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Old 02-27-2021, 10:51 AM   #1
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Question Can I stand on the roof of my 2018 17B?

Hi Everyone,
I have to get up on the roof of my 17B, 2018. I need to open up my after market Dometic Penguin II to find the serial number. The RV shop that installed it forgot to write it down or snap a photo of it for me and they threw away the boxes, etc. Not happy about Centennial RV in Grand Junction being lax so now I have to pay.


I got up on a ladder and found my short arms can't reach the unit without me standing on top. I am hesitant as I am worried I'll damage the roof.


Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Cedar in Western Colorado
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Old 02-27-2021, 11:14 AM   #2
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Who bought your Penguin? No invoice available? Get yourself a taller ladder.
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Old 02-27-2021, 11:15 AM   #3
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NO, NO, NO! At least not directly. Spread a thin blanket over the roof to protect the fiberglass and put a 4 X 4 or larger piece of plywood on top. That will distribute your weight.
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Old 02-27-2021, 11:51 AM   #4
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I would rather see a non slip product between the plywood and roof...if that is what you are going to do.

I would do something a little different. I would measure and mark with tape where the inside bulkheads support to roof on the edges. Place a rubber mat over that spot and kneel there accessing the air conditioning form each side.
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Old 02-27-2021, 01:50 PM   #5
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When we picked up ours they said to use a piece of rigid 2" foam insulation,
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Old 02-27-2021, 01:59 PM   #6
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I have successfully taken the top off of the Domestic AC unit on our 2015 E17, by laddering up each side of the trailer and removing the two bolts on each side. Then, the top comes completely off. I have only ever leaned on the roof. I would not get on it, even on a PAD.
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Old 02-27-2021, 02:01 PM   #7
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Centennial RV, the place that installed it bought it. They gave me a generic invoice and were very unhelpful after I purchased it.
My ladder is tall enough. Its my reach that is not long enough. I am a short person - 5'1". I can't reach to the center of the AC on the roof.
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Old 02-27-2021, 11:08 PM   #8
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When I waxed the roof on my trailer and couldn't reach the middle, a cut some extra carpet I had into strips and laid 2x6's on the carpet. This spreads out the weight. I still wouldn't stand on it. It's like flipping a canoe upside down and standing on it.
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Old 02-28-2021, 08:30 AM   #9
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For getting on Ollie's roof, purchased 2 foam seat pads and laminated them together with a plastic kitchen cutting board in the middle. Use one assembly under each knee to distribute weight under my knees.



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Old 02-28-2021, 08:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PleinAirCedar View Post
Centennial RV, the place that installed it bought it. They gave me a generic invoice and were very unhelpful after I purchased it.
My ladder is tall enough. Its my reach that is not long enough. I am a short person - 5'1". I can't reach to the center of the AC on the roof.

I would put a kid up there someone under 50 lbs and put down some rigid foam to spread the weight. maybe that would work. You could take it back to rv dealer and have them look as it was there mistake in the first place.
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Old 02-28-2021, 09:47 AM   #11
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Dometic must have changed the location of the model & SN tag as it was located on the interior/bottom side of our <then> Penguin I. I removed the plastic interior trim and found the information there...no roofing around.

But when it came time to remove said A/C from our little 15A to place in the hands of the new owner, I just laid a moving blanket across the top of the 15A, then a piece of plywood and there was no flex in the fiberglass roof as I crouched atop the roof to lift the A/C unit off and down. YMMV.
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Old 02-28-2021, 11:54 AM   #12
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You could put some foam pipe insulation on a regular extension ladder and have the last rung at roof level. That way you could lay some foam down and just lean your body on the roof. Less weight to strain the fiberglass.
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Old 02-28-2021, 11:58 AM   #13
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Like this:
Attached Thumbnails
Ladder cushions.jpg  
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