Snow on Roof

[adventure couple]

Just curious how much snow on roof is acceptable?
We already have 2 feet on roof now and are expecting possibly up to 5 feet more.
I’m going to clear it just trying to figure out how long I can wait.

[NXR]

While the weight of snow figures are all over the place this might help you make your decision.

Snow can weigh between 5 lbs per cubic foot to over 25 lbs per cubic foot depending on moisture content.

A 38' motorhome has a roof area of about 300 square feet. (38' long * 8' wide)

If the snow is dry your 2' deep snow can add up to 3,000 lbs to the roof. (5 lbs * 2' deep * 300 sq ft)

If it's wet snow your 2' deep snow can add as much as 15,000 lbs to the roof. (25 lbs * 2' deep * 300 sq ft)

If the snow is all dry, your 7' deep snow can add up to 10,000 lbs. If the snow is all wet your 7' deep snow can add up to 52,000 lbs to the roof.

And the walls and the frame and the tires. The per cubic foot weight also gets put on top of more delicate structures such as the skylight, the roof vents, and the air conditioner units.

The heaviest Ford-based motorhome can weigh up to 24,000 lbs. Now toss the snow load numbers on top of that, literally.

Me, I'd say that 2' is about as much as I'd be semi-comfortable with. Or, if you have good, replacement cost insurance, go for it and get a new motorhome out of it!

Just don't take take the chance of falling off the roof. It's not worth it.

I know someone will jump in and say how they've had that much snow on the roof and had no damage. I cannot dispute that but I'd never take that chance.

Ray

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by NXR

While the weight of snow figures are all over the place this might help you make your decision.

Snow can weigh between 5 lbs per cubic foot to over 25 lbs per cubic foot depending on moisture content.

A 38' motorhome has a roof area of about 300 square feet. (38' long * 8' wide)

If the snow is dry your 2' deep snow can add up to 3,000 lbs to the roof. (5 lbs * 2' deep * 300 sq ft)

If it's wet snow your 2' deep snow can add as much as 15,000 lbs to the roof. (25 lbs * 2' deep * 300 sq ft)

If the snow is all dry, your 7' deep snow can add up to 10,000 lbs. If the snow is all wet your 7' deep snow can add up to 52,000 lbs to the roof.

And the walls and the frame and the tires. The per cubic foot weight also gets put on top of more delicate structures such as the skylight, the roof vents, and the air conditioner units.

The heaviest Ford-based motorhome can weigh up to 24,000 lbs. Now toss the snow load numbers on top of that, literally.

Me, I'd say that 2' is about as much as I'd be semi-comfortable with. Or, if you have good, replacement cost insurance, go for it and get a new motorhome out of it!

Just don't take take the chance of falling off the roof. It's not worth it.

I know someone will jump in and say how they've had that much snow on the roof and had no damage. I cannot dispute that but I'd never take that chance.

Ray

All good info. I've seen travel trailers in our mountain communities have roofs cave from weight of snow. Most just had the light variety that fell during super cold temps but caved when the temps rose and heavy rains followed to turn the accumulated snow into a heavy mass.

Where I live our snow is usually wet and heavy. I drag out the ladder and push broom when snow depth approaches 12" just to be safe.

[TomfromtheSoo]

Originally Posted by adventure couple

Just curious how much snow on roof is acceptable?
We already have 2 feet on roof now and are expecting possibly up to 5 feet more.
I’m going to clear it just trying to figure out how long I can wait.

Hi,

I’m in northern Michigan. We get about 140” to 160” per year. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

I would suggest the roof gets cleaned off now, and again about half way through the possible 5 feet more.

The danger is not necessarily the snow weight when its cold, its when it starts to warm and maybe it rains, even just a little? Then the snow on your roof becomes a big sponge and two feet of snow weighs like five, six, or more feet of snow.

Tom

[adventure couple]

We’re supposed to get a break for a while tomorrow so I’ll be doing some snow removal on roof.
Luckily this has been a cold storm so light snow.

[PhilFromMaine]

Originally Posted by adventure couple

We’re supposed to get a break for a while tomorrow so I’ll be doing some snow removal on roof.
Luckily this has been a cold storm so light snow.

The real issue here is snow depth and the tendency of the snow consistency to hold water. Most roof cave-ins are the result of snow then rain.

I usually carefully brush my roof after a foot of accumulation depending on the wetness of the snow. I also do not want the snow to turn into a large sheet of ice that may do damage.

I am careful not to scrape the roof and most times leave a couple of inches of the wetter snow on the roof.

[Cabinfever97]

I live in Erie PA. Luckily our camper is parked in a way the wind keeps the snow to about 12 inches no matter the winter. There has been times I decided to pull snow off the camper roof. I just try and stay about 6 inches above the roof when I remove the snow and of course be careful around the stuff up there. Don't forget where the skylights are. I use a snow broom like the one in the link and a tall step ladder. I don't go on the roof in the winter. Too easy to break something or trip and fall.

https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Joe-SJBL...96828353&psc=1

[Carmel]

What would bother me is the slides that run the whole side of the coach. I don’t know what kind of support beam is in there but I can imagine.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by Carmel

What would bother me is the slides that run the whole side of the coach. I don’t know what kind of support beam is in there but I can imagine.

If the snow is getting so deep it’s worrisome…….I’d pull the slide(s) in ASAP.

[TitanMike]

For those that get light, "dry" snow due to low temps, recent news reports have shown people using leaf blowers to snow off cars. I imagine it could work well for an RV if able to blow snow off before it reaches much depth.

I remember a business trip to Sioux Falls one winter, arriving in a heavy snowstorm. Seemed like everyone was out with their snow blowers every few hours just so they didn't get buried.

[adventure couple]

Update in Palm Springs now ��

[NXR]

Originally Posted by adventure couple

Update in Palm Springs now ��

Nice! How long did it take for your home area to get plowed out? There were some bad stories coming out.

Glad you folks did OK.

Ray