > Sweep off a foot and a half with a broom??? Especially when the snow > is heavy and wet? Maybe the tool to use is a snow rake. http://images.google.com/images?q=%22snow+rake%22 >>> I said BROOM dammit! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Maybe the tool to use is a snow rake. > http://images.google.com/images?q=%22snow+rake%22 Not for me. I have a rubber roof. > >>> I said BROOM dammit! > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Maybe the tool to use is a snow rake. > > http://images.google.com/images?q=%22snow+rake%22 > Not for me. I have a rubber roof. Not even this one? http://www.hondacuraworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SR 18&Category_Code=GFT >>>>> I said BROOM dammit! >>>> Sweep off a foot and a half with a broom??? Especially when the snow [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > http://www.hondacuraworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SR 18&Category_Code=GFT Yeah, that should be ok. I have something like that with a rubber scrapper. Want to be real careful not to cut that rubber membrane. Main thing is to get some of that weight off the axles. Parked next to a building I have had the snow drift to where it is probably three or four feet deep. Usually I just slide a big scoop in and pull out big chucks letting it fall to the ground, not getting near the roof itself. Usually it is too heavy to use a rake type device. > Usually I just slide a big scoop in and pull out big > chucks Well, you ought to tell Chuck to stay out of there. The little chucks are bad enough without having Big Chucks. SignatureFrank Tabor The sight of death frightens them [Earthers]. -- Kras the Klingon, "Friday's Child", stardate 3497.2 >> Usually I just slide a big scoop in and pull out big >> chucks > > Well, you ought to tell Chuck to stay out of there. The little chucks are > bad enough without having Big Chucks. Shucks, the N is just a key or so away from the K |
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