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Snow on roof of caravan - sunken roof

V

vthomson

We have just managed to clear most of the snow off the roof of our caravan only to notice the roof seems to have sunken in with the weight of the snow. There is still a layer of ice on the roof & couldn't get the door open today as its frozen and don't want to force the door and damage the seals etc. Was wondering what would be best after we get in the van to put heating on and hope that it melts the ice but not sure what will happen to the roof if it will just "pop back up" anybody info would be great
 
This sounds like a disaster to me!

I think you may be looking at a fairly large insurance claim.

Spray the roof with some windscreen wash to clear the ice.

I would get a tarpaulin over the roof in case rooflight or vents sealant has been split when the roof sunk. Put some wood from side to side across the roof to protect the roof as well.
 
The weight of snow on a van roof can be quite considerable as it weighs between 7 and 20lbs a cu.ft (depending on whether its light and fluffy or windblown and compacted) so you could end up with over half a ton of the stuff on your roof. Bailey vans have a bonded sandwich construction which is very rigid and fully supported over the whole roof and is strong enough to take a lot of this weight. Swift van roofs (rooves?)are made from a thin aluminium sheet laid over a fibreglass insulating blanket with several transverse supports across the van so most of the roof skin is unsupported.

I doubt whether the roof will pop back as there isn't anything under it to push it back into shape - the aluminium has probably permanently distorted so it may be an insurance job when winter is over.

Have a look at the caravan channel website and they've got some videos of how vans are made and how the roofs are constructed and installed
 
bailey only strengthened the roof from 2005, i just missed out with my 2004 senator, annoying at the time, but the front part of the roof sags when washing it, as all my previous vans did.

Yesterday i when round the bungalow, pulling snow off the guttering, i think tomorrow i'll be checking the van!
 
As the roof in most cases is a large sheet just drapped over bars and sealed at edges, most vans will have some roof distortion in them, i have a sterling and that has been inspected by swift and they say that is normal, so just keep an eye on it, i have snow on my van and the heating is on !
 
Snow.jpg
 
I cant believe that snow lying on a roof a caravan is going to damage to any extent. How about all the statics lying all over the country for months on end also the caravan factories are you

going to tell me that they are going out to clear the snow off their stock ?.
 
you need tae chill oot frank 🙂
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Hi Highlander sorry tae hear aboot yer van, can imagine the disapointment, if ye were in Engerlan you'd have made the news. You'd think we were really stupid North here, best caravanners aroon, the helpful mob,

hope ye get it fixed and back on the road bud
 
had a day out in liverpool yesterday , in Albert dock there is a yacht sunk due to weight of snow , before anyone asks it was white not a yellow submarine
 
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