Dear Dave,
I don’t usually get up on the roof of my 2016 Heartland E292 Elkridge 5th wheel. There is no ladder, so I assume it’s not safe. When cleaning, I noticed that the roof is soft, sort of gooey like. When I did get on the roof, my feet almost got stuck. Any thoughts on why it’s so sticky and soft? Is the roof not safe to walk on? —Charlie, 2016 Heartland E292 Elkridge 5th wheel
Dear Charlie,
I found a brochure for the 2016 Elkridge by Heartland and it was interesting that they touted the construction of the sidewalls and flooring with aluminum framework and block foam insulation, with outstanding graphic illustrations in pull-out features. There was none of that for the roof. However, buried down on page 9 was text of construction features which listed the roof having the following:
- 5” attic trusses for extra strength
- One-piece walkable EPDM rubber roof
- R14 insulation
Since they did not have an illustration of the construction of the roof materials like the sidewall and floor, I would assume it is made of wood trusses that have a flat wood base and laminated crowned upper truss with vertical wood supports. This allows them to insert air conditioning ductwork and then fill the gaps with loose fill insulation.
Can you walk on the RV roof?
According to the bullet point, it states that it has a one-piece walkable EPDM rubber roof. That would verify that you should be able to walk on the roof, right? So why don’t they provide a ladder? I have had this question come up several times and the answer depends on the structural integrity of the roof, mounting points of the ladder, cost, and liability.
Most 5th wheel roofs have the structural integrity to allow a certain amount of weight, and usually have a sticker stating that. However, you want to stay away from openings such as the roof air conditioner, vents, and skylights.
Some manufacturers don’t install a roof ladder due to the fiberglass back cap not having the structure for the mounting points. Also, the fact that it would stick out too far from the back cap and get damaged, or even extend the overall length past the RVIA limitations. Another reason is cost, which seems minimal but does add up when you start eliminating 10 or more items that would be about $200 each. And then there is the liability of someone falling off the roof and getting sued because the manufacturer installed a ladder and therefore recommended walking on the roof. Yes, it does happen!
Why is the roof material gooey?
“Gooey”… I haven’t heard that term for a long time—probably the last time I ate a Milky Way bar in grade school. Remember the gooey nougat center? Sorry … got sidetracked. Since you stated that you don’t get up on the roof, I would assume that you have not cleaned and conditioned the EPDM material? However, you then stated when cleaning you noticed it was soft and gooey. EPDM needs to be cleaned at least once a year and requires a conditioner such as the Dicor EPDM conditioner or 303 Protectant to keep it from breaking down. Typically, it starts to dry up, becomes chalky, and loses the white pigment that is added to the black rubber material. It is possible that the material did start to break down and then react with whatever cleaner you were using as the white powder is mixing with that cleaner.
I would suggest giving the RV roof a thorough cleaning with Dawn Dish Soap (blue) and water with a soft bristle brush or broom. Wet the sides of the unit down during the cleaning process as the white chalk will create a real mess on the sidewall and windows! After you have cleaned and rinsed it, I would imagine you might have a very worn out, almost black roof material. At this point you might want to recoat it with a product like RV Roof Magic. There are other products on the market; however, I have been impressed with this product. We will be testing it this spring when the weather gets warmer. RVtravel.com’s Cheri Sicard will test it on her trailer earlier, as she is in California and heading to New Mexico, so look for her review coming up.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
Conflicting articles on whether or not to get on RV roof. Which is it?
Dear Dave,
I see frequent answers that include the term “get on the roof” to find and/or fix a problem on an RV. It appears that one should get on the roof fairly regularly to inspect and fix the seals around various equipment. I have read that one should not ever get on the roof because it could damage the roof. I have also read that if the camper/trailer has a ladder, the manufacturer has built the roof to support a person. Is this true? My trailer does not have a ladder, but the camper does. I am capable of getting on the roof and have done so a few times to put the trailer cover on. How do I know whether the roof can support my 160 lbs.? What do I need to be careful of, other than not falling off? —Toni, 2006 Keystone Springdale 20′ trailer, and 2006 Snow River 810 pickup camper
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
Read more from Dave here.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE?
Send your inquiries to him using the form below.
##xxxx
Walking on main roof, sure. Walking on slide room room roofs? Only with caution. Our 2017 Keystone largish bumper tow says in the manual that walking on the roof is acceptable. There is no mention of the slide room roofs. Based on hearing a couple quiet cracks, and visual observations about roof thickness, I am guessing those slide outs have minimal support structure. I avoid being on those roofs more than necessary for maintenance. And when I am on those roofs, try to position my weight next to the walls.
Yikes! Be careful, Jim. I cannot imagine it safe to walk on slide out roofs for just the reasons you mention. Safe travels and have a good Thanksgiving!
I agree, Neal. I would never walk on slide out roofs. Of course, I have awnings over mine, but if not, I wouldn’t be on those roofs.
Also agree with your statement above on roof importance. I clean my fiberglas roof at least twice per year. While cleaning I am inspecting all sealants and touching up anything needed. Many RVers comment on “black streaks” on their sidewalls. Keep your roof clean and there will be no black streaks to worry about.
Thank you, Dave! Seems like roofs are second only to tires in importance, and maybe actually first. In any case, thank you for tirelessly reviewing questions from readers, researching answers, and responding. Safe travels and have a good Thanksgiving! 🙂
Dave, gooey to me sounds like the EDPM is breaking down – but I’d strongly suspect that it is caused by a petroleum based cleaner or other product having been used.