Special Roof treatment befroe winter?

[Young Travelers]

This is the 1st RV we have had that has the rubber roof. is there anyhting or any treatments that we should do before winter sets in as far as the roof care? I know all about winterizing the rest of the RV, but I havent dealt with the Rubber roof before..
If we get alot of snowfall, is there any certain technique anyone reccomends to get the snow off? shovel, broom, ect. we dont have a Carport for it. so it wil be out in the elements this year....

Thanks

[Hokiehall]

I don't do anything to the roof except inspect it for areas that might need some re-sealing and then give it a good washing. Throughout the winter I will go up there on a nice day to check things out as a precaution.

I have had as much as a foot of snow on mine and did not do anything about it as the weight of the snow is spread over the entire area of the trailer. We won't get much more than that in our area so if you get more, then someone from the more northern climates will have to assist you.

[aintgotnun]

I'm with Kim on this. Although mine is covered and I don't get snow, there is no "treatment" to prep a rubber roof for winter. Keep it clean and inspected.

greg

[NDJollyMon]

I clean it, inspect it, and let Mother Nature take it's course.

Take extra time to inspect every seam, and seal up there. If water gets in, it can freeze, and expand making microscopic cracks into large ones quick.

I have never removed snow from the top either. I figure it protects it a little from everything else...but I'm no expert.

[RAC]

Snow does acty as an insulator for the really cold nights and can prevent moisture beneath it from freezing

[powerboatr]

ditto
a good washing, inspection, repair/reseal, followed by a treatment with a product that provides some UV and pliability protection. much like what you use on tires and other rubber items.
dont forget the tires to, give em a good scrubbing both sides and a good coat of tire wax and then cover em with good tire covers or at least a big fat garbage bag.

[welshman599]

I keep my unit in an area where there is a good wind - most snow will blow off that way. If you do get a lot of snowfall or ice and you don't have max-airs or similar vent covers, the vents are not as strong as the roof surrounding it and have been known to fail, leaving a mess inside. A lot of people up here build boxes to cover the vents (two-by-six boxes with plywood top, covered with plastic and with carpet around the edges to protect the roof).

Other than that cover the A/C, lube the antenna, clean the roof and away you go.

[J.R.]

Great info in this thread, thanks to everyone.

Jimmy

[NDJollyMon]

Originally Posted by RetiredArmyCWO

Snow does acty as an insulator for the really cold nights and can prevent moisture beneath it from freezing

Come on...does it even snow in Virginia? Maybe on the top of Walton's Mountain!

Now git to yer milkin' CWO!

[Wolfgang]

Originally Posted by NDJollyMon

Come on...does it even snow in Virginia? Maybe on the top of Walton's Mountain!

Now git to yer milkin' CWO!

LOL Northern Minnesota! Yup, "we all" in VA (I'm Northern VA) often get a good 2' snow storm in Feb. A guy from Rochester, NY might answer "What Travel Trailer? Haven't even seen it for 3 months!"

[Hokiehall]

Originally Posted by NDJollyMon

Come on...does it even snow in Virginia? Maybe on the top of Walton's Mountain!

Now git to yer milkin' CWO!

You bet your butt it snows in Virginia. When we get one of those nor'easters coming through we can get nailed with well over two feet in many areas, a foot or so in my area and somewhat less toward the coast.

Nice thing is a day or so later the sun comes out and melts most of it away.

[NDJollyMon]

We only get 30-50'' per year on average. It's simply so cold it doesn't snow as much. We get our share of blizzards, and they are named like hurricanes. In 1997, we got about 100'' of snow...and was dubbed by The Discovery Channel as 'The Flood of the Millenium' when it melted. That year, the river ran straight through my living room.

Basically...around here...even the pink stuff they call anti-freeze can turn slushy.

[Hokiehall]

I don't need or ever want it that cold. I do remember hearing about those floods. That had to be the worst to ever happen to anyone. Glad you survived it.

[welshman599]

Ah hem, NB, Canada here. Home of the deepest snows in Canada. When we get a 100" snowfall we are happy the big storm missed us.

[Hokiehall]

We here in Virginia will be happy to let you keep that stuff up there. I wouldn't care if it never snowed here again.

[NDJollyMon]

Thanks. Mother Nature has a way of testing me...often.

Canada, eh? I love the place. In fact...it's real close to where I live. Fire up that snowthrower. You'll need it soon enough!

[Young Travelers]

Thanks for all the info!! it helps alot....
we just got our 1st rain/Lightning show today in about 3 + months... It was nice...

next month we could get snow. but i hope not. we average 30-48" total for a winter, but the last 2 years went easy on us. however in 05 we got our 1st snow sept 22....yeah lakeview is in the "high" desert, but our place is at 5100' elevaton in the mountains by the lake... in the storm path... as they say...

BTW... Canada can keep the snow !!!

YT

[dichayer]

Don't forget the TV antenna. If you read the manual, it tells you to lubricate the "O" ring in the shaft to prevent water from getting past.
Dick

[welshman599]

Originally Posted by dichayer

Don't forget the TV antenna. If you read the manual, it tells you to lubricate the "O" ring in the shaft to prevent water from getting past.
Dick

.... talk about bad designs! something springloaded and plastic gear-filled that you are asked to disassemble every year to keep it tight. Hello! You should design them sealed on the outside!

[wengerda]

It does snow where I live in Kingstowne, Virginia, Yes Wolfgang a few miles away from you.