Saw some people doing a scary thing

PoppySteve · 06-11-2021, 09:23 AM

This subject probably comes up from time to time, but I think it's worth re-telling.

On a recent trip I saw 3 folks standing on their camper cleaning off the top of the slides. One had a broom, another a corded blower, and one with a battery blower.

There are many articles on the dangers this can present.

https://nfsi.org/nfsi-research/quick-facts/

https://www.ehstoday.com/constructio...g-off-a-ladder

As a personal note, my dad fell from a ladder while trimming tree limbs and broke his hip. Had to get it replaced. After recovery, he still had too much pain to drive and pull his camper more than a couple of hours. He eventually had to give it up due to the injury.

**Iwritecode** · 06-11-2021, 09:30 AM

Getting up on the roof of your RV is typically just part of owning an RV. You should be up there at least a couple of times a year checking the caulking and all the plastic covers to make sure everything is good. Just take your time, move slow and you should be fine.

If we all worried about the dangers of the regular things we do almost every day (driving, walking across the street, climbing ladders, etc...) nobody would ever leave their house.

NavyLCDR · 06-11-2021, 09:32 AM

And those darn ladders they put on the back of RVs. What are those manufacturers thinking! They should at least post a warning sticker next to the ladder, "Warning - this ladder is not to be used for climbing onto the roof. It is only to be used as a place to strap bicycles, empty sewer tote tanks, and antenna masts to!"

SeaDog · 06-11-2021, 09:33 AM

Falling is dangerous especially as a person gets older and good to be reminded. with that said how would a person clean/chalk the roof of a RV without being on a ladder or the roof short of hiring someone else to do the job.

Homebrew · 06-11-2021, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

And those darn ladders they put on the back of RVs. What are those manufacturers thinking! They should at least post a warning sticker next to the ladder, "Warning - this ladder is not to be used for climbing onto the roof. It is only to be used as a place to strap bicycles, empty sewer tote tanks, and antenna masts to!"

??? The ladder that came with my XLR has been surprisingly rock solid. My ladder is the type that folds up against the side of the RV.
No issues except adding lube to joints to make it easier to pull down.

5picker · 06-11-2021, 09:42 AM

What is scary to some, others don't even think about.

Caution should be observed any time one does something.

With that said, for those of us who have no issues getting on their roof, we will continue to do so until we feel we can't. Age has a lot to do with feeling whether you can or can't.

5picker · 06-11-2021, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homebrew

??? The ladder that came with my XLR has been surprisingly rock solid. My ladder is the type that folds up against the side of the RV.
No issues except adding lube to joints to make it easier to pull down.

Pretty sure NavyLCDR remarks were tongue in cheek...

NavyLCDR · 06-11-2021, 10:06 AM

SeaDog · 06-11-2021, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

And those darn ladders they put on the back of RVs. What are those manufacturers thinking! They should at least post a warning sticker next to the ladder, "Warning - this ladder is not to be used for climbing onto the roof. It is only to be used as a place to strap bicycles, empty sewer tote tanks, and antenna masts to!"

My rig actually has a caution sticker that says "to be used for maintenance only". Must be a Cya in case folks are climbing to watch NASCAR, storing stuff who knows.

timfromma · 06-11-2021, 10:12 AM

The next thing you know, people will start hooking these things up to the back of a truck and start driving up the road, which I think is a far more dangerous activity than getting on the roof to clean.

5picker · 06-11-2021, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaDog

My rig actually has a caution sticker that says "to be used for maintenance only". Must be a Cya in case folks are climbing to watch NASCAR, storing stuff who knows.

Or... just using it to climb up there to fall off!

Electra glide · 06-11-2021, 10:30 AM

I dislike getting on the roof or even being on a ladder but it's part of the maintenance I force myself to do. I've spent a lot of money on ladders and none make me feel very safe going up or down them but I do it to take care of my camper.

PoppySteve · 06-11-2021, 11:27 AM

Sure, just living is inherently dangerous. I get on my roof all the time when parked at home. I just have this extra feeling of "vulnerability", if you will, if I were to have an accident on the road.

At my home location, a call to 911 and give my address. Help could be a lot quicker than being camped in an area with no cell service or not knowing how to report your location.

NavyLCDR · 06-11-2021, 11:28 AM

I need to apologize. I made light of PoppySteve's feelings and I was wrong to do so. Thank you for reminding us to be careful, PoppySteve, and I am truly sorry that my posts showed an insensitivity to your valid feelings.

Very Respectfully,
John

**KyDan** · 06-11-2021, 11:34 AM

A few thoughts....
3 on a roof at once might overload the roof!
Mine occasionally makes ominous creaks and cracks when I'm up there- alone!

It's a very good idea to put down the stabilizer jacks if you're going up there for more than a simple twig removal or something. If I'm washing the roof and cleaning the sky lites and fan covers I'm gonna have the jacks down.

**Mr. Dan** · 06-11-2021, 11:46 AM

Tombsy · 06-11-2021, 12:58 PM

Times have changed lol, early in my railroad career I ran on the top of a train from the last car to the engine while traveling across town to save some time when we didn’t have a caboose. Now you can’t even go on top of a stationary car without fall prevention equipment.

Grapehound · 06-11-2021, 01:22 PM

I get on my roof (at 73) to do basic maintenance but I am pretty cautious too. I do it to condition and clean the roof every spring. I have a Little Giant foldable ladder I take with me to prop up to the slides and take a soft cleaning brush and sweep pine cones, small branches and other debris off the slides of before I pull them in (I was too poor for slide toppers on the fifth wheel). But I do stuff on the roof as seldom as possible. With our new-to-us Winnebago Tour I have not even been on the roof yet. That's fine with me. It has slide toppers but I guess they don't always dump all the debris over the edge when you pull in the slides, so I may have to sweep them occasionally too.

PS Does being labeled a Senior Member mean I'm an old guy or just posted a lot?

5er_tom · 06-11-2021, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grapehound

I get on my roof (at 73) to do basic maintenance but I am pretty cautious too. I do it to condition and clean the roof every spring. I have a Little Giant foldable ladder I take with me to prop up to the slides and take a soft cleaning brush and sweep pine cones, small branches and other debris off the slides of before I pull them in (I was too poor for slide toppers on the fifth wheel). But I do stuff on the roof as seldom as possible. With our new-to-us Winnebago Tour I have not even been on the roof yet. That's fine with me.

PS Does being labeled a Senior Member mean I'm an old guy or just posted a lot?

Both???

ArkRVHog · 06-11-2021, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

Getting up on the roof of your RV is typically just part of owning an RV. You should be up there at least a couple of times a year checking the caulking and all the plastic covers to make sure everything is good. Just take your time, move slow and you should be fine.

If we all worried about the dangers of the regular things we do almost every day (driving, walking across the street, climbing ladders, etc...) nobody would ever leave their house.

I get up on my roof (about 11' high) as needed. But based on the OP seeing three people up on the roof at the same time...that would concern me. My Class C can rock a bit as just I move around the perimeter...but 3 people moving at the same time might get a bit more risky. Just my humble opinion.

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