Community Forums

Riverdog · 01-28-2008, 07:46 AM

I'm trying to find info on how much snow load my TT (see sig) can handle. We got dumped on this weekend with over 12" of wet snow and another 12" expected this week. I can calculate the weight by measuring the water content but don't know how much load these things can take. NOTE: My TT has a flat roof (no crown). Anyone with experience on this issue?

Riverdog · 01-28-2008, 07:46 AM

I'm trying to find info on how much snow load my TT (see sig) can handle. We got dumped on this weekend with over 12" of wet snow and another 12" expected this week. I can calculate the weight by measuring the water content but don't know how much load these things can take. NOTE: My TT has a flat roof (no crown). Anyone with experience on this issue?

mountainkowboy · 01-28-2008, 04:31 PM

Call Sandpiper and ask for a tech, they should know the PSI load of the roof.

george henry · 01-29-2008, 03:33 AM

Sorry can't help you .

Too much snow for my bones.

Riverdog · 01-29-2008, 05:45 AM

Nice helpful comment george I appreciate it.

Kowboy - good suggestion & maybe I will do that for future use. To be on the safe side I put an extension ladder up against the side last night - had 18" on top. I was able to remove all but 3-4" so I should be good now.

dirko · 01-29-2008, 07:51 PM

Hi Ho: Can't give you specifics on your trailer, but a friend had a similar trailer parked in Star Valley, WY about 20 years ago and found that the snow load there is too much. His roof caved in. We try to limit our snow depth on the roof of the snowmobile trailer to no more than 3 feet, but it is normally really light snow because the temperatures are normally far below freezing. Anyway, you removing the snow on a trailer that size isn't too much effort, but be careful not to damage the roof vent or poke a hole with whatever you are using. We also tried to keep the snow on the house to less than about 3 feet for the same reason.
Dirk

Forest Grump · 02-02-2008, 06:18 PM

You have the right idea by removing what you had. When I lived in Traverse City in the 70's we had close to 300 inches of snow but the depth on roofs was not that great, maybe 3 feet or so. Then it started happening. Roofs on businesses and homes all designed for heavy maximum snow loads began collapsing.

They cut out a cubic foot and foot of the snow from some roofs and weighed them and found they had the weight density close to ice. Snow compacts as it sits and it gets denser. Go by unit weight not depth and I would never let more than a foot accumulate for any amount of time.

Bill1374 · 02-03-2008, 01:02 PM

I think you'll have to go to the manufacurer to get a definite answer. Several years ago, I had a Newmar fifth and we got dumped on. Had a little over 5 foot of snow in 3 days. When I called Newmar, they said don't worry that much is not a problem. The engineer I spoke to did caution that I should keep the ac units clear so water wouldn't run in as the snow melted.

Bill

John Harrelson · 02-03-2008, 04:11 PM

I don't know anything about the mathematics and other technical language of your question...

.... BUT... I can say this.. Year before last I had 22" of wet snow and a 4" cake of solid ice on my Prowler 5th wheel... and did not hurt anything at all...

So until the snow gets over 3 feet deep on my roof, I'm not going to worry about it...

John

jfb · 02-03-2008, 06:33 PM

I'd get busy and remove the existing snow, ASAP. Now 2/3/08, going on 2/4/08, how ya doing?. Also, I'd look for structure damage when you do get the snow off. Perhaps the factory will tell you that you have no worries???