We put ladders on both sides of the trailer and then suspended a couple long 4 x 6 boards across the top of the ladders. With a little nerve you can climb up the ladder and inch across on the boards. This way you don't have to actually touch the roof with your weight.
When this activity occurs... I usually hold the ladder and keep the phone handy to call 911. (But then I am a nervous little old lady...)
Not sure if there is any tried and true method to climbing up and moving on top of your AS, but I too used one of those "Little Giant" folding aluminum ladders. I placed a piece of old carpet between the ladder and the AS. Also, when I was on top I never stood up (most of the time I was either crouched over or on my knees). I went up top to wash the roof off due to heavy scuz that was on the trailer's top cause it sat under trees on a mountain top for several years. I'm glad I was cautious and very deliberate about what I was doing. It was pretty slippery up there with soapy water and a rounded roof. In any event, I won't have to go back up there to do slippery cleaning again anytime soon (I hope!).
I took my 8' stepladder and without opening it up I wrapped foam around the top of the legs to pad the ladder against the coach. I'm 5'11" and had sufficient reach to paint the top beyond the middle on each reach. This kept me from having to get on top of the coach.
This should afford you the reach you need to seal your skins.
This reminds me that I am due to put the third and final coat of Brightsides on the roof.... now that it's cooler out...(42.3F this morning) burrrrrr. At least it's not snowing here.
__________________
Glen Coombe AIR #8416
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Golf Professional Sales Rolling Showroom
"I'm not an expert. But I did sleep in an Airstream last night."
scaffoling up on each side and ran the boards across the top of the trailer. Worked great for us and no damage to the top.
As careful as I could be on the roof last week, I was still concerned about the skin stretching slightly from under the rivets and causing leaks down the road. Don't know what the rental expense would be, but using scaffolding like this seems like the safest course especially if you have extensive work to do up there. Despite the expense, it could save some bigger problems later on.
...I've searched the forums and not found the answer to this one. How can I get on top of my lovely Silver Bullet (76 Sovereign Land Yacht) to seal seams without damaging her? Her skin is so very soft!
My girl friend figured it out! I tie a rope around her waist, throw the loose end over a tree limb and hoist her up. This way she can clean, check chaulking and other maintance while never touching the skin. Works really great except when I tie her off and go get another Pino.
__________________ J. Rick Cipot Sandi Gould NEUNew England Unit Airstream Life Magazine WBCCI #3411 AIR #17099
My girl friend figured it out! I tie a rope around her waist, throw the loose end over a tree limb and hoist her up. This way she can clean, check chaulking and other maintance while never touching the skin. Works really great except when I tie her off and go get another Pino.
I love it~!!
Just to say this word of Caution..(I didn't see anyone else mentioning it)..
Weight limited on the ribs is not to exceed 250 lbs, per factory~
And, of course stay away from the END CAPS..I've already had to replace one due to a "service tech" stepping on mine..Grrrrr, it cost em big time as, I had the factory do the replacement..
Personally, I'd vote for the schaffolding concept..Sometime back, InSideOut and, her husband used a couple of panel trucks...that was the safest and easiest method I've seen so far...remember, KISS....
ciao
53FC
Thanks for your suggestions! I did it, using a blanket covered knee board which was wide enough to span the ribs, and a ladder leaned against the rail over the door. It was soft up there, but being careful, it worked out great! The Vulkem was an excellant product, working better than anything else I've tried for fixing leaks. I was less impressed with Parbond, didn't have great luck with it but it all went fine. Thanks for all the help!!
j
Park two service trucks about 9' or 10' apart. Get some 12' or longer boards (or scaffold) and create a tunnel. Then drive the trailer thru and sit on the boards...great for polishing too!
Stand in the doorway facing inwards.
Hold the driprail above the door with your fingertips.
Put you leftfoot on the kitchen countertop.
Pull up and grap the awning with your right arm.
Now your balancing on one foot leaning to the left with your right arm over the awning.
Noe swing your right foot over the awning and hold with your heel.
Now you can get your left foot on the driprail.
carefully press up and your on the roof.
I did this ones on a campground when the antenna wouldn't go down any more.
And getting up there was the easy part .
Stand in the doorway facing inwards.
Hold the driprail above the door with your fingertips.
Put you leftfoot on the kitchen countertop.
Pull up and grap the awning with your right arm.
Now your balancing on one foot leaning to the left with your right arm over the awning.
Noe swing your right foot over the awning and hold with your heel.
Now you can get your left foot on the driprail.
carefully press up and your on the roof.
I did this ones on a campground when the antenna wouldn't go down any more.
And getting up there was the easy part .
Hmmm,
I'm glad it worked for you - In my view it's maneuvers like this that keep us Paramedic types employed. I'm not saying I would never attempt something like this ( ) but it would be a last resort/emergency, and it would not be my recommended method.
Be safe!
My girl friend figured it out! I tie a rope around her waist, throw the loose end over a tree limb and hoist her up. This way she can clean, check chaulking and other maintance while never touching the skin. Works really great except when I tie her off and go get another Pino.
Hi, Joke right? Can you post pictures of this process; I have to see this to beleive it. My wife said before she would let me tie a rope around her waist, she would put one around my neck!
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This way you don't have to actually touch the roof with your weight. 
(But then I am a nervous little old lady...)
AIR #8416
) but it would be a last resort/emergency, and it would not be my recommended method.
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