Snow and ice removal?

[ReddyforAdventure]

We are on the verge of our first winter, with a forecast of 5-8 inches of snow, which is a typical winter scenario for us, given our background in Erie PA winters. Having never owned an RV before, I have invested in a blower for removing snow from the roof and slides, but in anticipation of 1/4 inch of ice, I am inquiring about recommended techniques for safely removing ice from RVs to prevent roof membrane damage.

 

[djdaves]

Following...

I'm on the other side of the state. I have read how people have covers for their RVs. I've also read some people don't cover em at all. I'm curious to see how people in cold weather climates care for their rigs.

 

[Riverbug]

Minnesotan here. If we're staying put for the winter, we cover the RV. If we plan to head south, we leave it uncovered; we typically leave mid-December. I use a cheap soft plastic type of snow shovel to carefully shovel off the snow if there are several inches on it. I'm mostly concerned with chunks flying off and hitting the vehicle behind me. However, truckers and most people don't worry about it at all, so it probably isn't necessary for us to either. Once the snow is removed, if there is an ice layer, it will usually begin melting from the sun. I will try to lightly shovel the ice layer off, but whatever is stuck I leave rather than risk damaging the roof membrane. That's my approach, not sure about others.

 

[ReddyforAdventure]

Minnesotan here. If we're staying put for the winter, we cover the RV. If we plan to head south, we leave it uncovered; we typically leave mid-December. I use a cheap soft plastic type of snow shovel to carefully shovel off the snow if there are several inches on it. I'm mostly concerned with chunks flying off and hitting the vehicle behind me. However, truckers and most people don't worry about it at all, so it probably isn't necessary for us to either. Once the snow is removed, if there is an ice layer, it will usually begin melting from the sun. I will try to lightly shovel the ice layer off, but whatever is stuck I leave rather than risk damaging the roof membrane. That's my approach, not sure about others.

I'm staying here until the job is over or I drag up(union lineman). So if stationary how do you cover up? We are a family of 5 full-timing.o figured on climbing the ladder and blowing off snow and not sure about the ice. Our spot is wide open so plenty of sunlight

 

[Riverbug]

I'm staying here until the job is over or I drag up(union lineman). So if stationary how do you cover up? We are a family of 5 full-timing.o figured on climbing the ladder and blowing off snow and not sure about the ice. Our spot is wide open so plenty of sunlight

Okay, didn't realize you were living in it. Maybe there are others that stay in their RV during winter that have better advice. But I'm thinking that some of the heat from the interior is certain to make it to the roof (these are not insulated like a home), so if you keep most of the snow off, maybe the ice takes care of itself between the heat from inside and sun on the top?

Is it possible that using a tarp over the top would make it easier to dump the snow/ice off on occasion? That would keep it from sticking to the roof membrane. Just a thought...

 

[IBEW Sparky]

I'm staying here until the job is over or I drag up(union lineman). So if stationary how do you cover up? We are a family of 5 full-timing.o figured on climbing the ladder and blowing off snow and not sure about the ice. Our spot is wide open so plenty of sunlight

Get yourself one of two of these foam snow brooms I linked below.
Blow off what you can but if it's wet snow the foam broom works pretty good. Avoid any contact with your skylights and vent pipes they tend to break the easiest in extremely cold weather. If you have slide out toppers clean them off first then retract the slides temporarily until your done with the roof. Don't try to get the ice off it's not worth damaging the roof.
Try and remove as much snow as possible from around your AC units, snow that piles up or blows into the shroud can melt and leak down inside your RV through the ductwork. This can sometimes be compounded from the heat inside the RV escaping through the AC unit and no where for the melting ice and snow to drain.
And on a last note, as a retired IBEW Inside Wireman thank you for what you do so the rest of us can stay toasty warm!


Snow Joe RED SJBLZD-ECM-LED 3-in-1 Telescoping Snow Broom + Ice Scraper, 18-Inch Foam Head, Headlights Amazon.com

 

[J S_942]

We are on the verge of our first winter, with a forecast of 5-8 inches of snow, which is a typical winter scenario for us, given our background in Erie PA winters. Having never owned an RV before, I have invested in a blower for removing snow from the roof and slides, but in anticipation of 1/4 inch of ice, I am inquiring about recommended techniques for safely removing ice from RVs to prevent roof membrane damage.

