Up on the roof or not ?
Just been giving our Compass Rallye a spring clean ready for the first weekend away of the year.
This included a very much needed roof scrub using ladder platforms from all sides.
This reminded me of seeing some professional valeters once on a site power washing whilst stood on a caravan roof. Not something I would wish to risk, but am I not trusting enough of modern construction standards and roof robustness ?
Are modern Caravan Rooves good to stand on and if so are there weight limits ?
Comments
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Never stand on a caravan roof (despite Bailey adverts a few years ago) it is an awfull long way to fall
.I would also never use a pressure washer on either a caravan or motorhome!!!Long brushes are available for the roof and a spray of "wet and forget" when dry,keeps it clean!2 -
Coachman Pastiche 575 2016.
I climbed out of the roof light over the bed onto the roof last year, the roof gave a little sag, around the opening but not much. Awning issue whilst away, slight drip exactly in the wrong place!
My body weight hovers around 13 stone.
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I clean my roof with a VAX washer and two extension poles and the swirly round thing attached to them, and the soft brush attachment
Its a low pressure wash using Snow Foam, 10 minutes at most, then hose off the remaining suds, spotless once done.
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Back in 1991 I took delivery of my 5th new Buccaneer and decided that I would give it a coat of polish prior to it,s first outing at easter.I did not climb on the roof but I did stand on the top rung of the step ladders I was using!Last bit of roof and the inevitable happened,I ended up flat out on the drive with all the wind knocked out of me and in a bad state!Whilst away for easter I was in the shower and noticed a large lump in my groin.....hernia !!! so far it has been repaired twice!!!!!Do not stand on the roof or the top rung of step ladders !!!!it is not worth the risk!
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Based on what exactly. Any caravan service centre will tell you that walking on the roof is possible for virtually all vans. As pointed out Bailey parked a car on one their vans as a publicity stunt. I don't think the weight of a bloke will trouble a roof.
Is it a good idea, no dreadful. you need to stay near the edge if you can as this is where the least deformation takes place and its slippy as hell when wet and marks easily. I actually know someone who slipped off the front of his van, sufficient to say he now has some orthopaedic surgeons as friends.
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Compass and Elddis caravans had timber roof cross members removed when they started with the SOLID build method, as I was told by a caravan repairer who fitted a new skylight in our Elddis. So why risk walking on it when you can clean the roof with a long brush and hose pipe, thats how I clean ours every time, and we now have a German built van with a timber frame.
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Never washed the roof of our Bailey Cadiz. As we couldn't get it home it was just done once a year when serviced. Certainly wouldn't have stood on it though, far too dangerous. Now with a Hymer MH it will get washed a bit more often, as I want to keep the solar panels clean. However, it will be with a long brush from a stable ladder.
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Wouldn’t even think about standing on the roof. It will deform the aluminium sheeting at the very least. Long brushes, good quality shampo and patience. Followed by a good wax (Autoglym Ultra High Definition) where you can reach with safety- if you have the right kit you should be able to apply it to all of the roof. A waxed roof will not only keep it cleaner but it’ll be easier to clean when needed.
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Pressure washer No I went to a diy store and purchased a soft expandable brush for the hard to reach areas and the normal soft brush from a caravan spares shop for the remainder. I do start with a hose to wash of the surface dirt then shampoo with Fenwicks cleaner, but I do rinse off as soon as I can.
Hope it helps Paul
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