Standing on your Roof

On my Auto Sleepers Nuevo 2004 we would like to get on the roof to both clean it and to fit the rails for the solar panels.

Her Indoors who would be the one on the roof weighs about 11 stone. I am wondering if it is ok for her to get on the roof and crawl about on hands and knees. ie is it strong enough


Thanks

No

Use East Europeans to clean the roof, where I go there's lots of them if one falls off there's immediate replacements!!
(Kidding, but I do use E Europeans!)

I wouldn't. There really is no need with a small van like the Neuvo. The roof is easily accessible from either standing on steps inside the van and working through the skylight, or stepladders outside.
The only part that's difficult to clean is the roof forward of the skylight, that's way too fragile to put weight on.
Al.

Yes

Just make sure that not like me while fitting the solar panel some years ago, it's not windy, thank goodness for the roof rails.
-------
Richard

So some say yes some say no as ever 

As ever it's up to you, but as Peter says, on a coachbuilt it's essential to spread the load, boards or anything else used to achieve this will only get in the way of whatever you're trying to do up there. 
Al.

Using a step ladder and working through the large roof window was certainly something I had not thought about

Those saying yes aren't necessarily right
Those saying no aren't necessarily right

IanH wrote:Those saying yes aren't necessarily right
Those saying no aren't necessarily right

Is that right though.......... Have you tried standing on that old solar array up on yours

Bigplumbs wrote:

IanH wrote:Those saying yes aren't necessarily right
Those saying no aren't necessarily right

Is that right though.......... Have you tried standing on that old solar array up on yours

I have sufficient intelligence to not stand on expensive glass solar panels.

When I had a Clubman, which had a rear ladder and a fixed guard / securing rail around the rear half of the roof, and when I was a few years younger, I'd often clean the roof whilst kneeling on it - taking as many precautions as I could. The roof surface within the guard rail was dimpled: it was designed to be stepped on.

When I bought the coachbuilt Nuevo, which has neither a ladder nor a guard / securing rail but only the awning on one side, I did clamber up on to the roof, twice, to clean it. Stepping across from the ladder was hairy; discovering that the roof surface is very smooth, and becomes very slippery when wet, was frightening. Although I have a good head for heights, I felt the need to kneel or lie flat so as not to slip: there's nothing to grip. Never again.

I don't care if the roof will take my weight: I'm not risking it again.

I bought a robust, tall step-ladder with two handrails and secure feet; from that I can happily clean most of the roof, including the Luton, without leaving the ladder. I have, following a suggestion on the Forum, also used a small step ladder inside the van, to reach out to clean parts of the roof from the roof-light aperture.

I've once fallen off a 3-step ladder, with horrible and longstanding consequences. Admittedly I was cavalier, and it was on rough, uneaven stones - but it was only 3 steps, wasn't it, so what could go wrong? A very great deal, I assure you. Luckily my son (then a Consultant A&E doctor) was home.

Please don't go on a roof which was not designed for safe access.

Cymro

IanH wrote:

Bigplumbs wrote:

IanH wrote:Those saying yes aren't necessarily right
Those saying no aren't necessarily right

Is that right though.......... Have you tried standing on that old solar array up on yours

I have sufficient intelligence to not stand on expensive glass solar panels.

And to spot a joke...... how are you with that 

I bought a big red foot multi purpose adjustable ladder that came with platform panels that enable me to work at a reasonable hight and for about a 7 foot walkway 
Not me just for show in photo