How do you get to and on the roof of your airstream?

[Bobkatbry]

Even with the tallest ladder how do you put your hands on the very top of your airstream? Do you build or place scaffold?do you jump down from the roof of your house?

[lsbrodsky]

There are numerous other threads on the techniques used. I use an 8 ft step ladder on the awning side and use the awning as my handhold.

Larry

[Bobkatbry]

I couldn't find these other threads. I want to polish the spine of my airstream and I don't want to walk up there.

[PKI]

Jump down - No.

The factory uses a mezzanine that allows workers to gently move over to the roof structure of the trailer. That kind of suggests that the roof access idea is not so far off. Just suspect moving from a composite surface to a shiny AS is unlikely to work well for most houses or trailers.

We take it to the dealer and use their experience as there are some things that are not appropriate for the physical ability of a DIYer.

Interested to hear how other folks access the roof. Maybe there is a safe way to do it. We have heard that some folks can reach their roof from a ladder. They get to half from one side and half from the other side.

Safe climbing and travels, too. Pat

[AWCHIEF]

I use a 12 ft. collapsible ladder. Easy peasy. Stay on the ribs and work away. Stay off of the end caps, zero support under the skin for all practical purposes.

[Mrjkq]

Patrick from Colonial Airstream did a You Tune video about this.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

Patrick from Colonial Airstream did a You Tune video about this.

Patrick's way is scary to me. I am not that flexable. I like a ladder that is in firm solid contact with he trailer.

[Bobkatbry]

I'm going to try this.

[NavyCorpsman]

12 ft fiberglass ladder leaned against the upper rivet line. You will be able to reach everything on top. Stay away from the end caps.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Bobkatbry

Attachment 258219Attachment 258220 I'm going to try this.

If I was doing any serious work up on the top such as replacing the AC I would definetly consider using a real scaffolding set up. They can not cost that much to rent for a couple of days.

[jmland]

Go to a reputable dealer and have them PAINT the center portion of the roof. I had this done and have never had any problems. I don't know the name of the paint used but it off-whiter in color and looks great. Really helps the unit stay cooler in the hot summer time.

[BDowse]

I use an extendable ladder like AWCHIEF and attach a patio chair pad to it using the pad ties to hold it in place. I can move it around the trailer to include end caps and access to the center. I just finished walbernizing the top of ours this way. If you need to climb on top. Put the ladder in the doorway (with door open) for max support. I use another chair pad on top to distribute my weight on top bring careful to stay on the ribs for support. The frame ribbing is ifentified by the rivets. The seams of two aluminum panels are usually not over the ribs so I avoid placing weight there. (I weigh about 210)
Like the others state, don't climb on the end caps but you can Lean on them a bit. The scaffolds look like overkill for normal maintenance to me. The top of an AS is pretty tough if you use caution.

[CJ Winch]

We use a 12ft ladder leaning against the upper window frame with a folded up towel to prevent any scratches. We also use gardening foam pads for our knees so as to prevent dents. I don't like being up there standing and walking, so usually "walk" on my knees with the pads when I'm inspecting or rechalking the vents.

[Photobum]

Telesteps ladder...




https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

['55 Airlight]

Originally Posted by Photobum

Telesteps ladder...
[/url]

I find the 8.5 foot extendable tubular ladder works dandy for my little trailer, packs small and weighs not much. (Naturally it needs solid spanning padding where it leans on the trailer...)

But were I going to work on the roof, I'd want an aluminum painters plank to span a couple of 10' step ladders -- to keep my weight off the trailer. However, when we did the Fan-Tastic Vent retrofit, a furniture pad under a half sheet of plywood spanned enough roof struts to carry the weight of a reasonably sized human being.

Michael

[Bob Cooke]

I've been on top of my 1970 25 ft my a couple of times to polish and paint the
Center section. You may have on hand 1@1/2 or 2 in. Wide x3/4 thick strips or
Purchase at builders supply cheap. Cut about 20 or 25 pieces and lay them out in
A row on concrete or long table with about 1in. Between them. Take 1 in. Wide
Nylon strap from tie down sets and nail or staple to the ends of the strips. On the
Last slat leave about 10 or 15 feet of strap free. Throw the loose straps over the
Trailer and tie off to awning arm or anything else available to tie to. Now you
Have a 2 or 3 ft. Wide lattace fitting the rounded contour of the air stream. Adjust
Free straps for top center - rounded edge etc. When not in use roll the lattace up
Like rolling up roofing paper and easy to store. This method you can lean stand
Or crawl full weight and no damage. Also sed this method to install ac unit on top
Of my c-10 avion truck camper. Try it out. Worked well for me. Bob Cooke

[pablocruise]

Just make sure where you do stand or kneel, there's a line of rivets. This insures that you are putting weight on a "rib" of the superstructure. I like the youtube video from Colonial RV that Patrick made.

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by CJ Winch

We use a 12ft ladder leaning against the upper window frame with a folded up towel to prevent any scratches. We also use gardening foam pads for our knees so as to prevent dents. I don't like being up there standing and walking, so usually "walk" on my knees with the pads when I'm inspecting or recaulking the vents.

Ditto That!!! and wear shoes that won't scratch (clean ....no mud and no steel lace hooks. And for the most part you don't need to actually get on the roof. I've done repairs to nearly everything up there from the ladder leaning against the awning!

JCW

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

There are numerous other threads on the techniques used. I use an 8 ft step ladder on the awning side and use the awning as my handhold.

Larry

I do the same. Have been for for years and I wash my 30' International every 4 weeks.
I cut two pieces of AC insulation foam and attach them on the section of the ladder that is leaning on the small Awning by the rear bedroom.
Drag a bucket of soapy water and my hose and go to town. Just make sure you are not wearing Crocks they are very slippery up there.
And yes STAY of the END CAPS.

[rodsterinfl]

I use a regular ladder and prop it against the door frame. I have cut two four foot long by 24" wide plywood pieces for support pads that I take up with me and a cushion for the knees. I can get all over up there crawling around with that setup putting the plywood straddling the frame points- same idea as an attic floor. I do not mess around with the end caps. Crawling isn't bad if you have some knee cushion. My first trip up there I found a missing rivet- just a hole with no rivet.