Washing the roof

[crackodawn]

I tie off any time I am on the roof. I thought this would be common practice but from reading lots of stories about RV/MH owners falling off the roof I guess not.

From a law enforcement and military background in my younger years I learned never to get above shoulder height on anything without making sure a fall wouldn't take me all the way down.

There are lots of ways to do this and make getting up on the roof much safer. Eye bolts on a plate will do the job quite easily and without a lot of hassle.  If you fall you might get really scared but you won't end up hitting the ground. It takes only once.

 

[Dick and Pat]

Excellent Advice !!  8)

 

[steve_c]

How did you mount that plate to your roof?

 

[mynetdude]

I tie off any time I am on the roof. I thought this would be common practice but from reading lots of stories about RV/MH owners falling off the roof I guess not.

From a law enforcement and military background in my younger years I learned never to get above shoulder height on anything without making sure a fall wouldn't take me all the way down.

There are lots of ways to do this and make getting up on the roof much safer. Eye bolts on a plate will do the job quite easily and without a lot of hassle.  If you fall you might get really scared but you won't end up hitting the ground. It takes only once.

I shoulda thought of that, wonder if it would do anyone any good to "practice" falling hitting the ground isn't the only danger as hitting the side of your RV may not be as dangerous but it can hurt and how do you get down??? And tying yourself to a short line does not give you a lot of room to move around don'tcha think? How about getting tangled up with your line and equipment?

 

[BruceinFL]

Sure fire way to keep from falling off roof when washing, etc:  pay someone to do it for you.  ;D

 

[Ray D]

Sure fire way to keep from falling off roof when washing, etc:  pay someone to do it for you.

Bruce, you're my kind of guy!  8)

And, while they're at it, they can wash the rest of the coach, too. Oh, and vacum and dust inside, while they are at it! ;D

Lazy Ray  ;D

 

[Tom]

One of our forum members fell off the ladder while climbing on the roof. The same member had this incident. So be careful!

 

[crosscountry]

I was up there once in the last ten years.  I did not leave anything up there, so I'm don't need to go back.

Russ

 

[CC10911]

I don't know about tying myself off. When I'm up there I just stay focused and use extreme caution at all times. There is no need to be in kind of a hurry when your up there. Now different roof surfaces have different experiences I suppose. Our last rig had the EDPM Rubber roof and I felt pretty comfortable up there even when it was wet. Ours now has the Brite Tek (more like a vinyl) and seems a little more slippery then the EDPM when wet but is much easier to clean. I have had no experience with a fiberglass roof but would emagine that would be the most dangerous and slippery. I couldn't even think about waxing a fiberglass roof but there are people that have. Now that job I would definately leave to someone else for sure. Again when your up there just be careful and focused. I fell once from 18' and believe me it was no walk in the park. I'm probably lucky to be here. My shoulder and neck were seriously damaged and after the surgeries I've had to my shoulder am left with virtually no strength and a limited amount of motion. It sucks but I'm still here and at least can raise my arm and still wave.

 

[John From Detroit]

One thing to know is that there are Shoes and there are Shoes... now, understand my definition and the sales kid at the shoe store may not even be in the same book, let alone on the same page, but in an earlier life (Actually in the 1970's) I worked as a roofing applicator. Pitched roofs.

I learned that some shoes you can walk up a 45 degree slope, and some won't hold on a 25 degree slope.

Also, some will grip well on a wet surface (like the ones I have on now) and some will slip and slide on a dry one (I occasionally wear, or rather wore, that kind too,, Dancing shoes for example, or boots since my dance style is Western)

It is important to have the right shoes

The other thing, this I've known since before I made teenager (I'm the oldest of 4, when Mother was sick and in bed, and the youngest has serious allergies that required mopping the floors every day to insure no dust or mold build up, Guess who got to do the housework)  You don't mop yourself into a corner.. You start as far from the ladder as possible and work your way toward it.. That way when you run out of roof.. there's a ladder to stand on while you do the last few square feet.