I live in northern Washington next to the Canadian border where we get a good amount of snow in winter and temps can at times drop to -30, I’ve owned RV’s for ten years and have never had to clean the roof. I do keep a cover on my trailer and electric air dryer inside so the RV is plugged in all winter! That being said if we were to have a major snow event dumping a couple feet at once I might rethink not clearing it off.

 

[orbiker]

We are full-time rv travelers.
I would NEVER get up on top of the rv to remove snow or ice.

IF I had to move for some reason and there was snow and ice up there, I would use my pressure washer to blast it all off.

If we're not moving and the snow is piling up a lot, I would stay on the ground and using our wash/wax all pole with the wash brush on the end of the pole, rake off what I could get at.

Getting hurt because of a little snow, is not worth it.
KEN

 

[Second Chance]

In our nine years of full-timing, I never removed snow or ice from the roof of the RV. IMO, it's far too dangerous to get up there and the roofs will take the weight of a 200 lb. man (likely significantly more) standing on one foot. The snow load will not get anywhere near that loading per square foot. If you have slide toppers and want the snow off them, just bring the slides in and put them back out.

Rob

 

[Jomani]

I think you will find that the snow will melt on both the roof and slides if you keep the heat on inside the RV. Unlike a house where you have a significant air space between the living area and the roof, most RVs leak a significant amount of heat out through the roof. The slides are much worse. Just be sure to check the slides before you close them up.

 

[orbiker]

I had a 2003 11.8 Citation Pickup camper back in mid 2000. I was a Crater Lake Ski Patroller and took the camper up there to stay in.
I thought I should not have a slide cover and dealt with scraping the snow off. The ice had to be melted off with teapots full of hot water.
I chatted on a forum back then too and other camper owners said they had no problems with snow stuck to the slide cover fabric.
They were correct. I installed the slideout cover and it was a dream come true. Just slide the slide in and the snow and ice just goes plop, plop, plop on the ground.
KEN

 

[Riverbug]

In our nine years of full-timing, I never removed snow or ice from the roof of the RV. IMO, it's far too dangerous to get up there and the roofs will take the weight of a 200 lb. man (like significantly more) standing on one foot. The snow load will not get anywhere near that loading per square foot. If you have slide toppers and want the snow off them, just bring the slides in and put them back out.

Rob

Curious, would you remove the snow before hitting the road? Or, just let it blow off on the way?

 

[Second Chance]

Curious, would you remove the snow before hitting the road? Or, just let it blow off on the way?

We rarely had to deal with that. The two or three times we did have snow still on the rig on travel day, I would remove it as best I could (usually from a ladder with a long, extendable push brush). Some states have laws regarding clearing vehicles and I didn't want to be liable if something blew off and caused an accident behind me (I wish all truckers felt the same way...).

Rob

 

[chenardr]

We many times leave for Florida mid to late January. We are from New England. Snow on the camper roof is an issue. I have seen and been involved with snow/ice blowing off roofs with disastrous results. To me getting on the roof to remove the snow is not an option. That roof with snow is a skating ring. The potential of falling 13' to the ground is not worth the risk. I instead use a platform ladder and use a roof snow rake. I modified the aluminum edge of the rake with a 1/4" thick felt strip to protect the roof membrane. With 3 ladder moves and adding extensions to the rake, i can clean 95% of the roof safely. Has worked well for the past 6 years.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

To the op, you don't need to do anything. Let it build up and eventually melt off. Mine has 2 feet of snow on it right now.
Trying to remove ice is likely to damage the roof through your actions.

 

[Riverbug]

We many times leave for Florida mid to late January. We are from New England. Snow on the camper roof is an issue. I have seen and been involved with snow/ice blowing off roofs with disastrous results. To me getting on the roof to remove the snow is not an option. That roof with snow is a skating ring. The potential of falling 13' to the ground is not worth the risk. I instead use a platform ladder and use a roof snow rake. I modified the aluminum edge of the rake with a 1/4" thick felt strip to protect the roof membrane. With 3 ladder moves and adding extensions to the rake, i can clean 95% of the roof safely. Has worked well for the past 6 years.

I like the felt strip idea.