[Dan]

I asked that question at Prevost when I had my first bus and they said they walk all over them, no problem. I stay off the front and rear caps, don’t walk on any roof penetration perimeter that has been sealed, but don’t see any real concern just using common sense.

[glen]

Thank you Tom

[Archived]

I would rather eat bees than walk on my roof.

Our chassis has roof ribs spaced some distance apart. Depending on the vintage of coach we either have a single long sheet of roofing bonded to the ribs, or multiple sheets riveted to the ribs. In between nothing supports the thin sheet metal roofing material which does not even have any reinforcing shape. So when you walk all over the roof that thin material is flexing and bowing downward.

Prevost sprays foam insulation on the interior surfaces. Walking on a roof skin that is flexing downward cracks and dislodges that insulation. Any crack or separation of the foam insulation allows air and the moisture in air to come in direct contact with bare metal and form condensation. You can prevent this by staying off the roof, or not taking showers or heating tea.

But while that might not seem like a big deal consider that walking on the roof flexes it down to the point where it may also affect the finished ceiling installed by the converter. That in itself is likely not a big deal, but our coaches have a lot going on in the ceilings and depending on where you are walking you could be flexing the outer skin down putting forces on the recessed lighting fixtures, speakers, air conditioning ductwork, etc.

If you wouldn’t mind walking on your car roof go ahead and walk on the bus roof. The flexing will be the same and the impact it has on the car headliner is likely to be the same.

We do have to be on the roof for a variety of reasons. When we do at least spread the load. I have had to be on my roof to seal roof penetrations, to service the satellite dish and for other reasons, but I try to put my feet on the ribs only, and if I absolutely had to work between the ribs I would distribute the load by being on a small piece of plywood or by laying down. You will see the ribs regardless of the type of roof because when someone else was wandering around on the roof the skin was deformed so the ribs are clearly visible.

[Archived]

I had to replace a dome over Fantasic fan in coach and put a thin piece of plywood up there. Cut a 1/4 inch piece in half (2’x8′) and moved it around as I inspected the rest. Better safe than sorry. At 6’2″ and 235 lbs. that’s a load as I found out several years ago on our Lake house when I slipped off truss in attic and stuck leg though sheetrock. Can you say Duh!

[glen]

Confirming what Jon said, I called Liberty a few years ago with the same question and they said you can walk on the roof just keep your psi on the ribs.

[Archived]

You can’t see the ribs on my Old XL. Maybe the newer ones.

[Archived]

Glen, I think your ribs are defined by the rivet lines. On one piece roof skins the only rivets are at the ends by the front and rear caps, but if anyone has been on the roof it is very clear where the ribs are because as soon as someone walks between the ribs they show clearly.

I have exactly the same opinion as the Liberty and Prevost guys. As long as I am walking on someone else’s roof I will do it all day long.

[Archived]

I see RV washers all day long walking on peoples coaches/RV’s roofs. I cringe at the thought of them getting up on my roof. Especially when they send the big guy up there?

Add to that them using a pressure washer on the roof forcing all that water around every seal and seam?

I can’t beleive people pay for that kind of abuse 🙁

[Archived]

This is on the roof of my XL

[Ted]

Gary, that looks great..did you have it done or was it there ?

[Tim]

It was there when I got the Coach. Runs all the way to the front.

[Dick]

I wonder if the original owners was a really heavy guy who liked to spend lots of time on the roof of his coach.