Community Forums

nicky8668 · 10-01-2020, 09:13 AM

Hi. I got a 2016 coachmen clipper 17BH. It’s an ultralight/cheap built trailer. I’m just wondering if you could walk on the roof. I need to maintain the AC unit. There is no ladder in the back. Anyone thought? Thanks.

BPTS · 10-01-2020, 09:18 AM

Spread your load out- when we had our Keystone I used 2" thick rigid foam insulation cut into 2' squares to kneel on. Just move the squares as you go.
DO NOT STEP/WALK DIRECTLY ON YOUR ROOF!

tuffr2 · 10-01-2020, 09:39 AM

Agree, cut a few 2'x2' pieces of plywood to stay on. Some roofs are walkable, usually by the presence of a ladder. No ladder, all bets are off that you can walk on it.

jergle · 10-01-2020, 09:39 AM

As above, would definitely try to spread out your weight. I've used a scrap of plywood to do that on mine, and try to crawl or scoot on my bottom so weight isn't concentrated on one area.

tuffr2 · 10-01-2020, 10:04 AM

I know a person that walked on a non-walkable roof and you guessed it his foot went thru the roof. That is how he found out it was not walkable.

Tomahawk · 10-01-2020, 11:45 PM

My roof is not walkable. I have been putting down some eternabond tape on my seams and it is there is some seriously sketchy things that were done. the back foot or so feels like it is luan (.0625 thick plywood) I would not put any weight on that section. how much weight or cost could they be saving, makes me sick. The rest of the roof feels like 1/4 or 3/8 plywood. If I was going to walk on it I'd map out the beams (maybe a stud finder) and then make sure whatever I put up there to walk on spanned across supports. When putting down the tape, I ended up standing on a ladder and laying my upper body on the roof to distribute my weight as much as possible. The beams felt like they were spaced pretty far apart (2 to 3 feet).

TOO LONG · 10-08-2020, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicky8668

Hi. I got a 2016 coachmen clipper 17BH. It’s an ultralight/cheap built trailer. I’m just wondering if you could walk on the roof. I need to maintain the AC unit. There is no ladder in the back. Anyone thought? Thanks.

Good question

Cassy · 10-08-2020, 06:47 PM

Crawl on the support areas DO NOT WALK!

Xmcdog · 10-08-2020, 06:56 PM

There is or was a push for ultra lite construction but it appears that the weight saving has gone way too far.
I have avoided any "lite" rv of any type.

Pdx camper · 10-08-2020, 10:06 PM

I have a 2018 viking 17bh
It is NOT walkable per the brochure
I have been on the roof though
Some 1/2” plywood cut about 14x18
3 pieces and you can do what ever you need to do.
A buddy of mine swears he just lays out old carpet and has no issues. I question his judgement sometimes lol.

nicky8668 · 10-09-2020, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pdx camper

I have a 2018 viking 17bh
It is NOT walkable per the brochure
I have been on the roof though
Some 1/2” plywood cut about 14x18
3 pieces and you can do what ever you need to do.
A buddy of mine swears he just lays out old carpet and has no issues. I question his judgement sometimes lol.

Thanks for the info. I’ll try to stay on my 10’ ladder if possible.

Yosemite77 · 10-10-2020, 07:03 PM

On Coachmen units without ladders, the roof has not been reinforced. Definitely do not walk on it.

theoldwizard · 10-24-2020, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pdx camper

I have a 2018 viking 17bh
It is NOT walkable per the brochure
I have been on the roof though
Some 1/2” plywood cut about 14x18
3 pieces and you can do what ever you need to do.
A buddy of mine swears he just lays out old carpet and has no issues. I question his judgement sometimes lol.

karensay · 10-26-2020, 10:36 AM

We bought our 24.5' 2018 KZ Sportsmen in FEB 2020, it does not have a ladder. We did not know any better and walked on the roof to clean it before our first trip. We did not go through the roof or anything, but, I have learned from this group that we should not have done that. Ooopps. NEXT time - we will use our ladder and place a piece of plywood from side to side to walk on while we are up there. Yes, WE, both my husband AND I were up there walking on the roof.