Visit our Popular Forums

Splitrock · 06-30-2010, 08:45 PM

`
I need to work on about everything on the roof, re-seal sewer vents, three new air vents, and swap out an air conditioner. I measured the height and it looks like about 8' 9" will clear the top. I'm not into ladders and I'd be afraid of marking the skin with a ladder. I thought about a scaffold on each side with a 10' platform across. Is that the best way? Or is there something I missed?

My other idea was to use a tied off ladder with a standoff attached to a 6'(?) long carpeted 2x6. Maybe that'd work for everything except the air conditioner. I thought with the 2x6 laying flat across the ribs I'd have less chance of making any damage. Right now my roof metal is in good no dent shape. I'd like to preserve that good roof but I'd like to replace the air conditioner myself for the experience and for the fun of doing it.

goransons · 06-30-2010, 09:13 PM

lots of ways, but with that much work to do, it probably is worth renting 2 sections of scaffold and some long planks or 2x12's to make a bridge over the trailer. At least around here scaffolding is dirt cheap to rent for a couple days.

Astroboy · 06-30-2010, 09:23 PM

I lay my ladder against window gutter.

Each round segment (fore and aft) are fragile and will dent if you step on it. When on the roof, you want to keep your feet on the ribs: try to discern the locations by looking at rivet lines...

Airstream01 · 06-30-2010, 09:50 PM

If I had a brand new truck I may not do this, but I get my truck real close to the trailer and crawl up on the roof of the truck and then it is just a short step up onto the top of the trailer.

NevadaGeo · 06-30-2010, 10:34 PM

They say to keep off the end caps sections or else

Splitrock · 06-30-2010, 11:56 PM

Thanks for warning me off the ends. I believe all my work is between the top ribs. I been searching posts and pictures. I see one guy used two ladders strapped together and laid a part sheet of 1/2" plywood on the roof for a work platform. I'm not 30 years old anymore . . . if I fell off the trailer I'd do the dead cat bounce.

howco · 07-01-2010, 01:45 AM

splitrock
WOW, that picture of the falls is sure beautiful.....

68 TWind · 07-01-2010, 05:49 AM

Rent the scaffolding. I did a good bit of work on the roof of my Trade Wind a while back. I have a Little Giant 22 foot ladder with is very stable. Getting up and down was not problem but hours spent squatting down working and trying to stay of the ribs was not easy. Replacing vents takes time and it would be much easier to be sitting on a solid platform. The cadillac method would be to rent a lift bucket from a local rental place. If you watch the old youtube of the Airstream restoration, that is what they did when they replaced a vent with a Fantastic fan. It would be expensive.

Splitrock · 07-01-2010, 01:11 PM

I have a small tractor with a loader. I could crawl up on my old wood ladder and stand in the bucket. My wife's calling the life insurance guy and upping the cash benefit as I type this.

Distantdrummer · 07-01-2010, 02:56 PM

I have posted similar before, and I would bet no one ever pays it any mind.

Ladders occasionally slip and fall to the ground after you get up on top. Maybe you bump it etc.
The natural instinct is to get down on the shortest path. This is usually in front, landing your feet on the gas bottles. DON'T DO IT !
~or~ Off the rear, landing on the rear bumper. DON'T DO THAT EITHER !

NEVER get on or over the end cap/domes. They will almost always bend and the fix is real real real expensive.

I (now) always take a cell phone up there with me. I will call someone to come replace the ladder if it falls again. I suppose you could take a length of cord with a hook on the end and grab and lift the ladder as well.
I can attest from personal experience that getting down over the side (curbside in my case) is no fun. There are lots of things that you can catch your pant cuff, your chin, or your nose on if you try to slide down face to the trailer side. even at 6'2" I had another 4 foot "slide" to the ground. Never again. Think I can still feel those 'strawberry' abrasions.
Of course if you are young and in shape you can just sit and jump forward off the side of your choice. Or if you are young (or old) and nuts, you can take a flying standing leap.

tpi · 07-01-2010, 03:23 PM

I carry the cell phone with me on the roof also.

I lean the extension ladder on the entry door gutter with no issues. I've been on the roof more than expected during the first 5 years of ownership. Mostly to replace the plastic items which suffer UV damage more than they should.

NJtoNC · 07-01-2010, 05:56 PM

how long is the trailer? 31 ft? dig a 6 ft deep trench, 40 ft long.... tapered on both front and back.... driver 'er in there, boom! you got a 2 ft step up to the roof.

Splitrock · 07-01-2010, 11:29 PM

Maybe I'll push it beside the house, climb the house by the rain spout and walk a plank to the trailer top deck:-) Call American's Dumbest Home Video to tape the fall.

Mexray · 07-01-2010, 11:36 PM

First you lay a bunch of mattress' along side the AS...Then you tip it on it's side, onto the mattress' - now you can work on the roof with ease...

...Don't really know how you're going to upright it again, however...

You're local dealer will be glad to help you remove the 'dents' along the side...

Ray

howco · 07-02-2010, 09:51 AM

Mexray just said it; An Airstream rotisserie!!!!
They do it for cars, why not an airstream, it would bolt to the wheel hubs and just roll it over...........Yeah

Journalist · 07-02-2010, 11:10 AM

While my dad and I were working on the air conditioner recently, I used his tractor with pallet forks on the loader to sit a plastic pallet close to where I needed to be to work on it.. To get on top of the pallet once in place, I leaned the ladder on the window rain gutter. The pallet is actually bridging the space between the ribs, so it doesn't bend the skin.

Steve & Susan · 07-02-2010, 01:13 PM

I took a couple of 2x12's and covered them with old carpet - I use these to straddle the roof 'beams' (carpet side down) and walk/kneel only on the boards - making SURE to avoid the end-caps.

As far as how to get up there, ladder against the window drip frame or the awning case on the street-side.

The cell-phone is a GREAT idea - and I never get up there unless someone else is around - like the roof at home.

Best of luck!

Bluto · 07-02-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJtoNC

how long is the trailer? 31 ft? dig a 6 ft deep trench, 40 ft long.... tapered on both front and back.... driver 'er in there, boom! you got a 2 ft step up to the roof.

I tried that once. It worked fine till it rained.

Splitrock · 07-02-2010, 04:14 PM

Trip to Menards . . .

Now for a bridge plank . . .

`

Wabbiteer · 07-02-2010, 05:11 PM

I've got 1/2's of that orange fiberglass ladder shown in the above picture - when a big Union job site discards ladders they cut them apart to render them unusable - so the treads section is my custom made Airstream roof ladder, just lean it up above a window and climb aboard... And, as a bonus, the ladder back section is a bed frame in the back of the pickup truck...