de-icing roof

offduty11 · 03-03-2015, 08:04 AM

Anyone every use de-icing cables on the roof? and if so how do you run the cable front to back or side to side. I don't know how warm they get or if it would damage the roof. Looking for other options for roof clearing to.

Thanks

**KyDan** · 03-03-2015, 08:33 AM

No experience here but it sounds like a bad idea. Why do you want to de-ice?
Can't wait for spring??

offduty11 · 03-03-2015, 08:38 AM

just worried about weight. It just will not warm up in N.E. Pa.

fonzie · 03-03-2015, 08:56 AM

Here one thread about snow on roof.....many more if you put "snow on roof" in search above

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...oof-72656.html

TURBS · 03-03-2015, 08:58 AM

I'd not be concerned with snow load.
I'd be more concerned with adding what you suggest.

TURBS

Still Kickin · 03-03-2015, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offduty11

just worried about weight. It just will not warm up in N.E. Pa.

Use a small step ladder and a roof rake. Pull gently so as to not damage any plastic roof vents which become brittle in the cold. You don't need to take it all off, just enough to lighten the stress loads. Just sayin'

**KyDan** · 03-03-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Kickin

Use a small step ladder and a roof rake. Pull gently so as to not damage any plastic roof vents which become brittle in the cold. You don't need to take it all off, just enough to lighten the stress loads. Just sayin'

What he said! Good luck!!

Ford Idaho · 03-03-2015, 09:37 AM

Throw some heat on in the thing couple of days worth of heat will soften the ice up so it pulls right off.

**Flybob** · 03-03-2015, 09:42 AM

A swimming pool brush on an extension pole works great for removing snow on the roof. It does not damage the roof or the various vents attached to the roof.

Duckogram · 03-03-2015, 10:19 AM

Here is a photo of a solution to your problem. I took it during the Summer because the snow is too deep there during the Winter.

Wiscampsin · 03-03-2015, 10:31 AM

Do the RV dealers in your area remove snow from the unit sitting on their lots???
I like the pool brush idea, just be careful and be gentle. Cold plastic like roof vents get very brittle.

38FLCamper · 03-03-2015, 04:08 PM

I only remove snow when it gets over 4' deep on the roof. Then I use a ladder and snow roof rake - only removing the top 2-3' of snow always leaving snow on the roof to protect the cover and roof accessories. Most winters we don't even look at it, in the past 10 years have only removed snow 3 or 4 times. Once this year due to the extreme snows we have had. And yes around here some dealers have used a leaf blower to remove snow again due to the extreme amount we have had over the past 30 days.

elind · 03-03-2015, 05:10 PM

The leaf blower is only good on fresh snow. I just hire a my daughter's friend to shovel it off. He got it down to a couple of inches and it took till Kansas (1000miles) for the rest of it to come off. I took off 2 feet so there wasn't to much weight on the axles.

David 01 · 03-04-2015, 03:04 PM

after watching the NASCAR races, I see RV's and 5'rs with many people standing, lounging, drinking whatever on the roofs of their RV's during the race. While I am not sure that many people is a good idea to have up there, if it holds them all snow won't matter. I've never seen the local dealer, NE OHIO removing snow from the RV roofs in his lot, which can be 5+ feet. I'd be more worried about cracking or breaking something trying to get the snow off. That would be a headache. As they say in Disney's Frozen..."Let it Go".....

mlong · 03-04-2015, 03:29 PM

I am in central PA. I had to take my camper in for inspection in Feb. We had the slide extended and had 6" of snow on top of 1/2" of ice. I went up on the roof with a plastic blade shovel and removed the snow. It was a nice sunny day even though actual temp was in the low 20's and I just let the sun do the work. After a few hours of sun shining down on it the ice melted enough to release from the roof. I CAREFULLY shoveled the ice of and used a towel to dry before putting the slide in. I would be hesitant to place heat tape up there. You would need a lot of it and may accidentally get shocked.

X96mnn · 03-04-2015, 04:04 PM

Based on advice of my dealer I do not touch the snow on the roof.

Live in Nova Scotia Canada, snow on the roof is not a huge concern, have seen up to three feet. What my dealer stated, he has never seen a roof collapse or damaged due to snow sitting on it. He does fix 4 to 6 roofs a year where people damage them trying to take snow off. He stated the roof is tough to walk on and handle load. A shove edge applying pressure on the rubber in an isolated spot can tear if not careful.

B47 · 03-04-2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elind

The leaf blower is only good on fresh snow. I just hire a my daughter's friend to shovel it off. He got it down to a couple of inches and it took till Kansas (1000miles) for the rest of it to come off. I took off 2 feet so there wasn't to much weight on the axles.

Not sure if this applies to RV's,but I have read the big rigs are required by either law or company policy to clear all snow/ice off of the trailer before moving.

meck51 · 03-04-2015, 05:02 PM

B47 that is a straight law for everyone in NJ. All drivers must ensure their vehicles are cleared of snow before being driven, there have been quite a few accidents caused by neglect to do this. It is a fairly new law and it does get enforced.

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

B47 · 03-04-2015, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meck51

B47 that is a straight law for everyone in NJ. All drivers must ensure their vehicles are cleared of snow before being driven, there have been quite a few accidents caused by neglect to do this. It is a fairly new law and it does get enforced.

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

You're saying that all vehicles must be cleared of snow before being driven. I take that as being cars,pick ups,big rigs,RV's ( both towed and MH's) in NJ.

Seems like a good common sense law that is either not known or not practiced just by seeing vehicles with the windows covered with snow with the exception of the windshield.

danno2u · 03-04-2015, 10:47 PM

I just crawled up on my roof to remove a 1/2 inch+ of very heavy ice a couple days back (in DFW). We were traveling that day and I didn't want 30 pound chunks of ice sliding off on other cars on the interstate. Had we not been traveling, I would not have risked it. I do try to remove ice/snow on the slideouts after a storm when I can. But I can do that safely from a ladder. I watched a guy next to me walking on his slideouts while pushing the ice off. I'm not sure if a slideout can or should hold a person's weight walking on it...but he was a little guy so maybe that helps!

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