Is ladder needed?

[7th Heaven]

We carry this ladder:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PNMMOC
it is stowed in a carrier made out of 5x5" vinyl fence post:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074PCCSS4


We use it mostly for cleaning solar on roof and for easier loading of the rooftop storage on the Sequoia

[gklott]

Originally Posted by Letsdothis

Has anyone tried to attach a ladder to a 19? I am getting my new 19 late November or early December and wanted to know how to access the solar panel to clean off during camping. This is my first trailer. Thanks

Only purchase and use an OSHA compliant ladder for the correct height and weight support. For our 19', we use carry this ladder: Telesteps 12ES OSHA Compliant 12 ft Reach Professional Wide Step Telescoping A-frame Ladder.

We use it for cleaning off the solar panels, installing the MicroAir Easy Start, replacing our awning fabric, and once in the field to make an emergency roof repair.

The 12 ft.reachable (8 ft extended) is a comfortable, safe height for us. I would not get a shorter one for roof work. We store it under the bed.

73/gus

[allanmacdonald]

Originally Posted by Letsdothis

Ron, thank you so much. I will do as recommended; carry a foldup or get on my spare. Not trying to damage a thing. Thanks again.

Walking on your roof with soft soles shoes will NOT damage your roof. Especially a roof on a new trlr.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by allanmacdonald

Walking on your roof with soft soles shoes will NOT damage your roof. Especially a roof on a new trlr.

What trailer do you have? No way that I would walk on the roof of my Escape.

[Greg A]

Yes, it is not the shoes that are the problem, it's the weight and causes spider cracks over time in the gel coat where you've stepped.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

What trailer do you have? No way that I would walk on the roof of my Escape.

Don't think he currently has one....

[Greg A]

I bought this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and it just arrived.
I've got several storage projects due that need trailer roof access, so I will give some feedback on how it performs. Figure at that price I can always use it at the house for interior projects if not for the trailer.

[dfandrews]

Wow, that was a lot of interesting ladder discussion.
But, what about cleaning the solar?
My experience is that our solar gets cleaned whenever the trailer is washed, or, prior to a trip, I will climb on the spare tire (The garage wall is 12" behind me for stability and I can grab the roof eave as well) to clean the solar panel.
We have solar on our home, and I find that over 1-1½ months, the panels acquire enough dirt to reduce performance by 15%±, so the trailer solar would be similar. So, I don't worry about the trailer solar panel while on the road.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by allanmacdonald

Walking on your roof with soft soles shoes will NOT damage your roof. Especially a roof on a new trlr.

Originally Posted by Greg A

Yes, it is not the shoes that are the problem, it's the weight and causes spider cracks over time in the gel coat where you've stepped.

I agree Greg and the poster's comment is totally erroneous.

There are areas of the roof that will take your full weight. Those include the ridged area near the awning and those areas directly over interior bulkheads. Walking in other areas will do as Greg says.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

There are areas of the roof that will take your full weight.

Ron

The problem is what happens when you discover the area you are on doesn't take your weight ( which by the way has not been specified in this thread ).

[John in Santa Cruz]

If I bring my big telescope, this ladder has to come along for the ride, its a 7' 'electricians' fiberglass ladder...



I keep meaning to pick up a '2 step' folding kitchen ladder to make it easier to climb into the back of my F250 4x4 because that tailgate is HIGH up...

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

There are areas of the roof that will take your full weight. Those include the ridged area near the awning and those areas directly over interior bulkheads. Walking in other areas will do as Greg says.

Ron

Originally Posted by gbaglo

The problem is what happens when you discover the area you are on doesn't take your weight ( which by the way has not been specified in this thread ).

That would be the ridged area near the awning and those areas directly over interior bulkheads.

I notice that Gen 2s are even stronger along the ridge near the awning because of the molded shape of the recess for the power awning.

BTW, I don't recommend walking on the roof and I never have. In the few times that I've had to be more on the roof than I could do from a ladder I worked kneeling over an area I already knew was strong and wouldn't flex.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

BTW, I don't recommend walking on the roof and I never have. In the few times that I've had to be more on the roof than I could do from a ladder I worked kneeling over an area I already knew was strong and wouldn't flex.

Ron

Ditto. Thanks for the clarification.

[John in Santa Cruz]

yeah, weighing around 225 lbs, I would never DREAM of trying to walk on a FG roof. with my 7 foot step ladder, I can reach pretty much everywhere on the E21's roof for cleaning or repairs

[Ronn]

I was told at orientation that if I ever need to work on the roof to put down a sheet of "Rigid Foam Insulation" to distribute the weight. I am sure some will disagree with this but so I was told.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Ronn

I was told at orientation that if I ever need to work on the roof to put down a sheet of "Rigid Foam Insulation" to distribute the weight. I am sure some will disagree with this but so I was told.

That's actually a really good idea. The rigid foam would spread the weight over a larger area but not have hard spots that might scratch the gelcoat.

Thanks for sharing this - I'll use it the next time I have to wax the roof.

[MyronL]

Maybe necessary if you got one of them monster rv's, but walking on an Escape trailer roof makes zero sense. So you're standing up there. Now what? Waxing the top of the air conditioner shroud because you can't reach it from the side? You're now at least 5 to 6 feet away from whatever you got up there for.

[7th Heaven]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Wow, that was a lot of interesting ladder discussion.
But, what about cleaning the solar?
My experience is that our solar gets cleaned whenever the trailer is washed, or, prior to a trip, I will climb on the spare tire (The garage wall is 12" behind me for stability and I can grab the roof eave as well) to clean the solar panel.
We have solar on our home, and I find that over 1-1½ months, the panels acquire enough dirt to reduce performance by 15%±, so the trailer solar would be similar. So, I don't worry about the trailer solar panel while on the road.

Driving down one dirt road can make enough dust to kill solar performance...

We have been boondocking for 7 days and have had to wipe the panels down a few times.

As always, the equipment that one needs should match the environment they choose to enter.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by 7th Heaven

Driving down one dirt road can make enough dust to kill solar performance...

We have been boondocking for 7 days and have had to wipe the panels down a few times.

As always, the equipment that one needs should match the environment they choose to enter.

Same with the dust that inevitably blows around Quartzsite. I either dust or wash my panels once or twice each winter. Since I tilt them to improve performance in the low angle winter sun, I need the ladder anyway.

[Greg A]

Follow up on the ladder I ordered in Post #27.
Fantastic! Took it to storage to access the roof and do some projects. The ladder is incredibly well built with pneumatic retraction on all the steps at once or one at a time. Easy extension/retraction.
Stability was much better than the Aframe ladder I had been using and I felt very comfortable using the ladder. Placed a towel across the top rungs and leaned it against the trailer.
There is a red step that you aren't supposed to go beyond, and standing on the step below I can reach about 66% of the width of the 19 roof for washing/waxing.
This will easily fit in our tow and without taking up much of any space. I'm sure it would go right in the front storage box very well.
I got the 8.5 foot for $69 and it's perfect for the 19. Probably would go with the 10.5 for the 21,23, and 5.0.